NRL Round 24: Cowboys win 38-30 over Melbourne Storm | Scores and SuperCoach analysis
Tyran Wishart produced a SuperCoach performance for the ages while Cameron Munster sounded out a warning to the rest of the competition. See the SC Winners and Losers from Thursday footy.
In a game that many expected the Cowboys to race away with against a quarter-strength Storm outfit, it delivered in multiple ways.
Defence went out the window as the two combined for 68 points in an attacking showcase in Townsville.
With plenty of Storm outs, here’s how things fared in SuperCoach world:
SUPERCOACH WINNERS
1. Tyran Wishart (138) – He started at hooker and moved to the halves with the injuries suffered in their backline. It proved a masterstroke with Wishart scoring a double and adding a line break assist for the clear top score of the night.
2. Cameron Munster (89) – If there were any concerns about the fitness or health of Munster he swiftly put those to bed with a busy performance. He seemed like he was in everything and finished with a try assist.
3. Ativalu Lisati (66) – The debutant had a moment where he was involved in a try for the Cowboys, but he was able to make amends when the game was over with a 40m break to bust past a number of defenders to score.
4. Lazarus Vaalepu (58) – With the race for spots in Melbourne’s 17 in week one of the finals on, Vaalepu did his chances no harm with a great performance in the front row. Looked dangerous out there.
5. Kyle Feldt (79) – It was a case of what could’ve been for Feldt. He scored two tries in the first half to give him a bumper score of 68 at the break. But he was only able to add another 11 to that in the second.
SUPERCOACH LOSERS
1. Grant Anderson (17) – A tricky one for the utility, who saw that value on full display. He started the game at halfback and moved out to the wing with injuries. He scored 17 and Wishart who moved to his position went off.
2. Scott Drinkwater (47) – The way the game was set up, you would’ve penned Drinkwater for a near-certain century. His involvement was mixed – helped set up a nice try but was quiet in comparison to others.
3. Jake Clifford (28) – After he was involved in everything against the Raiders in a huge win, Tom Dearden took over the running and Clifford’s score took a big hit as a result.
4. Ryan Papenhuyzen (4) – Went off with a cork in the opening stages of the game and didn’t return. No surprise he didn’t come back given their attention is firmly on the finals, but still a tough watch for SuperCoaches.
5. Marion Seve (7) – Similar to Papi, Seve went off within the first 20 minutes of the contest with a suspected syndesmosis and we didn’t see him again. Very unlucky in a rare first grade appearance.
COWBOYS CLAIM TOWNSVILLE SCRAP
The Cowboys were pushed to the edge by an underpowered Storm outfit, ultimately finishing ahead 38-30 after a scrappy affair in Townsville.
The Storm had already left 11 regular players in Melbourne for the trip north and were dealt a devastating double injury blow within the first 15 minutes, losing Ryan Papenhuyzen and Marion Seve for the match.
Papenhuyzen had his shorts pulled down during the early stages but it was the Cowboys’ defence that was exposed by a lack of intent and poor efforts.
North Queensland missed 28 tackles to Melbourne’s four before halftime and a better side would have put the lacklustre Cowboys to the sword.
Melbourne fans got a glimpse of an exciting future with Tyran Wishart and Sua Fa’alogo dazzling with the ball in hand, combining for three line breaks and 13 tackle busts.
Whenever it seemed like the Cowboys had taken the ascendancy they were reminded what happens when you lose concentration against such a classy club and punished with points as the Storm kept in touch.
In the end North Queensland had the quality attack to outgun Melbourne but Todd Payten will be fuming with his side’s performance.
FELDTY FLIES DURING FAREWELL
Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt crossed for two tries in the first half to set a new personal best with his 20th four-pointer of the season.
It was the first time the legendary finisher reached 20 tries in one season, becoming just the fourth Cowboy to achieve the feat alongside Matt Bowen, Matt Sing and Ashley Graham.
North Queensland’s most prolific tryscorer has scored nine tries in his past five games with at least one in each.
Feldt was being celebrated alongside Jake Granville as it was the final guaranteed home game for the pair of premiership-winning players.
DOUBLE STORM INJURY BLOW
Melbourne was dealt a double injury blow inside the first 15 minutes as superstar fullback Papenhuyzen and right centre Seve both helped from the field.
Papenhuyzen succumbed to a corked lower leg and did not return while Seve was downed by a syndesmosis injury in the process of attempting to score.
The disruption allowed livewire rookie Sua Fa’alogo to shift to his preferred position at the back with Tyran Wishart moving into the halves and Grant Anderson back out to the wing.
Storm debutant Ativalu Lisati came onto the field for Seve.
COWBOYS: 38 (K. Feldt (2), M. Taulagi, V. Holmes, R. Robson, J. Nanai tries; V. Holmes (7) goals)
STORM: 30 (L. Vaalepu, A. MacDonald, T. Wishart (2), A. Lisati tries; T. Wishart (4) goals)
—Patrick Woods
FULL-TIME - Cowboys 38-30
A questionable call of a strip gives the Cowboys a chance to extend the margin beyond two converted tries and Valentine Holmes makes it 7/7 shots at goal tonight.
The Cowboys concede another soft try as Ativalu Lisati gets through a jumper grab from Tom Dearden to race 40m and score a consolation try.
Here are the top SuperCoach scores from full-time:
70th minute - Cowboys 36-24
The pressure from the Storm is relentless at this point in the game.
They’ve been great at forcing repeat sets and building pressure as the Cowboys look to try and hold on over the concluding stages.
To their credit they withstood a lot in that passage and go down the other end to push their lead out further.
A chip from Jake Clifford takes a wicked bounce, catching the Melbourne defenders out with Jeremiah Nanai there to pick up the scraps.
60th minute - Cowboys 30-24
Sua Fa’alago continues to break multiple tackles with every kick return - yet for some reason the Cowboys keep kicking it to him.
Melbourne has had a number of sets on North Queensland’s line as it looks to level the scores up, and eventually the pressure is telling as they get their try.
Jake Clifford bats a short dropout back, Griffin Neame can’t contain it, his knock on hits the leg of Tyran Wishart who gathers the loose ball to score.
Cameron Munster kicks out on the full and the Cowboys make them pay.
Tom Dearden runs the ball and passes inside, Ativalu Lisati cannot contain it and it is grounded by Reece Robson.
It appeared as though Lisati was tackled off the ball by Robson, but it is given a try.
🤔 Should this have been called a double movement?
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 29, 2024
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50th minute - Cowboys 24-18
Whatever Todd Payten said to the Cowboys at halftime, it worked.
They came out with a good intensity in their opening few sets, forced Melbourne into an error and strike first with a good trick play.
Tom Dearden switches the play on the last tackle and some nice passing between Scott Drinkwater, Murray Taulagi and Valentine Holmes results in the latter scoring.
They can’t get to their kick from the ensuing set and a questionable penalty is given to the Storm after a falling Tepai Moeroa is hit ‘high’ by Reuben Cotter.
Melbourne takes the two to cut the margin back to a converted try.
Fooled everyone but the cameraman!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 29, 2024
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HALFTIME - Cowboys 18-16
The amount of ball the Cowboys have dropped tonight is staggering, particularly when they’re looking to attack.
Melbourne hasn’t been any better in that department - to be fair it’s been a pretty ordinary contest to this point.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is on the sidelines and out of his playing gear so we won’t be seeing him again tonight.
The Storm pull off a simple scrum play with a big dummy from Tyran Wishart catching Jeremiah Nanai out with a horrible defensive read.
That sums up the Cowboys half, shocking in defence.
They get lucky with another set off a Sua Fa’alago drop, and the ball shifts wide to Kyle Feldt who gets over for his second of the night.
Here are the top SuperCoach scores from halftime:
30th minute - Cowboys 12-10
Ryan Papenhuyzen has a cork and is not expected to be back tonight and Seve has been diagnosed with syndesmosis - he definitely will not return.
Cameron Munster is very involved as the Storm attack North Queensland’s line. He looks like he is getting back to his best.
A few sets on the line proves too much for the Cowboys and Alex MacDonald is the one to crack them with a lovely effort from close range.
That’s poor defence from North Queensland, but they get let off the hook with Tyran Wishart missing the easy shot at goal.
Did Marion Seve gets this down?
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 29, 2024
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20th minute - Cowboys 12-6
It just had to be Kyle Feldt.
After the announcement this week that the club’s leading tryscorer will be departing for the English Super League, Feldt opens the scoring with a trademark diving effort in the corner.
They’ve started slow but will get some confidence from that one.
A punch kick from Cameron Munster to Grant Anderson works well and he passes inside to Marion Seve who cannot ground the ball.
He’s appeared to injure his ankle in the tackle, and in further bad news for the Storm Ryan Papenhuyzen has come from the field as well.
He has a suspected ankle injury as well.
Sua Fa’alago has gone to fullback, Anderson to the wing, Ieremia is into the centres and Tyran Wishart moves into the halves.
To further compound the issues for Melbourne, the Cowboys go down the other end and score with Murray Taulagi scoring in the other corner.
Feldt goes flying for this finish.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 29, 2024
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10th minute - Storm 6-0
The Storm get two golden opportunities early with the Cowboys spilling the ball twice in their own half with their opening two touches, and they take it.
Lazarus Vaalepu gets through a huge gap opened up by Jordan McLean and Jeremiah Nanai close to the line and the young gun scores.
Horrible, horrible start from the Cowboys.
From the very next set Tyran Wishart kicks a 40-20 and they’re on the attack again, but the Cowboys finally get the ball back through a short dropout.
7.50PM: The Cowboys and Storm are underway in round 26 action up in Townsville.
Can North Queensland go one step further to a home semi or can the depleted Storm cause a major upset?
7.20PM: While it’s a cruel blow for SuperCoach players in grand final week, you can’t begrudge Craig Bellamy for his mass restings at Melbourne this week.
They’ve secured the minor premiership and can afford to put their feet up as they watch the other sides battle it out to see who fills the other eight places.
My own SC team is in a grand final this week and with no trades left, I’ll watch Eli Katoa and Harry Grant sit perfectly healthy on the sidelines.
It’s rough, but if I was Bellamy I’d be doing the exact same thing. In fact I’d go one step further and rest players next week as well.
Why risk injury or suspension, especially with how inconsistent the judiciary and Bunker have been this season.
Last year Sua Fa’alago had a breakout game against the Broncos in a game where both sides rested teams, so could we see another future talent make their mark?
Perhaps it could be Ativalu Lisati (2RF $204,300) who was a mid-season transfer from the Panthers. He’s been plying his trade in NSW Cup for four years and finally gets his chance at the elite level tonight.
6.50PM: North Queensland has made the one late change for its must-win clash with the Melbourne Storm to commence round 26.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is out for the Cowboys with Jaxon Purdue (HFB $219,100) coming onto the interchange bench in his place.
Jason Taumalolo (2RF/FRF $358,500) will come from the bench with Sam McIntyre (2RF/FRF $410,600) injected into the starting 13 at prop.
Melbourne doesn’t have any personnel left to make late mail changes after announcing 11 players from their win over the Dolphins would not make the trip to Townsville.
They are 1-17 from the new look team named by Craig Bellamy on Tuesday.
A win for the Cowboys would go a long way to securing sixth spot on the ladder, and most importantly a home semi final in week one of the finals.
If they can defeat the Storm and the Bulldogs fall to the Sea Eagles tomorrow night, it means the clash between Canterbury and North Queensland in round 27 will be a shootout for fifth.
EARLIER: With the 2024 minor premiership already locked up, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has opted to rest 11 of his key players for tonight’s match against the Cowboys in Townsville.
As a result the home side is now overwhelmingly favoured to win the match despite sitting five spots lower on the ladder.
SuperCoaches have reacted accordingly with Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes installed as vice-captain in over 41% of teams ranked in the top 1% of overall rankings.
Interestingly that rate of support drops significantly when one looks at the vice captaincy choices of teams ranked in the top 10% of overall rankings.
Holmes’ appeal as a VC option rests on whether you believe the Cowboys will put on a big score against the Melbourne B Team.
In the six games he has played this year in which North Queensland scored 40+ points Holmes failed to score 100+ just once, and averaged 120PPG over the span.
Compare that to another popular Cowboy Reece Robson.
Robson played in five of those games (he was rested from one due to Origin) and while his average, 70.8PPG, over that span is good it’s not Holmes territory.
Elsewhere the Storm restings are brutal for the many SuperCoaches who own the likes of Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes or Eli Katoa.
If there’s a small silver lining overall players can expect that all three will line up in the final round of the regular season which will help offset expected restings from other squads.
And while the Storm have not rested all their stars with Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen playing tonight neither has much appeal even as a head-to-head finals play with Papenhuyzen sitting well behind the likes of James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic and Kalyn Ponga and Munster averaging less than 40PPG over his past five starts.
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