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The North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos have done it again, playing out an epic game decided by a point at 1300 Smiles Stadium, with Johnathan Thurston kicking the winning field goal in his 250th game.
It wasn’t the contest of their previous two encounters – last year’s grand final and earlier this year in Round 4, but it certainly lived up to expectation with neither team going away and for the most part, the game kept a lot of quality about it.
Neither team was totally on their game throughout the match, and each team seemed to take turns in dominating. The Broncos would have liked their chances after struggling through the first 20 minutes but taking the lead into halftime and then extending it afterwards.
Ben Hunt was fantastic for the Broncos, setting up a few tries and controlling their attack with a strong kicking game, but it was the Broncos pack that was outmatched in both the first 20 minutes, and the last 20 minutes meaning they couldn’t get over the line.
The Cowboys struggled through the middle segement of the game, but Johnathan Thurston kept them composed with creativity and a strong kicking game, using the swirling winds to his advantage.
Matt Scott and James Tamou had massive impacts when they were on the field, while Jason Taumalolo played big minutes and has his usual impact, running big metres every time he had the ball.
The Cowboys sole try of the first half after dominating was in the 12th minute through Matt Scott as he crashed over off a Thurston pass. It was the only let down for the Broncos defence, who then dominated possession.
Matt Gillett scored the Broncos first try in the 22nd minute, and their second in the 31st. Both came off either penalties or errors from the Cowboys, and with Ben Hunt doing a super job passing the ball to put him over.
It was more of the same after halftime as the Broncos scored in the second minute of the half. Ben Hannant would drop the ball on the first run back from the kick-off and a spread right saw Darius Boyd throw a cut out ball for Jordan Kahu to score that looked more like a training run.
From there, the next 20 minutes really looked like both teams were out on their feet – which was understandable given the cracking pace of the game to that point.
Errors started to mount up for both teams and the Cowboys, down by 12 points were put under plenty of pressure.
Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote would start to click though as Coote himself went over for a try in the 59th minute froma grubber kick, and Justin O’Neill out wide just 5 minutes later with Thurston and Morgan setting him up off some good passes.
Neither tea could hold onto the ball long enough to score a try throughout the final quarter of an hour, and it ended with Thurston taking a field goal just 5 minutes from time.
It was a corageous effort from Thurston, who has been cleaned up just the play before and seemed to be nursing a hip or rib injury.
Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt would both take stabs at tyin the game up before time ran out, but would be unsuccessful, handing the Cowboys another win to rejoin them at the top of the table on 16 points.
Final Score
North Queensland Cowboys 19
Brisbane Broncos 18
One of the most exciting rivalries in the past two years will be renewed with the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos facing off in the match of the round. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for live coverage.
Last week, the Cowboys experienced heartbreak, losing 15-14 to the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
North Queensland are fielding a similar side to that in which won their maiden premiership last year, with Patrick Kaufusi replacing John Asiata the only difference.
Johnathan Thurston – playing his 250th game for the Cowboys – and Michael Morgan will be looking to lead the way for the Cowboys and make a statement as Kevin Walters’ halves combination for the upcoming State of Origin series.
Paul Green’s monstrous forward pack – which features Australian internationals Matthew Scott and James Tamou, as well as Kiwi enforcer Jason Taumalolo – need to assert their dominance in the middle and make big metres up front.
Brisbane have received a massive boost, with forwards Andrew McCullough, Adam Blair and Alex Glenn all named to return.
Since 1998, the Broncos and Cowboys have clashed 40 times – North Queensland have won 12 games, Brisbane 27, with one match drawn.
The two Queensland sides met on Good Friday, during Round 4, when the Broncos took a 21-20 win in golden point.
They met a massive four times in 2015, with Wayne Bennett’s men winning 44-22 during Round 3 in Brisbane, before losing 31-20 in Round 10 at Kirwan.
Their next clash was during Week 1 of the finals, Brisbane coming away 16-12 victors in front of over 50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
Finally was, of course, the 2015 grand final, Thurston kicking an 83rd-minute field goal to win 17-16 at a packed-out ANZ Stadium.
Prediction
Rugby league fans rejoice! We are in for another thriller. North Queensland will be eager to avenge their one-point loss to the Storm last week and the Broncos’ golden point win on Good Friday.
As per their last two meetings, it will come down to a field goal, with Thurston to boot the winner for the Cowboys.
Cowboys by 1.
Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
Preview written by Riley Pettigrew.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde