Controversial halfback Robert Lui’s NRL return was sweet but short on Saturday night as his North Queensland Cowboys took out three weeks of frustration on hapless Penrith.
Lui, back in first grade after a suspension in response to a domestic violence charge, scored the Cowboys’ fourth try in a 30-0 flogging of the Panthers at 1300SMILES Stadium.
But not long afterwards the 23-year-old suffered a kneecap injury, and was forced off and unable to return.
He is expected to be sidelined for about a fortnight.
Lui’s departure marked a slowing of the scoring deluge; Neil Henry’s side was averaging better than a point a minute at the time he crossed for his try.
The 22-0 lead at 18 minutes became 24-0 right on halftime and 30-0 when centre Kane Linnett posted his second try a minute into the second half.
But the game became bogged down after that.
Earlier, North Queensland winger Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa scored after only three minutes, off a Matt Bowen bomb, and Linnett got his first three minutes later.
That touchdown would have been disallowed under the previous interpretation of the obstruction rule as Cowboys forward Tariq Sims appeared to make contact with a defender while running a decoy.
Under the new interpretation, where discretion is used in the video box, the green light came up.
Further tries to winger Antonio Winterstein and Lui left little doubt that the Cowboys would end a three-match losing streak after losses to Melbourne, Newcastle and the Warriors.
“It’s great to get the win. We just had to hold the ball. Completions in the first few weeks have been terrible,” said Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston.
“We were able to build some pressure up the middle and build on that.”
Penrith captain Kevin Kingston said his team were blown off the park.
“That first half was just shocking,” he said.
“The Cowboys are always good at home, we know that. But we are shellshocked.”
Penrith second rower Clint Newton was booked for a high tackle on North Queensland hooker Anthony Mitchell in the 61st minute in front of 12,431 fans.
Coach Neil Henry was unsure if winger Ashley Graham (ribs) would come back into the side for Friday’s derby against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Henry and co-captain Matt Scott agreed a repeat of Saturday night’s performance, despite it being a five-try shutout, would not be good enough to beat the Broncos, 32-12 winners over Gold Coast on Friday night.
“On the back of a good win against the Titans, no doubt there’ll be a massive crowd down at Suncorp and we’re going to have to be a lot better than we were tonight, that’s for sure,” said prop Scott.
“Opening the season (against Brisbane) is great but any time we come up against them is a game we look forward to.
“They’re tough games and they showed last night what a quality side they are.”
Henry concurred, saying: “I think anyone watching that game would see that compared to (Friday’s) Broncos game, we are going to need to improve considering we’re going down there.
“And we’re realists about that.”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was hard on his team but took some solace in the fact his men restricted the Cowboys to eight points from the 18th minute to fulltime.
“We were always going to have to start well and get some confidence and it was the opposite,” he said.
“We just got worse. We didn’t give up and there were a lot of guys trying their hardest but the fact is, we were terrible.”
Marto
Guest
Yet we still have guys like Bird, Barba and Inglis running around being called heroes?
Kelly
Guest
"Done his time"? He has twice been arrested for assaulting his partner, on one incident when she was pregnant. Once was bad enough- twice and you should be permanently deregistered from the NRL. Playing first grade is a privilege, not a right. We don't need men like Luis in our game.
Marto
Guest
Even though I dont agree with it, he has done his time with a year out of the game and should get his chance. He's been killing it in the Qcup this year and I believe our best option at halfback atm.
Gareth
Roar Pro
Surely that should read "Cowboys NRL win soured by Lui comeback". I was very disappointed when the Cowboys signed this grub and even more disappointed to see them actually giving him a run.
mushi
Roar Guru
Soured? Seems like sweet cosmic justice.
B.A Sports
I was listening to this game on Sydney radio 2GB my way home from the Eels v Sharks match. Mark Levy and Joel Caine were the commentators. I couldn't stand the way they were glorifying Lui and his return for the entire time he was on the field. More appropriate would have been to acknowledge he was back and just get on with it. While you don't wish injury on anyone, i have to say I wasn't disapointed when he came off early.