FULL-TIME: Cowboys 28 – Knights 2
So there you have it – we’ve all been waiting for the Cowboys to click in 2014, and they finally did so tonight.
Great performance all round for the North Queenslanders, but they’ll be particularly happy with the form of their 1, 6 and 7. Thurston was dangerous as always but he had ample support in the form of Lui and Morgan, who threatened every time they got the ball and gave the Knights’ defenders that much more to think about.
Completions were high for the Cowboys, sitting at around 85% for most of the match before dropping off a little at the end, but they didn’t do it on the back of one-out running – there was plenty of ball movement throughout and they were never afraid of chancing their arm. That’ll be encouraging to their fans.
For the Knights, maybe it was a little bit of a comedown from last week’s performance or maybe it was the Townsville heat, but they didn’t quite click tonight. They started well enough and looked on song in the opening 10 minutes, but as soon as the Cowboys posted their first try they lost their way and never found a route back into this contest. I did think Beau Scott was a standout in a losing side, trying hard all night.
No injuries as far as I can tell – there was a brief scare to Taumololo as he went down clutching his shoulder, but he appears to be okay.
Monday night NRL action comes to Townsville as the North Queensland Cowboys take on the Newcastle Knights. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7pm AEST.
It’d be fair to say both these sides have underperformed so far in 2014 with just one win apiece, and this evening’s clash shapes as an excellent opportunity for them to restore some direction to their season.
The Cowboys have thus far failed to live up to lofty expectations, their sole victory coming over the Raiders in Round 1. Last week they went down to the Titans in a game that was there for the taking if not for extremely poor handling.
After three consecutive losses to start the season, the Knights rallied last week with a brilliant first-half performance that was enough to do away with the Sharks.
The Novocastrians returned to their metre-eating best in that contest with no less than 10 players making more than 100 metres as they rolled up field at will.
The return of Darius Boyd was also crucial, their favoured left-side attack back in full force as Joey Leilua bagged a hat-trick. Look for them to send plenty of traffic down that side of the field again this evening.
There’s plenty of subplots in tonight’s contest too, from the brother battle between the three Sims boys – Ashton and Tariq for the Cowboys, Korbin for the Knights – to the return leg of last year’s fixture when Kade Snowden shoulder charge broke Ray Thompson’s jaw.
I always find it tough to go past the Cowboys considering what we all know they’re capable of with Johnathan Thurston at the helm, but they seem to always take a couple of months to find their feet.
Couple that with the fact that the Knights looked to be back to top form last week and I’m tipping them to get the win here today. Knights by 8.
Can North Queensland turn it on at home or will the Knights make it two in a row?
Join us this evening at 7pm AEST for live score updates and debate on our live blog, and be sure to give us your opinion in the space below if you’re watching.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Can we have a royal commission into the performances of Darius Boyd and Willie Mason?
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 So there you have it – we've all been waiting for the Cowboys to click in 2014, and they finally did so tonight. Great performance all round for the North Queenslanders, but they'll be particularly happy with the form of their 1, 6 and 7. Thurston was dangerous as always but he had ample support in the form of Lui and Morgan, who threatened every time they got the ball and gave the Knights defenders that much more to think about. Completions were high for the Cowboys, sitting at around 85% for most of the match before dropping off a little at the end, but they didn't do it on the back of one-out running – there was plenty of ball movement throughout and they were never afraid of chancing their arm. That'll be encouraging to Cowboys fans. For the Knights, maybe it was a little bit of a comedown from last week's performance or maybe it was the Townsville heat, but they didn't quite click tonight. They started well enough and looked on song in the opening 10 minutes, but as soon as the Cowboys posted their first try they lost their way and never found a route back into this contest. I did think Beau Scott was a standout in a losing side, trying hard all night. No injuries as far as I can tell tonight – there was a brief scare to Taumololo as he went down clutching his shoulder, but he appears to be okay.
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 80' Messy stuff by the Knights, not a lot of structure – they try to keep the ball alive but McManus ends up being taken into touch, and that should bring us to full-time.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 78' Roberts tries a chip over the top – Sims came through and cleaned him up late and Knights win a penalty. Replays show that was a shoulder charge, didn't quite contact Roberts fully though so that might save Tariq. Knights on the attack.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 NO TRY. Replay shows that Roberts managed to strip the ball before Sims got to the line – he wasn't claiming a try in fact but motioning to the ref that the ball was stolen. It was a one-on-one strip from Roberts so Knights will have the ball. Sims was over for all money there, nice work by Roberts to save the try.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 77' VIDEO REF! Sims crashes over, he's claiming a try but ref thinks otherwise... going upstairs!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 76' Gagai attacks down the right but he's driven into touch by Thurston, Linnett and Winterstein. Great defensive work by the Cowboys there.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 75' Lui goes high, it's allowed to bounce by the Knights – Morgan looked like he'd latch onto it for a bit but he can't pull the ball in and it goes dead, 20m tap to come.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 73' Play breaks down again for the Knights, Gidley with another forward pass out of dummy half. Completions dropping for the Knights, down at 67% now.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 71' Smith loses the ball in the tackle – a bit of attention there by Thurston, looked like it might have been a strip but the ref decides otherwise.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 70' Dobson goes to the sky – Winterstein takes it but then loses the ball in the tackle, double knock-on and that'll be a Knights ball.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 69' Short ball from Lui to Tamou close to the line but the big man can't hold it, knock-on called.
Adam
Roar Guru
He has lacked urgency in defence on a couple of occasions tonight actually, just not quite on tonight I think.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 68' Thurston kicks it across field, Uate knocks it on, Gagai grabs it and races away but the ref has already called it back and Cowboys will get six again.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 67' Knights try to go through the hands in their own half but Leilua can't control the pass, knock-on called, Cowboys scrum feed. They're well and truly beaten tonight, Newcastle.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 65' Uate breaks a tackle and is almost away but Tamou grabs him by the shorts – second time he's been grabbed like that tonight, needs tighter clothing! Tamou tries to strip the ball one on one but he knocks it on, Knights get a scrum feed.
Renegade
Guest
Yeah, he just pulled out right at the end... Could have been costly!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 28 - Knights 2 64' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL from Thurston.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Cowboys 26 - Knights 2 62' TRY COWBOYS! Thompson breaks a tired tackle from Roberts and runs away to score!