North Queensland have held out a late rally from Newcastle to stretch their NRL winning streak to five games with a 26-24 victory at Hunter Stadium.
The Cowboys led 26-12 in the 62nd minute despite losing backrower Jason Taumalolo (knee) and hooker Jake Granville (concussion) for the match inside the first seven minutes.
The Knights later had their own injury problem when five-eighth Jarrod Mullen left the game with concussion in the 34th minute.
Looking down and out well into the final quarter, centre Joey Leilua powered over from dummy-half for the Knights in the 69th minute before Sione Mata’utia bounced Johnathan Thurston off to score two minutes later, closing the gap to two points. However, handling errors and desperate Cowboys defence denied the Knights, who slipped to their fourth loss on the trot.
After leading 16-6 at halftime, North Queensland extended their advantage in the 42nd minute when winger Justin O’Neill scored his second try.
A break from dummy-half Ray Thompson put the Cowboys on the attack before a cut-out pass from Thurston gifted O’Neill the four-pointer.
Down 20-6, Leilua was held up over the line in the 51st minute but the Knights hit back a minute later when Aku Uate burst through poor ruck defence to sprint 60 metres to score.
The visitors pushed their lead back out to 14 points in the 61st minute when five-eighth Michael Morgan dummied then beat several defenders from 10m out to dot down, Thurston’s conversion making it 26-12.
In the first half, the Knights opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Chris Houston went through at close range from a Jarrod Mullen pass.
It came moments after Knights prop Korbin Sims was held up over the line. Newcastle’s joy was short-lived as Scott Bolton crashed over in the 18th minute after smart work from Thurston, who kicked, chased then stripped Kurt Gidley of the ball one-on-one close to the try-line.
Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute when he dummied and stepped inside Mullen to score.
Thurston converted the try to make it 12-6.
Leilua lost the ball reaching out to score in the 31st minute and three minutes later the Cowboys rubbed salt into the wound as O’Neill cruised over out wide.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I'd argue that was more fatigue than anything else with losing JT2 and Granville in the middle of the park.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Yep I was getting pretty stressed about then. But lo and behold some Newcastle frustration turned into errors and let us off the hook. Could easily have gone the other way. Kurt Gidley was North Queenslands best player, take a bow champion.
chris n
Guest
Was a good effort by the cowboys to win with losing two players early but did you watch the whole game the cowboys wheels did fall off when you expected just before the 70 minute mark and would have probably lost the game apart from some dumb errors late in the game by Newcastle.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree mate, can't believe anyone is writing off any team apart from the raiders or eels so early in the season. The Sharkies are now playing like how we all expected them too at round 1 though... It just took them to round 5 to do it lol. At their best, they have the potential to finish top 4. I haven't been convinced about the dragons largely because I haven't seen many games over the past month but they were impressive yesterday.... They've got a fair way to go in attack though. Injuries and squad depth are going to play a major factor in such a close competition. The team coming last has only won two games and both of them were against the team coming first after 7 rounds... Pretty amazing competition - just gets better every year.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
What's really pleasing about the Cowbies is they are still putting in until full time. They just need to consistently turn up at the start of games now and they'll be genuine 80minute players. Big effort to grind this win out with the loss of both JT2 & Granville so early, I thought the wheels would fall off around the 60-70 minute mark, but they toughed it out. Well done.
The eye
Guest
But on the other hand everyone's writing off everyone..can't think of a team that hasn't been written off..Titans Dragons and Sharks are surging,who'd a thought that...once Stone unshackled himself and includes Mamo and Sione they'll start winning again..
Jimmmy
Guest
I hope your right renegade . Losing JT 2 with the knee plus the origin period won't help us. Realistically you need to finish top 4 if you are going to win it. That's the big task for us. If we make top four I think we will win it. And nowthat we can win away from home you never know . Oh and we have Thurston.
Renegade
Roar Guru
You know what's funny is how many people had written off the cowboys after three rounds... absolutely insane. Everyone knows they are notoriously slow starters. People were stating they can't make the top 4 after three games therefore they are gone. Only 4 weeks later and they are currently sitting 4th..... they were my tip for the premiership before a ball was kicked and there is still a long way to go but I think they are benchmark as the best team in the comp this year.