The North Queensland Cowboys pulled off an amazing second half come-back to escape with a 32-24 win over the Canberra Raiders.
>>MATCH REPORT: Comeback king Cowboys beat Raiders
The Raiders held an 18-0 advantage at half time but simply couldn’t hold on as the Cowboys stormed home to take the win.
North Queensland Cowboys 32 def. Canberra Raiders 24
The second placed North Queensland Cowboys host the ninth placed Canberra Raiders at 1300 Smiles Stadium in an important game for both sides. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:25pm (AEST)
The Cowboys will want to keep their momentum going all the way into the finals to keep that top-two spot, while the Raiders cannot afford to drop many games if they want to play finals football.
The last time these two teams met, in Canberra, the Cowboys were looking for 11 on the trot and Johnathan Thurston was rumoured to be rested. However, he played that game and broke the Raiders hearts on the full-time siren with a field goal to win 21-20.
The Cowboys are 1-17 after last week’s thrashing of the Eels, while the only change to the Raiders line-up is Paul Vaughan coming into the front-row for Frank-Paul Nuuausala, who moves back to the bench.
The Cowboys key players are Thurston and Michael Morgan, but their damaging back row can also expose the Raiders forwards, who are the fourth worst team in points conceded and the second worst when it comes to average run metres conceded (1,603).
North Queensland are first in both average run metres gained and conceded (1,708 and 1,423 respectively), so the Raiders forwards have a mammoth task on their hands.
If the Cowboys have a weak spot, it is their edges. If they get some good go-forward from their forwards, Raiders wingers Edrick Lee and Jordan Rapana will be spoon-fed quality ball from their halves. Further, the Cowboys will be tested under the high ball as that worked well against them last time around.
Prediction
The Cowboys have been good defensively this year, especially at home. They should have too much up-front for the Raiders to gather any sort of momentum, and Thurston should be on his way to another three Dally M points.
Cowboys by 22.
Will the Cowboys keep the ball rolling and make light work of the Raiders? Or can Ricky Stuart’s men do the unthinkable and beat the Thurston-led Cowboys up in Townsville?
Join The Roar from 5:25pm (AEST) for scores updates and debate in our live blog.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Agreed GA. They can't continue to give twenty odd point starts to a team like the Roosters. The Cowbies are good but not that good to be making a habit of it and now is the time to get on top of it. Be interesting to see how they start against the sharkies. And whether Greeny has had enough of the lack of focus.
turbodewd
Guest
Jarrod Croker's defence....its just no good. Shillington also missed a basic tackle and his forced pass cost us...he had a hand in 2 tries conceded.
Grand Armee
Guest
Yeah, and the Cowboys had hardly any possession in the first 30 minutes, and even when we did, we made errors (some forced, some unforced). Easier said than done, but both teams would be disappointed with how they did not control the game better and for longer. I will take the 2 points, but I am treating this performance like a loss. Comeback ability is a great quality, but it is getting to that point where we really need to be mentally switched on earlier in a game (while equally acknowledging our opponents were very good).
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
To give Jack Wighton credit that was his best game for some time. Scored a try and set up another. Good to see him getting more involved in attack. The Raiders really missed Hodgson in the second half. Hope he's not injured. The Cowboys are very hard to stop once they get a roll on. The Raiders hardly had any possession for much of the second half mainly due to the Cowboys superior up tempo style of play. Hurts to lose that game after being much the better side in the first 40. What a wasted opportunity.
Jono
Guest
The talk is all about Austin, but this game proves that Hodgson is the most valuable buy for the Raiders. He went off at the start of the 2nd and the Raiders never looked like getting back in the game. Didn't help that they lost Soliola as well for a while in that second half, who has been the form forward for the Raiders this year. Throw in some generous home ground ref advantage in that early to mid-2nd half and the Cowboys just have far too much to ever lose this game. This performance was very much early 2015 Raiders, quick lead in the first quarter and then shut down for the rest of the game to lose it comfortably. Better team won on the night and the team that looks like a top 8 team. Raiders are still a year or two from being a true contender.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Yep - the Raiders were all over the Cowboys in the first half and then that dropped ball from Leluia just before the break led to a Cowboys try. Momentum shifted and it was shut the gate. Couple of dumb plays by Shillington didn't help.
Ralphy
Guest
Wow! Cowboys, you can do it!
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
Maybe they're practicing for the Roosters come semi-final time.
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Austin kicks the ball on the last play of the game and the ball is taken by Thurston who throws the ball out. That completes a marvellous comeback by the Cowboys who outscored the Raiders 28-4 in the second half to record another win and keep the pressure on the Broncos for the top spot. Very disappointing second half by the Raiders after such a good first half that showed some promise but ultimately in retrospect was the result of a bad Cowboys half rather than a good Raiders one. COWBOYS 32 RAIDERS 24
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Three games lost by last minute FGs, and two games after leading 18-blot. Sheesh.
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
79' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL Croker converts from straight in front to at least make the score respectable. COWBOYS 32 RAIDERS 24
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
79' RAIDERS TRY Baptiste goes from dummy half to score under the post. The play was set up at the other end of the field when Linnett dropped the ball and Austin regathered to sprint all the way to the Cowboys 10 but eventually tackled by Coote. Thurston was then penalised for striking at the football giving the Raiders another 6. COWBOYS 32 RAIDERS 22
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
77' Short kick is unsuccessful by the Raiders with the Cowboys working it forward. Thurston puts the ball high and Croker receives it and breaks the line to run for 20 metres. Williams then puts it in the air on the last but Coote defuses it and the Cowboys now work it out of their half. COWBOYS 32 RAIDERS 18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
76' PENALTY GOAL SUCCESSFUL Thurston kicks the penalty goal and extends the Cowboys lead past two converted tries. COWBOYS 32 RAIDERS 18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
74' The Cowboys gain 60 metres and Thurstons kick has too much on it and goes dead for a seven tackle set. The Raiders work it forward and Williams attempts an offload but knocks it on and the Cowboys have the ball on the Raiders 25. Taumalolo runs the ball hard and loses the ball on the tryline but it is deemed to have been stripped by Blake Austin. The Cowboys will attempt the two points and try to extend their lead. COWBOYS 30 RAIDERS18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
73' The Raiders do nothing for 4 tackles and on the last William again attempts a cross-field kick to the wing of Rapana but he knocks it on and the Cowboys work it out of their 20. COWBOYS 30 RAIDERS18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
72' Sam Williams attempts a cross field kick to Rapanas wing and the Cowboys are penalised for a blocking play. COWBOYS 30 RAIDERS18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
70' Wighton receives the ball from Thurston and breaks the line to gain 60 metres and earn his side a penalty. Raiders now on the Cowboys 20 COWBOYS 30 RAIDERS18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
68' PENALTY GOAL SUCCESSFUL Thurston kicks the goal to take the Cowboys to a two converted try lead. COWBOYS 30 RAIDERS18
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
67' Cowboys receive a penalty on the Raiders 10 metre line after a nice break by Granville from dummy half pops an offload to Coote who passes it to Thurston. Referee signals that Rapana held Thurston down for too long and the Cowboys will elect to take the two points. COWBOYS 28 RAIDERS18