South Sydney thumped North Queensland 31-18 in Townsville on Thursday night, raising questions about the Cowboys NRL minor premiership hopes.
North Queensland have been flying high in the top two for most of the year, but have now suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since round three in March.
The two teams went toe-to-toe in the first half in an entertaining display to commence round 23, with the Rabbitohs going into the break with their noses in front 13-12.
For the opening 20 minutes of the second half there was niggle, there was frustration and there was plenty of shoving as both teams heated up in the North Queensland humidity.
But as the game settled, the Bunnies sizzled. Tries from Jason Clark and Alex Johnston established a commanding lead for the Rabbitohs and when Dylan Walker streaked over under the posts in the 73rd minute, the match was gone for the Cowboys, despite a late consolation try from Michael Morgan.
It didn’t take long for Rabbitohs skipper Greg Inglis to stamp his mark on the match, selling a flick pass dummy to Justin O’Neill to storm over in the third minute. Adam Reynolds added the extras.
At the 15 minute mark it was South Sydney’s turn to weather the pressure, with the Cowboys marching upfield off the back of three straight penalties.
O’Neill made it count, crossing out wide with Johnathan Thurston locking up the scores with his conversion.
The Cowboys’ goal-line defence was questioned again in the 25th minute and Thomas Burgess found it wanting, bending the line and slamming the ball down to score.
In the shadows of halftime Reynolds slotted a field goal to open up a 13-6 lead, but the Cowboys weren’t done yet.
Sweeping right side ball movement saw O’Neill make a bust before kicking in for Lachlan Coote to score. Thurston converted to trim the margin to one point.
But South Sydney responded and proved far too good for an at times sloppy North Queensland.
Despite the two points, the Rabbitohs face a nervous wait after hooker Issac Luke was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Coote.
Freddo
Guest
Agreed mike, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKElIxAADm4 shocking refereeing against the cows again?
Doc79
Roar Rookie
But no replay...thanks ch 9, commentators must be right then!
Doc79
Roar Rookie
Don't mention that name.......ever. Not a fan of that epi!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Souths weren't especially good, the Cowboys just regressed to their early rounds defense (also known as "what's a tackle").
Samtwocan
Guest
I thought the same ...pretty marginal calls .
steveng
Roar Rookie
Do you by any chance live in the outback of NQ? I thought so, it might be a good idea if you wore a Cowboy hat to keep that intense Qld sun off your melon! lol
steveng
Roar Rookie
There was, if you would have cared to listen to the Ch9 commentary! The pass was not forward as Thurston questioned it and the referee and the touchy called it good. But those sorts of passes look forward from where the camera was positioned, those sorts of passes may look forward but if the pass is thrown within a backward motion, the pass is legit and not forward, and that is what happened and it was explained on the Ch9 commentary by Ray Warren.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its not that it wasn't the Cowboys night, how about the penalties, the first Cowboys try , that was walked by the refs from the Cowboys 20m line with 3 penalties to the Bunnies 20m line, how about the indecisions of the refs, when they give a penalty to the Bunnies and then they reverse it and give it to the Cowboys, and then you have the Cowboys 'home advantage' and it goes on and on. The Cowboys had it all there (if they were good enough) but they were NOT GOOD ENOUGH, it wasn't an off night it wasn't that they played badly, they were smashed by the Bunnies forwards and strong back play. That is it and let's not just give the Cowboys the wrap as if they 'had a bad night'.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
"Found myself actually hoping Souths would win last night…" shame on you...
maximillian
Guest
That actually makes perfect sense to me & is a smart ploy IMO so I'm unsure what you're getting at here?
littleredrooster
Guest
Easts will be leading the comp at the end of this round, go saints. Found myself actually hoping Souths would win last night...
Harry
Guest
Before last night's game in Townsville, our resident "Immortal" made the comment that teams need to kick to Greg Inglis' left side so that he carries the ball in his left hand, thereby removing the threat of his right hand fend. Did I hear correctly????????????? What are you on, Mr "Immortal"?
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Ah, a Raiders fan. That explains the whole Sticky-esque "biased refs" argument.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
Raiders fan, sorry that doesn't fit your thread though. As for back to back to back penalties, its the old even up after the most important moments are over.
Muzz
Guest
Cows are either cruising and saving their energy for when it counts or they are shot. Last nights intensity levels aren't good enough.
P.Marlowe
Guest
I thought Souths played well. They really capitalised on errors by the Cowboys (such as the penalty for dragging Walker in the first half into the ingoal or Matt Scott dropping the ball around the 50 minute mark). Not sure what happened at the start of the second half but Cowboys looked really flat - was Granville off? No speed out of dummy half and all the forwards looked really flat footed.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Scrap that. Keary and Luke both facing bans. Gone.
jim
Guest
You forgot the 3 back to back spurious penalties that let the cowgirls back in the game. Missed those while you were busy noting down all the supposed dud calls against your team ? Man just watch the footy. Souths stepped up and rolled em. simple as that. They were easily the better team. If the cowgirls are blaming the refs for their loss, look out for another dissapointing end to the season. And another entertaining one where everyone else has a good laugh at Thurston and Green and the rest of the Qld foil hat brigade crying about conspiracy theories.
pete bloor
Guest
Cowboys are actually undefeated since joining the NRL, the referees have just lied and stolen games form them. At least that's what I'm led to believe
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Haha love your work Joe.