The North Queensland Cowboys have won an absolute thriller in the second NRL semi-final, in what may have been the best game of the season, by just six-points in extra time over the Brisbane Broncos at 1300 Smiles Stadium.
The game was played at a ferocious pace, and going for 90 minutes both teams looked out on their feet for the vast majority in what was a humid Townsville evening.
The Broncos dominated the early exchanges, coming out of the gates with more energy but couldn’t hold it down despite the play of Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford on the back of a strong forwards showing.
North Queensland though, took control of the game with Coen Hess and the wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo playing incredible games, picking up massive metres with every carry.
With Johnathan Thurston stepping up at key times and the rest of the team doing their part, they found a way to get the win in what was another incredible game between the two Queensland rivals.
The scoring got underway for the Broncos in the fourth minute. After they had survived an attacking raid, they went the length of the field with the help of a penalty and McCullogh would run from dummy half crashing through some soft defence.
Coen Hess would then answer back for the Cowboys as they started to seize control on the back of a full field effort set up by Kyle Feldt and Justin O’Neill.
It took until the final play of the half for the Broncos to extend their lead after penalty goals each way, with Boyd putting a grubber in, Coote dropping it and Jordan Kahu coming across to score.
At half-time then, it was the Broncos ahead 14-6.
The furious pace of the game continued in the second half and the end-to-end nature saw plenty of scoring opportunities but none converted until the 57th minute when Justin O’Neill scored the first of his two tries stepping through some very tired looking defence from a Michael Morgan pass.
Just a couple of minutes later it was O’Neill going over again as the Cowboys hit the front, running through some soft defence again.
The Broncos by that point looked absolutely out on their feet, but somehow found a way to score 11 minutes from time through Corey Oates. With half the team down on their haunches, they launched a raid from dummy half and went the length of the field to hit the front again.
Brisbane would hold a two-point lead all the way until the final two minutes of the match, before a disorganised attacking play for North Queensland saw Johnathan Thurston be tripped to ground by Matt Gillett, and then stand up to kick the penalty goal.
The first game under the new finals extra time rules saw more end to end play, before Thurston sparked a try for halves partner Michael Morgan right on the bell of the first half, and no points would be scored after that despite opportunities.
The Cowboys then, through to the preliminary finals as Corey Parker bows out of the NRL, but whether they have anything left in the tank for the game against Cronulla next week is very questionable.
For now though, we can all enjoy what was the game of the season and rivals the grand final from 2015 as the best game we have ever seen.
Final score
North Queensland Cowboys 26
Brisbane Broncos 20
Match Statistics
Tries: Cowboys (3), Broncos (3)
Conversions: Cowboys (2/3), Broncos (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Cowboys (2/2), Broncos (1/1)
Possession: Cowboys (55%), Broncos (45%)
Completions: Cowboys (30/41), Broncos (25/33)
All runs: Cowboys (173), Broncos (147)
All run metres: Cowboys (1766), Broncos (1419)
Line breaks: Cowboys (4), Broncos (5)
Offloads: Cowboys (12), Broncos (6)
Tackles: Cowboys (263), Broncos (314)
Missed tackles: Cowboys (23), Broncos (49)
Penalties: Cowboys (8), Broncos (5)
Errors: Cowboys (13), Broncos (10)
The Roar’s NRL MVP
3 – Jason Taumalolo
2 – Johnathan Thurston
1 – Darius Boyd
Rob
Guest
But Linnett can't catch, pass or beat an opponent one on one? I've never seen a bloke so consistent at murdering a match winning moment. He is only there to help out JT defend bigger forwards targeting JT. Bowen can do that and deliver so much more in attack. Ponga is special and between the ears he is light years ahead of Winterstein and Linnett. He maybe a bit small to play against Sharks wingers?
bobbie
Guest
I would just to thank the Broncos and the Cowboys for the most thrilling and cleanest game of Rugby League. There is no one that follows any code of football that would not have been impressed by the commitment, the respect, the absence of dirty tricks and the sheer skill we saw on Friday night, by two teams that were at times practically dead on their feet. It has spoilt many of us for watching the ordinary league game with all the inherent spitefulness and foul play, which is a substitute for talent. We hope you boys realise how much your respect for each other and your skill has made us feel. I would also like to thank the crowd for their good natured support for both teams....and why wouldn't it be.....we are all Queenslanders. The smile the two captains gave each other was pure magic. Corey Parker and JT.....what cracking blokes.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
From what I gathered the refs said they called it but were simply playing advantage and checked upstairs to be safe. Can't remember who called it. It's really unlucky for Gillett. If he doesn't let off that late flick of the boot then it's just thurston running into him, Thurston beats him cleanly Hunt has a clear run at him and it would've been a very tight finish to see if he could get a ball away to Coote. Just a classic case of the maybe, what ifs. I'd say Gillett more than likely stopped a try being scored rather than say it cost Brisbane the game. Calls for a sinbin were a bit much though.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Scott; I think you'd have to agree that conditions and the speed of the game are a big factor in errors and missed tackles -- combined tackle numbers were over 650, and the conditions in Townsville on the night were punishing on both a ball handling and fatigue factor level with the heat and humidity. That being said, I would've said last weeks Storm vs Cowboys was the best quality game thus far, and I believe Scott P is speaking more in terms of entertainment value than necessarily raw quality of football.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I wasn't disagreeing with you, what I was saying is that it happened a couple of times during the game and wasn't penalised.
Raugeee
Guest
I hate to admit it but the offside by Morgan near the end was incredible. I was just waiting for the whistle to blow and when it didn't I thought "Huh? Am I watching Rugby League?" Dreadful stuff and a real game changer. Have the refs tried to normalise it? It will take some Bill Harrigan like chutzpah to get out of this one. Still, great to see the better team won. Gillett's incident was a trip every day of the year and good to see that JT didn't milk it but was up trying to score.
Jara W
Guest
I think Bennett may have overestimated the effect of dropping the interchange. They've seemed a big body short a few times and have been encouraging fast rucks. But then Pangai Jr very nearly didn't take the field last night. So I got nothing.
Martin Millard
Roar Pro
Linnet has his downfalls but his hard yards out of the backfield are just what the doctor ordered for a Prelim final. Ponga is way too slight defensively and inexperienced yet to be playing centre in a Prelim final, despite his talent. Better to bring him along on the wing if Winterstein is not fit, otherwise if Winterstein is fit he must start. Cowboys cannot risk playing boys instead of men with a premiership on the line
Muzz
Guest
I wish i received text messages from someone that works for an NRL club. Napa sends me texts. Dylan thinks he's my love child. Broncos have offerred him $1.35 million over three years. I'll be devastated if he leaves Sydney. Q - What's the definition of "negative"? A - Melbourne Storm's brand of footy zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Martin Millard
Roar Pro
Hmm forgetting a few factors there, 7 tackle sets etc. The conspiracy theories did have it's genesis from some truly shocking and robbing calls. The coach and captain spoke out against those horrid calls, just as any of their Sydney team counterparts would have had it happened to them, to say they were ungracious in those circumstances is speed reading
MAX
Guest
The energy required to overcome the errors of Lachlan Coote speaks volumes for the physical and mental toughness of the Cowboys. He could never again have a game as bad as that.The Sharks will be circling, hoping that he has not recovered.
MAX
Guest
Alan Shortall awarded the penalty which evened the scores. My screen did not show where Cecchin was positioned when Gillett infringed. It would be interesting to know how he interpreted the incident and whether AS beat him to it or would he have allowed play to continue.
Faux Outrage
Guest
Like Mongo commented above, Cecchin was orchestrating a close finish as he played that 2nd half brilliantly for the home side.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz, It is only big noting if his name was mentioned and i would never do that without his permission as he works for a club. I could understand him saying what he did as he did not look good early. Muzz, only you could manage to find a negative in a positive story.
Jimmmy
Guest
Mongo, I have no problem with you raising the issue of a couple of calls you think went against the Broncs. That's fair comment , but 'confected result'. Do you really , really think this result was deliberately made by some nefarious conspiracy. If you do I can't help you. Surely the NRL wants the Broncs in the GF again not us minnows of the north. Think about it.
Jimmmy
Guest
'Straight sets . Straight sets I say. 'Now where did I here that I wonder.?
Brian
Guest
It's the mindset of squaring up the penalty count that has done us in the past two season. The broncos are, in comparison to teams like the sharks, storm, and cows, very quick to get out of the ruck, and has such concede meters up the middle. We need to bring a 2013 roosters mindset into next season (intentional penalties defending the line, knowing that you get to reset your defence, and that the refs will even it out later on regardless), because the current strategy doesn't work in the modern game. I'd ideally like to see extra measures done to get rid of the wrestle, including wrestling experts on the MRC, but we all know that ain't gonna happen.
Brian
Guest
It's classic seeing the difference in outrage when the Broncs are on the receiving end of dodgy officiating compared to any other side. The penalty count went from 4-1 in the Broncos favour to 7-4 against. Likewise, possession swung eight percentage points. It's hard to believe the Cows went from being ill disciplined in the first thirty odd minutes to being picture perfect until the last thirty seconds of the game.
Muzz
Guest
One of the game's best judges asks you if Thurston is gone?. We're so lucky to have you on the Roar, Scott ya big noter : )
Breno
Guest
I completely appreciate that people don't want to distract from the insane game we watched last night and I agree that if we had to lose, then last night's game was the way to do it. Unfortunately I also agree with what is said above. People are happy to let poor reffing slide when it is against the Broncos, maybe it's because they are rarely considered the underdogs, but when it falls in the Broncos favour people are all over it (eg. last week's game... and fair enough). It's all good to say 'take it on the chin' when 50:50's don't go your way, that is the rub of the green, but the offside calls last night were not 50:50 and unfortunately came at a critical juncture.