A young North Queensland Cowboys side has bested the Gold Coast Titans by six points on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Gold Coast Titans 26
North Queensland Cowboys 32
It’s an all-Queensland derby as the undermanned Gold Coast Titans look to battle their way to victory against the North Queensland Cowboys who themselves aren’t at full strength. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9pm (AEDT).
It’s a case of last man standing for the two sides just a month into the season, with neither looking anywhere near full strength for this crucial clash.
For the Titans, the home ground advantage is about all they have for this one. The list of injuries is racking up for the club, with backline depth at a minimum.
Jarryd Hayne, Anthony Don, Will Zillman and Dan Sarginson will all be watching on from the sidelines and even if their forward pack is looking good, they are without plenty.
Chris McQueen does make his way back into the second row for the Gold Coast, but surprisingly it was their best performance of the season to date last week as they got the better of the Parramatta Eels.
They were given next to no chance coming into the clash, but fought hard and without Hayne on the field it allowed their attack to flow with Ashley Taylor having a brilliant game to lead the side to their first win of the season.
North Queensland meanwhile, started their season in the toughest way possible with two golden point victories over the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos.
While they picked up the win in both, they looked exhausted last weekend as they were run ragged by the Manly Sea Eagles. While they had injuries and still do, it was hard to blame them for last week’s effort with Manly also severely understrength.
The Cowboys biggest losses are Matt Scott and Jason Taumalolo. While Taumalolo is suspended and will be back next weekend, Scott is likely to be out for the season with an ACL injury.
Paul Green is also without Lachlan Coote and Antonio Winterstein and will be for some time, with youngsters Javid Bowen and Kalyn Ponga getting some big opportunities to stand up and fill the shoes.
What the Cowboys do have though is Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan directing the side around the paddock. While they are out there, it’s always going to be a difficult team to beat, even if the Titans halves combination is steady with Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey on the park.
The kicking games could decide the contest, with the sides looking roughly even across the rest of the park.
Prediction
It’s another tough one to tip, but Johnathan Thurston should be able to get his side over the line, even without their two enforces up front.
Cowboys by 2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 9pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments throughout the course of the coverage.
James Ditchfield
Roar Rookie
Thurston strikes again.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I think the real killer was that Ryan James drop about half an hour in; not sure why Henry hadn't gone to the bench more by that stage (though Paasi had to go off and Pulu on, so maybe that mucked up a plan).
Geoff
Guest
Could'nt get livestream or radio of the game. Completely crap internet here in Tanzania, lucky to get .5mbps download. So, your commentary blog was very intermittent altgough i enjoyed the commentary. Nail biting finish, you picked it 4 minutes out that it coukd be a golden point finish. The boys held on! :-) good win Cowboys.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah - makes you wonder what the score would have been if they had of started well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well that'll be just about all we wrote here on The Roar this evening. Thanks for joining me for our live coverage of the 2017 NRL Season as the North Queensland Cowboys picked up an entertaining victory over the Gold Coast Titans. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. That's me done for the weekend, but The Roar will be around and in full swing from 4pm (AEDT) tomorrow to bring you live coverage of the Wests Tigers versus Melbourne Storm, followed by the St George Illawarra Dragons versus New Zealand Warriors. Be sure to check out the Round 4 talking points which will be published following the completion of the final match tomorrow. Bye for now.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Titans just gave themselves too much to do I think; losing Paasi didn't help.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Superb game of football, but the Cowboys have their third win of the season. The Titans with a seriously brave effort there, and they are going to cause a lot of headaches this season. Gold Coast Titans 26 North Queensland Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by ASHLEY TAYLOR Titans 26 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - TRY TITANS, DANIEL VIDOT Inside the final 60 seconds here and the Titans will have one last shot at scoring. Ryan James looks to have a back injury here as he hands off for Proctor who is tackled 15 out. Taylor bombs for the corner now and Feldt loses it flying above the pack, Vidot comes through and he scores a consolation. That evens up the scoreboard, and represents the game a little more fairly. It's been a fantastic match. Titans 24 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Well, the Titans have reached the empty mark on the fuel tank now. Going nowhere here, but they pick up a penalty. Titans 20 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Great set from the Cowboys and Thurston kicks down the ground with the Titans getting stuck on their own goalline. Titans 20 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Feldt with the kick-off and Hurrell storms back before offloading to Proctor who goes back to the middle and picks up another 10. Another offload from James to Roberts now before Roberts is put on his back. Jacmes another run, then an offload from Pulu to Taylor who offloads to Lawton and then on for Pulu who is only 30 out on the 3rd. They come right and it's Elgey onto Proctor who is taken 20 out. Elgey for James now and a waste of a play there. Last play now and Elgey almost tackled before there is a spread to the right, offloads a-plenty and Proctor has it before finding Taylor who kicks - it's hit the back of Thurston and still the last. Roberts Davis kicks and Ponga takes it. That'll do it now. What a passage. Titans 20 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by ASHLEY TAYLOR 2 converted tries and we could get golden point. 4:32 on the clock. Titans 20 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - TRY TITANS, DALE COPLEY Ashley Taylor goes short side from the scrum now with Hurrell and Davis taken out there. Back to the middle for Wallace now who almost breaks through, before they shift left from Elgey to Roberts and he goes on for Copley who has a double, going through the defence. Titans 20 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Titans come into the middle through Pulu before James goes to Taylor and then Roberts who bounces off one, but is taken about 5 out. Taylor for Wallace now and he offloads for Lawton who spins in the tackle but is taken. James goes from dummy half now and is held in front of the sticks. Pass back for Taylor and it's a knock on as they go for the intercept. Titans 16 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - Life yet in the Titans! Short kick-off and Copley comes up with it before Greenwood is pulled down in the left corner, picking up a penalty. Titans 16 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by JOHNATHAN THURSTON Titans 16 Cowboys 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - TRY COWBOYS, COEN HESS The Cowboys up to halfway and then Bolton drives through a tackle to pick up 20 or 25 metres. Down the right hand side now from Granville to Thurston, then a short ball for Hess who takes three or four defenders with him and finds a way to get it down. Double for Hess, and surely that's the game now. What a run from Bolton to set that up. Titans 16 Cowboys 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
69' - Lawton, Wallace and Proctor bring the Titans to the right edge before McQueen picks up ten metres with a run. They come left and King has a run before Taylor throws an inside ball for Roberts, but he is taken centre of the park 30 out. Taylor a bomb from 30 out and Ponga loses it, comes up with it and Hurrell has tried to pinch it! He has gotten it out of Ponga's grasp and scored. Off to the bunker. Could have been a 2-on-1 strip. Ponga definitely lost it backwards, and this will be a penalty for the Cowboys. Titans 16 Cowboys 26