Maroons utility Michael Morgan helped put the disappointment of a State of Origin opening loss behind him by guiding North Queensland to a much-needed 20-8 home NRL win on Saturday night over Gold Coast.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
North Queensland Cowboys 20
Gold Coast Titans 8
After producing an entertaining affair earlier in the season, the North Queensland Cowboys will take their turn to host the Gold Coast Titans, hoping Johnathan Thurston will be back on the paddock. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEST).
The game in reference, played during Round 4 saw a brave and understrength Titans outfit put on a brilliant display at home, but ultimately come up short in a high-scoring, entertaining affair to the tune of 32-26.
Now it’s the Cowboys turn to host the Queensland derby, and they will be hoping it’s Johnathan Thurston’s first game for the club in over a month.
He has struggled with injuries and missed State of Origin 1, but is once again on the reserves list for the Cowboys.
Nonetheless, the Cowboys have had other injury problems to deal with as their season slumped below expectations. Both Lachlan Coote and Jake Granville have been watching on from the sidelines, while veteran prop Matt Scott is out for the season.
Leading into the Origin round with Granville and Coote back on the field, alongside Michael Morgan who picked up his game considerably, they put in two much-improved performances, one for a win over the Bulldogs and the other a loss to the Sharks.
Coming out of the bye, the refreshed Cowboys will be looking to put in a charge for the top four during the second half of the season, but that needs to start here with the side currently sitting in seventh position.
If we are talking about teams playing understrength, then the Titans are at the top of the list. Even though they are getting back towards full strength now, they spent a considerable chunk of time with injuries left, right and centre.
It’s hard to remember a game this season where they have finished with four fit players on the bench, and at one point, leading into a stirring win against the Cronulla Sharks they had ten or more players out with injury, including Jarryd Hayne.
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Hayne in a lot of ways holds the fate of the Titans in his hands. After some less than average club form, he turned it on for New South Wales on Wednesday, and will now need to carry that back to the Titans.
For Hayne, it’s also about not overplaying his hand and allowing the creative combinations to work, with Ashley Taylor, Kane Elgey, Tyrone Roberts and Nathan Peats all doing good things so far in 2017. If they can do that, then there is no reason they won’t knock over the Cowboys.
The Titans currently sit out of the top eight with four wins from 11 games.
It’s worth noting both teams have made no changes from their last performance a fortnight ago.
Prediction
It’s hard to see the Titans picking up a win on the road, particularly if Thurston is back. Still, the experience of Morgan, Granville and Coote will power the hosts over the line in an entertaining encounter.
Cowboys by 6.
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Ed Nixon
Roar Pro
Hayne needs to go back to fullback. He can get away with playing in the centres for NSW because of the quality around him, but needs to be in the 1 jersey to get the ball consistently for the Titans, especially now he's staying on for another year.
Griffo
Guest
It's amazing how easily the penalty count blows out when one side keeps giving away penalties!
joel
Guest
Thurston, Scott out .. Ray Ray doing a great job and Morgon killing it in controll, Cowboys to have a missive run at seasons end, class effort. (nothing but refs to get in the road ... you can easily excuse my pessimism aka gus goul it is what the fans want no penalties on infringements) haha!
joel
Guest
"Cowboys record scratchy win over Titans" NRL.com is a joke
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Titans dropped a lot of ball in the first half, just ran out of legs at the end -- Peats sorely missed.
Philipp
Roar Rookie
only watched the last 30 Minutes, but the Cowboys forwards murdered the Titans forward. They completely owned the middle of the field
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report That'll just about do it here as the Cowboys got the better of the Titans. Thanks for joining me for The Roar's live coverage and I hope you enjoyed the call. I'll be back tomorrow at 2pm (AEST) as the Manly Sea Eagles take on the Canberra Raiders. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The dropout goes 60, the Titans bring it back, make an error trying to get some points on the board and that'll do it. The scoreboard will indicate that was a close game. It wasn't in the slightest. The Cowboys dominating the contest from whistle to siren, but the Gold Coast just refuse to go away. They were there all the way, and the Cowboys will be just a little worried by only being able to put 20 points on the board despite having 63 per cent possession and 70 per cent of the time in the Titans own half. North Queensland Cowboys 20 Gold Coast Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Wallace brings it away from the scrum before Hayne goes through the middle. Taylor goes right, finds Hurrell who then goes to Don and he does a rugby union style lineout back to Zillman who is taken 35 out. Taylor grubbers early in the count to the corner and Coote runs it touch in goal with the Titans chasers baring down on them. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Cowboys are quickly back over halfway and Taumalalo drops one trying to offload. This game is just winding down now. The Titans aren't done though as they race into stop the clock. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Boyle with the first run of this set for the Titans before Vaivai goes back across the ruck. Now they come right for Wallace who passes inside for Hayne and he spills it in the tackle. He has just come back from a concussion test and dropped it cold. That'll kill off the final chance the Titans had - of course, the fact they are within 12 points is a miracle. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Inside the final four minutes and the Titans go short side off the scrum with Hurrell being pulled to ground. Don back to the middle, passing for Boyle and here is the penalty - there first of the second half. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Cowboys bring it right off the scrum from Asiata to Coote and he has dropped the pass. That'll go down as an error, and for North Queensland to only have 20 points on the board with so much possession is a little bit worrying. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Feldt and Winterstein with the first couple of runs before Lowe goes over halfway. Now Granville takes off from dummy half before Morgan rolls the kick towards the sideline. It's taken a horrific bounce at Zillman who has had it come off his feet trying to control it and roll over the sideline. Cowboys scrum ten metres out. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Titans finally go beyond halfway. It almost feels weird to have the game down this end as Taylor kicks on the last. Coote picks it up under pressure and is tackled quickly. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - Bolton and Asiata with the first two runs of this set before Granville goes left to Morgan, then on for Coote who is held ten metres out. Back to the middle for Taumalolo who winds up before Morgan goes to Asiata and he is held about 6 metres out. Morgan with a chip on the last and it comes down to Coote who offloads, but Don picks it up for the Titans. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - It's going from bad to worse for this gallant Titans outfit. Restart doesn't go ten metres and the Cowboys will have a penalty on halfway. Just running through some stats - the Titans aren't yet to have 100 runs for the match, compared to the Cowboys 178, while the tackle count is 340 for the Titans, 179 for the Titans. Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - PENALTY GOAL TITANS, KYLE FELDT Cowboys 20 Titans 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - Cowboys to take the shot at 2 and extend the lead to 12. Cowboys 18 Titans 8