A last-minute sideline conversion from second rower Ethan Lowe has helped North Queensland escape with a thrilling 14-12 victory over Penrith in Townsville on Saturday.
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Final score
North Queensland Cowboys 14
Penrith Panthers 12
The Penrith Panthers will be looking to extend their recent winning streak when they take on a depleted North Queensland Cowboys side in Townsville. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 3pm (AEST).
Penrith and North Queensland are both hanging onto the edge of the top eight after both going through an undulating first half to the 2017 season.
The Cowboys are currently sitting in seventh after a nail-biting 23-22 loss to the Storm last week in extra time.
Despite coming off a defeat and in the midst of a season that has seen them win no more than two games in a row at any point, they have only once lost two games in a row this year.
For the Panthers, they’re sitting just two points back in eighth on the ladder thanks to their current run of strong form that has seen them jump from the wrong end of the standings into final contention.
They lost seven of their first nine games of the season, and five in a row leading into their Round 10 clash with the Warriors.
Since then, the Panthers have gone on a sensational run of four wins on the trot, elevating them back towards the pointy end of the standings. It’s been two months since they last tasted defeat.
They’re coming in fresh off the bye and a tense comeback win over the Raiders two weeks ago.
The Cowboys will take a lot of confidence from playing at home as well as their recent record of six wins from their last seven games against the Panthers.
Team News
A huge blow for the Cowboys coming out of State of Origin with star halfback Johnathan Thurston not only missing out on his 300th game this weekend, but being ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury.
He will be replaced in the halves by 22-year-old Kyle Laybutt in just his second NRL game.
Corey Jensen is the only other change for the home side, coming onto the bench to replace Ben Spina who has been ruled out with a bicep injury.
While the Cowboys have been impacted by Origin with Thurston out and a physically exhausted Coen Hess in the line up, the Panthers will have no such troubles.
With zero rep players backing up, coach Anthony Griffin has taken the same side into this week that beat the Raiders in Round 14.
Prediction
The Cowboys are far from a one-man team but Thurston’s injury is massive for them and opens a big window for an in-form Panthers side to take the points away from home.
Penrith has been firing in the last two months and are really hitting their straps after a steady start to the season.
The Cowboys will fight hard at home but they might be looking at defeat on this one.
Panthers to win by 7
Rob
Guest
Penrith have beaten Raiders, Knights, Bulldogs and Warriors in the last 4 weeks with zero players playing SOO. Ponga(Cowboys) was man of the match against the Knights. Moylan got smashed early, which is unlike every other playmaker? Some of the dumb errors were from Moylan's hands? Like I said " Please get him in the NSW jumper."
Albo
Guest
Oh ! Please ! Moylan got smashed in the first few minutes with a head clash and probably should have left the field. He stayed on , set up a try and was two minutes away from leading his team to 5 straight wins despite them only having 40 % possession, due to dumb errors and a 11-6 penalty count against, and a freak try against them on the bell. Hardly a reason to claim Moylan to be consistently inconsistent after being man of the match in his previous 4 outings ?
Concerned observer
Guest
Moylan really represents his team, against teams like the dogs he'd be on fire, everything he touched turned to gold. Against sterner opposition he seems to lose his way, He had some good touches this afternoon but he also had some pretty bloody average ones.
Rob
Guest
You could say the same about the Raiders and Ricky Stuart. Moylan has done nothing but be consistently inconsistent, yet he is consider a great player? Please get him in the NSW jumper.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
They really stepped up in defence but ultimately came up with dumb errors all game which cruelled any chances they had of gaining momentum. A big learning curve.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Consistency is not a forte in NRL refereeing, the sooner you accept that the better you will be. Its a lottery!!!
Rob
Guest
It looks like Coen Hess came back from Origin two years older. His stats 3 days after Origin are the equal of Taumalolo. Morgan also rose to the job of demanding the ball and directing the attack in the last 20 min. The future of the Cowboys appears healthy.
Concerned observer
Guest
To be fair, he wasn't exactly subtle... need to be smarter then just running straight into the guy with your shoulder, in front of the ref...
Concerned observer
Guest
Nope, Cowboys fan, just frustrated that they get so much coverage and hype but continuosly fail to turn up against the big opponents. Their attack just seems to stall and silly errors creep into their game. It's like they just can't stand to grind. Panther's are a team I like too so I guess it's also annoying to watch a talented roster struggle against teams that refuse to be cowed by a bit of fast and loose play.
Michael Clare
Guest
Another close match unduly influenced by close refereeing decisions for my money. On Wednesday night a block play against a bomb by Queensland was considered legal and unworthy of a penalty for NSW, but tonight it was an illegal play and North Queensland got the ball back at a crucial time late in the game. A great try was the result of this decision and a win to the Cowboys, but there is no consistency from game to game with crucial rulings and it is hurting the NRL.
souvalis
Guest
All credit to the Cowboys though,Cooper and Morgan were absolute Trojans...
souvalis
Guest
Sounds like you lost money on them...but it was very,very disappointing from them...the centers have nothing,Bill K.and Brown on the bench likewise...they should be doing much better with the ball..much better..I wanted to believe in Coach Hook..but their playing as poorly now as they were 15 weeks ago..
Concerned observer
Guest
I think it's about time we dispense with the absolute myth that is the Penrith Panthers. I don't think they've managed to beat a top 8 team this year. Here was a golden opportunity, no thurston, players backing up from origin and they had no orgin players and a bye. They were unchanged, rested and should've won but they didn't. Absolute joke
Rob
Guest
I think the officials are playing their part to keep the results close?
Connor Bennett
Editor
What. A. Try!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
The Panthers put on a defensive masterclass, for the most part, holding off the Cowboys time and time and time and time again as the Cowboys execution let them down. The Panthers looked to have stolen it late after conceding the lead a few minutes earlier thanks to Nathan Cleary's four-pointer with ten minutes to go, but the Cowboys pulled the rabbit out of the hat.
Rob
Guest
Well done Cowboys. No JT and life goes on. Kyle Feldt is a weapon in attack and Coen Hess was big in the middle.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Spectacular show of athleticism by Feldt securing a screamer of a try, a result of a huge leap and put down over the top of Mansour. Gee there has been some top tries this year by wingers.May it continue. Another nail biter of a game, the code keeps on giving.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME Ladies and gentlemen take a breath! The Cowboys have won a thriller with the Panthers in Townsville, taking a dramatic 14-12 win. The Cowboys dominated the second half but the Panthers were holding on and holding on for as long as they could but they had to give in the end. Kyle Feldt scores an absolute gem of a try with 90 seconds on the clock after four sets on the Panthers line in a row. It came down to Ethan Lowe who slotted the conversion from the sideline with the sun in his eyes to take the two-point lead in the dying moments. The Panthers four-game winning streak has come to an end and the Cowboys now extend their winning streak against Penrith to five in a row. Cowboys – 14 Panthers – 12