North Queensland players have been torn to shreds by interim coach Josh Hannay following their late capitulation to South Sydney on Saturday.
Hannay has blasted his side for the “boneheaded, schoolboy” and “unbelievably dumb” plays that cost them the win in their 31-30 fade-out.
The Cowboys thought they had secured victory when centre Tom Opacic soared to break a 24-all deadlock with six minutes remaining.
However, a poor defensive play resulted in the Rabbitohs crossing for a try, before a blatant strip by Kyle Feldt allowed Adam Reynolds to level the scores with a penalty goal soon after.
North Queensland then allowed South Sydney to march downfield and concede the game-winning field goal to Reynolds, completing a remarkable comeback.
The Cowboys’ stunning capitulation prompted a furious Hannay to take aim at his charges in his post-game press conference.
“There’s a lesson in there in how to throw away the unloseable game,” he said.
“I’ll have to watch that last five minutes again but there were a number of individuals that just came up with some bonehead plays, just schoolboy, bonehead, not doing their job.
“It wasn’t one or two, there were a few there that, five to go, just, wow. It was just really bad.”
Hannay admitted a number of players had apologised to their teammates in the sheds after the match, but it was of little solace to the interim coach.
“I’ve heard us say the right thing for too long, but we keep going out there. I’m over us saying the right words and not doing it correctly on the field,” he said.
“I’ve heard some premiership-winning speeches from us as a group. They say some wonderful things. But man, talk about not backing it up.”
Hannay refused to describe their seventh straight defeat – their worst losing streak in 12 years – as merely a result of developing a losing habit.
“The last five minutes there was unbelievable. Unbelievably dumb and poor, from individuals in our team.
“And I don’t want to put that down to losing being a habit for us,” he said. The Cowboys were also left to rue a poor goalkicking night from Feldt, who missed his opening three looks on goal before finishing with three from seven attempts.
“Goalkicking clearly was costly tonight,” Hannay said.
“But I’m going to back whoever it is that’s our kicker to turn things around. “I don’t think it would’ve been great for Kyle’s confidence to strip him of goalkicking duties after those first three misses.
“And to be honest, we probably don’t have a true back-up option there at the moment.”
Rob
Guest
I think they are defending in away that has been taught for about 7 years. Hess and Taumalolo grab and try to wrestle. 2 steps forward crab and first man goes high. It’s garbage and probably why blokes are racking up the misses. People talk about Storm wrestling but I also see the Storm rushing up a belting blokes low and hard. Back rowers who actually hit like B. Smith, Johnson, Finucan, Harris, Kafusi, Proctor and even getting blokes like Myles and Crocker. The Cowboys have a lot of young immature bodies especially on the edges just like the Broncos. Connelly and Masters are very much clueless to how this team defends? I think if O’Neil played instead of Connelly they don’t give up 2 or 3 tries. Hampton like Drinkwater struggle to make a one on one stop close to the line. Wright has been really good defensively but it doesn’t seem to hold weight at selection time. Green also got rid of Kikau, Smith, Horesbrugh, Uale, and Lowe? They have some good back row prospect but they’re just a bit young for this level unfortunately.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think those Cows needed a much bigger spray than that a couple of seasons ago ! If Feldt holds his spot after giving away the dumbest penalty of this season, I will know Hannay is just another hypocrite.
Albo
Roar Rookie
It smells like .....the coaches box air, when leading by 2 points with two minutes to go, your team gives away a dumb penalty on the 5th tackle , 35 m out from your line , giving your opposition with its 80% conversion kicker a free shot to draw level !
Albo
Roar Rookie
Reynolds > Morgan & Feldt
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
So Hannay doesn't want words, he wants actions - but he keeps picking Kyle Feldt...?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Until they learn to tackle they can't progress. There were positives last night for sure but when the other team is allowed to score 30 plus you won't win many games. Do you think their D has improved at all this year. ? I think not and that's a sad indictment on the coaching they have had so far.
Rob
Guest
The Cowboys dominanted so much of the game it was ridiculous they found a way to lose it. 1. When you’ve made a habit of losing it becomes hard to kick. The fact Feldt couldn’t kick his hat last night is what proved the difference. Actually Feldt was always a chance of having a bad night with the boot. Anyway they should have won by 10 and lost by 1. They’re making some progress in the type of football they want to play with the ball and hopefully some of the young boys are gaining some belief. Defence has been a major issue. They have young players making bad decision and struggling to work with cohesion. They also have a couple of players that are good with the ball and average in defence and I’m looking at the cuddle twins Hess and Taumalolo. These two blokes should intimidated in defence but they are clueless at using their shoulder and don’t scare anyone running at them.
Tony
Roar Guru
That'll do me :stoked:
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You and I have been on the same page for a while Chuck. Our defense especially on the edges is appalling. I thought when we got Drinkwater out of the front line and dropped Marsters that it would improve. Stupid me. We need to develop a decent defensive system and for all our players to learn how to tackle ( hint : it's legal to use your shoulder). Until we do that it's all froth.
Cyril Snodgrass III
Guest
Fedlt had an absolute shocker...conceding the stupid penalty in the final minutes and kicking so poorly......what a liability
Chuck
Guest
Sigh......here we are again......I said it before, again and again, DEFENSE! Or lack thereof , that is the Cows problem, is was and always will be, unless they appoint a defensive coach to run the show for some time, you know, one that actually knows what they are doing. If there is a defensive coach up there at this time then he is defensive coach in name only. For the life of me I cannot see how the powers that be cannot see it. They continue to be defensively terrible, like, appalling! Also, I think that Peter Parr has reached his used-by date, time to move on. I personally feel he is part, a major part, of the personnel problem. I have zero evidence to back that up, but it sure looks like it from what’re I,m sitting here on the throne (yeah, I know, too much information, sorry)
Phil
Roar Rookie
Maybe Hannay is the problem. Publicly castigating his players after each game is not good for team morale especially when it's a novice, interim coach who has no runs on the board. Apparently nowadays it is the in thing for coaches to give a "spray" after a dud result but if you look at the Tigers Madge's sprays have them sitting low down the ladder. Good people management to get into the heads of the players may be better.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Yeah There’s a lot of fish around Townsville - maybe the Cows can catch a few that put up a fight
andrew
Roar Rookie
Josh Hannay wants the coaching job, but these losses won't help him. McGregor has thrown his hat in to the ring for the Cowboys job. He can't be serious.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
That had to be the most disappointing 2 sets of football I’ve seen since the Sharks lost to Melbourne early in the year. Have to agree with the coach..30-28 should have been the final score..ugly, so what, a top 8 scalp and a well deserved win .. Is that strip forgivable ?.. then the easy march down field on the final set on the back of broken spirits.. Has to hurt more than getting flogged by Canberra.
Paul
Roar Guru
what does "boneheaded" or "stupid" smell like?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Nah, I was willing to give Hannay a go but when your opponents score 30 plus points and you blame the defeat on some 'boneheaded decisions' in the last five minutes, you have no idea. Forget points, forget winning , forget everything except how to defend. I just want one freakin game where the other team scores less than 20. I dont care if it's 18 to nil. Fantastic. You have to earn the right to score points. We are on Jobkeeper in this department at the moment.
Redrooster
Guest
The last couple of minutes had a real stench to it in my book - a bit fishy cowboys????
Paul
Roar Guru
They're obviously not going to make the finals so perhaps he too leaves a few big names out all together and gives some younger talent a go. In the meanwhile, he and the Club look at who they want to keep, because there seem to be a few passengers in Townsville at present.
Tony
Roar Guru
It may be down to Hannay to make a few hard decisions , player wise, before the next coach is appointed.