- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Cowboys have underlined their premiership credentials with a crushing 36-6 win over the Melbourne Storm and announcing themselves as a real threat for the title.
It was the sixth consecutive win for North Queensland and the fifth in a row in which they have scored 30 points or more.
The stats will tell you that they are now the real deal, and the manner with which they dispatched one of the competition heavyweights back that up.
The second half was emblematic: the Storm completed only half their sets and were bullied by a rampant North Queensland.
Only the loss of Jason Taumalolo and Kyle Feldt to knee injuries will overshadow what was a potentially huge night in the Cowboys’ season. Coach Todd Payten said the initial diagnosis for Feldt was his in-form winger would be out for a while and he wouldn’t be surprised if Taumalolo also needed to miss matches.
The Storm were again missing Jahrome Hughes in the middle and Ryan Papenhuyzen at the back, prompting yet another backline reshuffle.
Nick Meaney was shunted at fullback, Dean Ieremia in on the wing and Harry Grant standing in at halfback, but none of the movements were able to cover the glaring holes in the team.
It’s hard to remember a time in which Melbourne have conceded 30+ in two consecutive weeks, much less when they have only scored two tries in reply, but without two of their brightest stars, the drop off has been huge.
“We had one player left on the bench, were 30 points in front with 10 minutes to go. That doesn’t happen often,” Payten said.
The start was auspicious for North Queensland. Tom Gilbert, who got their first try of the season in a loss to the Bulldogs, got the hosts on the board with a try that was a little fortunate.
It came slightly against the run of play, as Melbourne dominated early ball, but when the Cowboys forced a drop out, the Storm took it short and dropped it straight into Gilbert’s hands. It still took some scoring, but Gilbert was able to run it in.
The next followed soon after. Scott Drinkwater, playing like a man on a mission against his former club, went very close and was denied, but Reece Robson capitalised on the next play.
The Storm were shorn of several stars but struck back. Tui Kamikamica got his first try after his long layoff, producing a characteristic line onto a Harry Grant crash ball. It would be about as good as it got all night.
The 12-6 scoreline at the break was a reflection of a tight game in which North Queensland completed at 68% and surrendered field position, but also looked dangerous whenever they got the ball up the field.
The second half was anything but close. From the moment that Murray Taulagi crossed in spectacular fashion at the corner – stutter-stepping to hold up Brandon Smith before diving, ball in one hand all the time – there was no looking back.
Jeremiah Nanai, one of the breakout stars of this breakout Cowboys team, got himself a ninth of the season – not off a kick, for a change – before Scott Drinkwater had a sweet moment, strolling through a crowded Storm backline to score. Nanai would get his customary try from a kick to round off the scoring with 25 minutes to play.
At that point, it appeared like things were about to get very ugly. There was yet time for Melbourne to show their toughness. Taulagi thought he had scored, only for a miracle tackle from Xavier Coates to intervene, while gang tackling at the corner also halted Valentine Holmes.
The spirit was still there: but it was far too late coming.
“I thought there was a lack of competing tonight which really disappointed me,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said. “When we beat ourselves by a lack of competing and doing the little things really well, that’s area for concern.”
“They just outcompeted us tonight, they were smarter than us too … but that doesn’t stop you from competing. That’s where they were way superior to us tonight.”