The Cowboys have underlined their top four credentials by comfortably winning the Queensland Derby 40-26 in a high scoring affair in Townsville.
The Broncos were no match for a clinical, committed Cowboys side that built pressure all through the first half and cashed in late.
North Queensland had 63% possession before the break, most of it in the Broncos end, and it was testament to the resilience that Kevin Walters has instilled in this side that they were able to keep the score respectable. Sadly for his side, the weight of tackling in the legs told.
Reece Robson, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame were able to score tries that otherwise might been seen as soft, but with the amount of extra defence that the Broncos had done, particularly on their own line, it was perhaps forgiveable.
North Queensland had a late collapse themselves, with two tries in the last ten minutes that gave the Broncos a sniff, but the cue was well in the rack by then.
Their performance from the 20th to the 70th minute was near perfect: 100% completion, near double running metres and just shy of 70% of the territory.
Jason Taumalolo was again excellent, as was Scott Drinkwater at fullback. It is still baffling that the Cowboys began the season with him in reserve grade.
Brisbane lost Te Maire Martin after half an hour, forcing Selwyn Cobbo to fullback, but he continued his rich vein of form and, surely, that will be his position long term.
Payne Haas, heavily needled, punched out 67 minutes and topped the tackle count in the middle, but both halves had off nights and failed to shift the momentum of field position adequately. 14 errors were spread across the team, which will never help in that regard.
The first half was punctuated by several kamikaze moments from both sides. The Cowboys might have opened the scoring through the returning Kyle Feldt, but instead, gifted the first points to their opponents.
Peta Hiku took a carry in yardage, but inexplicably decided to offload rather than take an easy tackle. His pass missed everyone and as it bounced towards the North Queensland line, Chad Townsend dove straight over the top of it. Billy Walters touched down for the easiest of tries.
The Broncos returned the favour almost immediately. They tried to shift coming out of their own end and Reynolds’ long pass was so easily telegraphed that Murray Taulagi picked it off and trotted under the posts.
Reynolds’ nightmare start continued. He sent the kick off out on the full, and when the Cowboys forced a repeat set from the resulting good ball, the veteran halfback sent the drop out straight out too. Valentine Holmes added the easy two points.
The Broncos would hit back in similar fashion. Ezra Mam’s route to recover a chip and chase was blocked off and penalised, so Reynolds took the two points himself and locked the scores again.
Mam then took his chance to heap pressure on his own team. Under little pressure, his long kick sailed well over the touchline and gave North Queensland more good ball.
It looked like they had dropped the football straight back, however, but challenged the call and won a penalty for a strip. Holmes, again, took the two on offer.
The chaos continued. The Broncos survived a few close scares before a kick popped up for stand-in fullback Cobbo, who raced 60m before being caught. Mam saw space and kicked, but Hiku intervened ahead of Corey Oates to stop the danger.
With time running down on the half, Neame laid out Kobe Hetherington with a hefty tackle and gave one last opportunity to the Cowboys, but they could not take it.
The Broncos had withstood 25 tackles in their own 20m in the first half – while registering zero of their own – and would have been happy to have got to the break just two points behind.
The second half started in the same vein and Brisbane couldn’t cope. The dam broke via a classic try built by pressure, with Neame able to turn in traffic and get over the line from close range.
Jordan Riki then heaped more tackling on his team, attempting an offload early in the set in yardage, and from the resultant field position, Drinkwater unleashed an inch perfect rainbow pass to Feldt to canter in.
The Broncos sparked into action, managed to generate some field position and were immediately able to generate points. When they came, it was a simple backline move that saw Oates able to dot down untouched.
The pressure did not last. The Cowboys returned with a vengeance, Robson the man to nip in from close range through tired tacklers.
The next in was Nanai – what is a Cowboys game without him scoring these days – and while Oates and Cobbo scored late to make the finish interesting, but Taulagi would close the scoring to send the locals home happy.
Rellum
Roar Guru
:laughing: Now now. Souths are so bad this year all I am watching is how Bayliss and Mozer are developing. We are wooden spoon specials now
Nat
Roar Guru
They are going like busteds at the moment so he won’t mind at all.
Phil
Roar Rookie
What I noticed in four Cowboys' tries, Neame, Robson, Nanai and Taulagai's 2nd, Cobbo was right there and didn't stop any of them. Corey Parker said in commentary it was sloppy defence for the Robson try. It's these areas of his game that he will learn from and become one very special player. He's destined to become an absolute star of the game given time.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have only just been taken out of the naughty corner
Nat
Roar Guru
I don’t know about that, I’m not sure Gamble is the man either after seeing how much Mam has come on in his few hit outs. IMO Reyno just had a bad day but you could see they were trying to get Ezra into it with his kicking game and his defence was pretty good as well. Agree about Cobbo though. He is all attack but missed his mark in defence. It really went downhill as soon as Martin left. TBF Cobbo was thrown into a bad situation and he just doesn’t have the experience. Sry, why am I not receiving notifications about your replies?
matth
Roar Guru
Chances are if Gamble was available they might have left Reynolds another week. He might get a game off later when the crazy mullet is fit again.
matth
Roar Guru
Now we get to the crux of the matter! Sorry Souths, I don't see Mam playing many more QCup games. :laughing: :laughing:
matth
Roar Guru
I'd say he would need a full pre-season to get up to speed and even so he would be hot and cold if put in at this early stage in his career. Bit of an attacking weapon though.
Rob
Guest
Leilua has such a strong carry. He’s got footy smarts with good hands and I think he’ll be a fitter footballer under Payten. Taumlolo and Leilua offer a very formidable tackle busting duet wIth power and footwork. I believe he’s a good signing. Gilbert will be missed. Like Cotter he just keeps working constantly.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We have lost a few times now with Reynolds playing but never with Gamble. That is not just a coincidence. I actually think we need both on the field for it to work. I am Mama biggest fan but his long term development should not be hampered playing the 14 role. Right now I was hoping South's would still have his services for a few more games
Rob
Guest
Nat, Do you think the team is better now that Taumalolo is playing smarter. By smarter I mean passing, off loading, roving around and taking the metres when the opportunity presents. He’s also happy to take a tough carry and work more defensively. The Cowboys are improved for moving the football and playing what they see IMO. Defensively they’re working as a team for each other also. It’s a complete culture change to the over structured and ego driven team that Payten inherited IMO.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
"Obviously still injured"... considering it was public knowledge that he was going to have to be needled up for the next couple of months, of course he's obviously still injured. It was merely a case of the Cowboys doing an absolute number on him. But Adam is too smart and lower teams won't have as much success shutting him down. He'll be fine.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
I see your logic but IMO, Mam is a real x-factor, he has silky skills, he's very quick off the mark and last night proved he's a ball of energy in defence as well. Kevvie should keep faith with the kid now, he's the long term halves partner for Reynolds. I'd look at Gamble as the #14. He could play dummy-half or even come on playing a link role from the middle-third. And the team chemistry and glue you speak of, well that's Reynolds role as the halfback. He just had an off game last night... but if Reynolds misses anymore games, they don't lose that chemistry and glue if Gamble is the replacement.
Muzz
Guest
Nanai would look great in red, white and blue. I'm surprised the Cows haven't extended his contract beyond 2023.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Bruh... he trains and plays on the wing every week. What exactly did you expect? When the time comes for Kevvie to switch him to #1 jersey permanently, and he begins training fulltime in the position, he will develop the skills and responsibilities of the fullback role. But from what I saw last night, the kids potential is through the roof and it's only a matter of when he becomes one of the elite fullbacks in the comp.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
Dan, If you had two bust shoulders and an ankle that was not 100%, I would not criticize you for not making a ManOfTheMatch effort play. In fairness, he should not have been out there. The coach should have given him a month off (no Origin, for you, Payne), and should be getting him right for the Finals, not wrecking him.
Muzz
Guest
This Cowboys team can win the comp. I think the Broncos miss Gamble who has improved significantly this year.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Yeah, just had another look at the try. You're right, Haas was a spectator.
Dan Nix
Roar Rookie
Did anyone notice how Haas just watched Neame over the line? He looked like he had a bet on him. Not jumping to conclusions but he sure did a good impression of it.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The positive is we were much improved on our fist game against the cows this season where they really smashed us. We are improving but need troops in certain positions. We need a fullback to fill in for Martin and if that is going to be Cobbo he has to be much better in defence and that is not even mentioning how he goes at organizing the line. We will need a real hooker soon and unless Mozer comes on fast he is two years away. Hopefully Paix makes a return soon. We are also to me missing Gamble badly. Mam is looking great but for team chemistry and drive Gamble is currently the glue. When he returns to me he slots straight back into the 6 with Mam on the bench as it should have been without Gambles injury