St George Illawarra are all but out of finals contention after Scott Drinkwater inspired the Cowboys to a 34-8 win at Kogarah.
The result leaves the Dragons in 11th place on 20 points, equal with the Manly Sea Eagles and a win back on the Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters.
Anthony Griffin’s men, however, are effectively another win further behind thanks to a near 200-point differential deficit in comparison to the eighth-placed Roosters.
“We just move on to next week and that’s all we can do,” said Griffin of his team’s finals hopes. “All we can do is learn from tonight and move on, which we’ll do next week against Cronulla.
He added that the score had blown out late but his men had allowed it to slip at key moments.
“Even with 15 to go at 16-8, we had an opportunity to get back into it,” said the coach. “We didn’t get enough out of our first half. We had the opportunity to be in front at half time and they got a couple of tries back to back. That was the story of the night.”
The result moves North Queensland back into pole position for second place and a home final, which Todd Payten said was the team’s goal.
“We’ve had a conversation about it as a group,” he said. “We know how important it is to finish as high up as possible. Playing at home in front of our own fans is a small advantage and one that we’re going to fight for.”
The Cowboys’ victory was led by Scott Drinkwater in the first half and Jason Taumalolo in the second.
The fullback kickstarted their afternoon with a stylish assist for Kyle Feldt and finished it with a late try of his own, courtesy of an equally impressive set up from Valentine Holmes.
Taumalolo topped the metre charts – plus ca change – but also showed how much his ball-playing has come on with a deft pass that put Griffin Neame in to blow out a lead that North Queensland never looked like relinquishing.
“I was pleased with a lot of it, when we had the ball and when we didn’t,” said Payten. “I challenged our lads about playing our way, and we got back to that tonight.
“Given the congestion in the top four and bottom four, every win in the next five weeks is crucial. It was important that we came in and performed our way. I thought we did that.”
Drinkwater’s day out started in the 17th minute, when he isolated Jack Bird in the line, burned him with a step and flicked the ball out of a tackle to winger Feldt.
He then got one for himself as Jeremiah Nanai, not for last time, ran right over the top of Ben Hunt in his own half before dumping inside to Drinkwater to go the rest of the way to the line.
The Dragons did get on the board through a scruffy Jack de Belin score, and brought the scoreline closer with a Zac Lomax penalty goal.
Scott Drinkwater. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
They might have even taken a lead to the break with Mathew Feagai denied at the corner by an excellent Peta Hiku dive that dislodged the ball with the winger looking to ground.
Though the score was tight, it never seemed in doubt. It took until the 55th minute for the Cowboys to extend the lead, with Neame busting through weak efforts from Andrew McCullough and Billy Burns on the back of Taumalolo’s pass.
The floodgates were open and it was no surprise that Nanai was the man running straight through them.
The Maroons back-rower exposed tired edge defence twice late to add gloss to the scoreline and break the Cowboys’ season try-scoring record for a forward in the process.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:shocked:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I like that team. negotiations with Hunt should include the expectation that he will move to hooker.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Ooohh, that's good. I probably think people were nearing the end of their patience and they had to wrap it up quickly.
Dan Nix
Roar Rookie
It's no coincidence Cotter back and Cowboys only leak one try. He's key for the tilt at the title.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Yeah, i am. This should have been the season to have played the youth to see if they are suitable for first grade. We already know what we are going to get from the old timers, and it’s getting worse every game that passes.
Rob
Guest
I only watch the Cowboys each and every week and some other teams if time allows. I totally agree the Dragons got done by a younger fitter team. Woods, McGuire and McCullough are not up to the standard required. Sims and Mbye aren’t worth keeping either. I actually think the coach is pretty good it’s the old age cattle that have him struggling for results. Hook needs to drop the lead from the Dragons. Are the Dragons faithful willing to watch Griffin do what Payten did last year?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I see a lot of parallels with Moore Park and Kings Landing.The role of the Small Council at NRL HQ would be fascinating- the night is dark and full of terrors- PVL the lord of light
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: Nicho Snow: the king of the north and also celebrated amongst the free folk. Even though he knows nothing.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
NAS is the Mountain.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I dunno. The council discussing whether to fund the brothel to stimulate the economy. Certainly a stimulating discussion thrusting back and forth.
Bernie
Guest
well that comes back to the coach. a decent coach with a decent game plan, clear and concise instructions for him. at the moment, he's fallen into that player category of - being pretty good, speculation of playing future, speculation on signing elsewhere, drawn out negotiations, future resolved & stays, form nosedives. (adjective required for this phenomenon)
Tony
Roar Guru
One of your best BD :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Bernie
Guest
any parallels there with the dragons season. i fancy Z.Lomax would make a good Little Finger.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
The show do you mean? I got no trouble with the Queen being ‘mad’, just way too rushed. Needed to be shown little things that she losing her mind over a season at least, build that, people question if she lost it, drama between two characters thinking yes or no, her madness building then the regret, fear people have realising it. Like Jamie (however he spelt it), him knowing his king has lost the plot, he loves his job, realises the king is a madsnake and for the good has to kill him.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Not for mine. I think the trouble is he tries to get too involved now. Plays too much for himself and not the team. Takes too many wrong options . I reckon he would be a nightmare at 9. He would drive Hunt nuts.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Hook is the closest I’ve seen to a Whitewalker in the NRL. Nicho Snow will send those Dragon Zombies back North of the River,winless, to leave the Shire in peace for another 12 months
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Naaa, it was fun. I'm yet to hear a better suggestion of how to wrap it up. Yours?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Yep, Red V poor. Don't deserve any higher than about 11/ maybe 10. Spots 7&8 go to best of Souths, chooks, Manly or Raiders.
Bernie
Guest
sorta. i love B.Hunt too, but same as last year 3x SOO at hooker and he is flogged, poor bloke must be buggered. all (ok, most) No7's are a weak link in defence, just look at DCE. plus, they target B.Hunt repeatedly, and then he has to lead the attack (i think that's what we call it when dragons have the ball). so, moving to 9, will that improve his defence? which i think is pretty good anyway.
Bernie
Guest
i wouldn't mind M.Potter. assuming common sense prevails and we're "off the hook". he seems to have done some good things at the doggies. and he's an ex-saint, but long enough ago to not be a constraint.