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In shades of the 2015 NRL Grand Final at the same venue, the Bulldogs scored a try in the final seconds and the sideline conversion hit the goalpost and bounced away on Sunday night with the Cowboys this time on the other end.
North Queensland had been clinging to a 14-10 advantage but in a fitting climax to the helter-skelter nature of this contest in slippery conditions, Canterbury flung the ball wide in the final minute to create an overlap for Josh Addo-Carr to sprint over in the corner.
However, the Matt Burton conversion attempt was denied by the woodwork, just as Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston’s potential match-winner did eight years ago.
Thurston went on to seal the NRL’s only golden-point premiership win and this time around, it was Burton doing likewise when he nailed a 30-metre field goal from a wide angle one play after sending The Foxx flying downfield with a bold cross-kick from deep inside their own territory.
The throwback finish continued an “everything old is new again” theme to the match with veteran five-eighth Josh Reynolds playing his first game for Canterbury since 2017 when he made his first NRL appearance for this season off the bench after clawing his way to a swansong contract in the off-season.
And the Price surname was back at a Canterbury match, although Riley Price was making his debut for the Cowboys against the team where his father Steve made his name.
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo said the club was built on “determination and grit”.
“We weren’t perfect but I thought we were the better team and deserved to win,” he said.
“All of them played tough and just hung in there and did it together. You can see how close they’ve come together as a group.”
Burton was cool under pressure, even relaying messages back to the coach in the final stages that he had things under control.
“For him to own those moments at the back end. We had a couple of messages go down to him and he just said ‘I’ve got it, I’m gonna get it done’. It shows he’s only still a young playmaker and his second year of playing five-eighth so I’m very excited about where his game is going to develop,” Ciraldo added.
Canterbury co-captain Reed Mahoney said Reynolds was a player he grew up watching Reynolds and was thrilled to run out alongside him.
“It’s been a journey for him to get back. I thought his energy was infectious to the group and I think off the field as well he’s been so good for the club and he’s brought back the core values this club stands by.”
Max King copped a nasty knock to his eye but Ciraldo joked that he’s engaged now so any damage to his looks won’t affect him. Franklin Pele suffered a suspected broken arm and Raymond Faitala-Mariner had a head knock while Ciraldo paid tribute to rookie forward Jacob Preston playing on despite splitting the webbing in his hand and needing stitches.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten said his team paid the price for losing a few key moments.
“Losing sucks. To lose in extra time like that after 80-odd minutes of fighting and scrapping was disappointing but, to be fair, the game was there to be won for us,” Payten said.
“I thought we competed hard. It’s just about getting your job don when it’s a 50-50 ball.
“I feel better as a coach than after the two losses in rounds two and three.”
And they have travel sandwiched in the middle of a five-day turnaround before they host the Dolphins.
“We’ve got a really early flight in the morning to get home. We’ll be up out of the hotel by 4.30 (am) and we’ll be home pretty early. We’ve got to dust ourselves off and then she’s on again,” he said.
Jordan McLean and Heilum Luki suffered hamstring injuries on Sunday night too so those two forwards are highly unlikely to suit up against Redcliffe.
Canterbury and the Cowboys are two teams still yet to put it all together in 2023 for differing reasons.
The Bulldogs are trying to blend in several new breeds of player to regain their mongrel pedigree.
Adding Reed Mahoney, Viliame Kikau and Ryan Sutton has given them more bite but new coach Cameron Ciraldo won’t be able to transform the team into title contenders even if he lives up to the extraordinary hype that’s followed him from Penrith.
North Queensland have roster stability but their starting side has been in a state of flux over the first five rounds with Scott Drinkwater, Peta Hiku, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai coming and going due to a mix of judiciary and injury woes.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner is tackled. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
After finishing a converted try shy of a grand final appearance last year following a meteoric rise up the ladder, the Cowboys are playing like a team distracted by the burden of expectations.
Both teams came into Sunday’s game with a 2-2 record and the slippery conditions at Accor Stadium ensured neither side was able to get into their flow.
It was close, it was intense and a gripping contest but, apart from the frenetic finish, not the greatest advertisement for the Greatest Game of All with only around 9000 spectators outnumbered nearly 10 to 1 by seats at Sydney’s biggest stadium.
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Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden scored the opening try against the run of play for 6-0 lead with a clever chip and chase, taking advantage after fullback Hayze Perham had made the previous tackle.
It takes an elephant gun to bring down Jason Taumalolo but Bulldogs winger Jayden Okunbor tried a hip-drop tackle which barely seemed to inconvenience him as his opponent was banished to the sin bin.
Valentine Holmes kicked truly for the second time to make it 8-0 midway after just 13 minutes but despite being a player down, the home side managed to hit back when Preston continued his impressive early-season form to score.
The Cowboys had a couple of chances to shoot clear but Jordan McLean and Coen Hess fumbled over the line at the last second on each occasion.
Canterbury’s defence was committed and their resolve was strong but if their attacking machine was any more disjointed, it would be dismembered altogether.
Cowboys rookie Tom Chester finally gave the visitors some breathing space midway through the second half when he barrelled over the line for a 14-6 advantage.
With Drinkwater due back from suspension for next Friday’s home clash with the Dolphins, the young fullback will be heading back to the Queensland Cup but Todd Payten now knows he has a capable replacement in Gilbert if ever his first-choice No.1 is unavailable.
Preston is doing likewise for Ciraldo, underlining his growing importance to the Dogs with a second try with 15 minutes to go to put Canterbury back in the contest.
A missed penalty goal from Holmes came back to bite him when the Bulldogs equalised through Addo-Carr with a handful of seconds on the clock.