The Cowboys were back in the winner’s circle, securing their third win of the season with a gutsy 18-16 victory over the Knights in Townsville on Saturday night.
The home side have struggled this season to replicate their successful form of 2022, with many wondering if it was a case of second-year syndrome. But the Cowboys showed a determination that has been lacking in 2023, including some desperate scrambling goal-line defence at the end of the game that saw them take home the two points.
“That was some heart-in-your-mouth stuff,” fullback Scott Drinkwater said of the final minutes of the match.
“We put ourselves under so much pressure, but we just kept turning up.
“We had to be desperate….a loss there could have really hurt our season.”
Drinkwater was back to his electric best, setting up two tries and safe under the high ball. Valentine Holmes and Tom Dearden were also solid throughout the entire match, and while missing wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo was always going to be difficult, Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson were strong up the middle and led the way for the forwards.
“Very brave performance in the end,” said Cowboys coach Todd Payten.
“We had to grind away, it was a gritty win, it was all effort. It wasn’t pretty but the effort and the sacrifice for each other is still there.”
The night didn’t quite go to plan for Kalyn Ponga, who returned from injury for his 100th game in the NRL. Everyone was eager to see the Knights captain back on the field after a series of concussions and a medical visit to Canada earlier this year. While his return began slowly, his presence on the field after coming off the bench in the 25th minute became more noticeable as the game went on.
“Our connections with him will get better,” said Knight coach Adam O’Brien after the match.
“The more times he touched the ball tonight, the better he was looking, which is exciting.”
The first try looked like the Cowboys of old when Drinkwater broke through the Knights’ defensive line to find Robson backing up on the inside to score. But it was the Cowboys of 2023 soon after, with Dearden dropping the ball off the restart, and Knights winger Greg Marzhew scoring moments later.
But as the first half went on, the Cowboys began to click and looked more in control. Ponga’s inclusion into the game didn’t have the desired effect early on, with the returning star looking timid and hardly getting his hands on the ball. The Knights finished the first 40 minutes with twice the number of errors as the home side, who went to the sheds with a 12-6 lead but it could have easily been more.
It looked like it could unravel for the Cowboys early in the second half when Murray Taulagi found himself in the sin bin after an unnecessary tackle on Dane Gagai. Two quick tries to the Knights saw them take a 16-12 lead. But the Cowboys hit back through Dearden and took the lead once more with an 18-16 scoreline.
And the Cowboys of old once again kicked into gear. With Ponga full of confidence and the Knights throwing everything they had in the final stanza, the Cowboys left absolutely nothing in the tank to keep their opponent from scoring.
It was a clunky effort for the Knights, who were their own worst enemy in the end. A 69 per cent completion rate combined with 13 errors and a mountain of missed opportunities proved too hard to overcome.
“There are way too many errors in our game,” said O’Brien.
“We have to execute a lot better. We were very sloppy with the ball in the first half.
“They gave us enough opportunities. Our lack of discipline and our ball handling has to improve.”
As for the Cowboys, while this match was nowhere near perfect and there is still a long way to go, this win could be the turning point they needed to get their year back on track.
Many have proved that second-year syndrome is just a myth, but it’s not looking that way so far for the Cowboys.
After surprising the entire competition in 2022 finishing one game shy of the grand final, the Cowboys have once again been a surprise packet this season but for all the wrong reasons.
Finding themselves in 14th position before kick-off, the Cowboys have now won just three games in 2023. While struggling with injuries and suspension like the majority of teams, the effort areas and resilience of last season seem to have vanished, while errors and ill-discipline have crept in.
But Saturday’s match showed something that seems to be lacking, which is heart and turning up for each other. It will be interesting to see how the Cowboys follow up on this win next week against the Sharks.
He silenced his critics last season and became one of the buys of the year. The veteran halfback led the Cowboys around beautifully in 2022, became the perfect mentor for young Dearden, and was undoubtedly one of the reasons for the side’s surprising surge up the competition ladder.
But as the side struggles to live up to the expectations of last year’s success, so too does their number seven. Townsend seemed to be in everything and playing effortlessly, but now seems ever so quiet and struggles to get the little things right.
With the club currently well below where everyone thought they would be, they will be desperately looking to Townsend for the guidance and structure he provided last year.
His season has been surrounded by questions, with another one ready to be answered.
With news circling about his new five-eighth role, many wondered if the switch would prove fruitful or be a disaster. The Knights’ skipper only made it until Round 2 before another concussion forced him to the sidelines.
While his performance on Saturday night showed that he has recovered and is confident on the field again, the latest question now is if the incumbent Queensland fullback will hold onto his jersey come State of Origin I.
While memories of Ponga’s close-to-faultless performance during the Maroons’ Game Three win to lock up the 2022 series are still fresh in all of our minds, current form must count for something when it comes to selection. Broncos fullback Reece Walsh and Dolphins number one Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are hardly putting a foot wrong at the moment and would surely be making the decision difficult for Queensland coach Billy Slater.
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Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Oh you are cruel, Nat. Accurate, but cruel. :sick:
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Knights have got to get into the swap market for a hooker. Sharks Berrell, Manly's Gordon C T someone who can give faster and cleaner service than the subs they're using.
Nat
Roar Guru
TBF by that time the NSW boys were quite familiar with it anyway. :silly:
NQR
Roar Rookie
It’s funny how you throw out stats written by SMH. LOL. See Queensland’s view on rules are similar to the game itself. You punch me in the nose then I’ll punch you back. You pick Rodgers and Sterling we’ll pick a player born in NSW. You pick boys born overseas like Ben Ilias, then we’ll do the same. You push then we’ll shove you back. Nagas was picked in 1994 after he left Queensland in 1991. His first game in NSW (ACT) was at 18? NSW dictate the rules and set a precedent to the point of taking the p.,s. Queensland flow the boss and the boss has a sook and changes the rules again. Nagas happened 10years before Inglis and he was never a NSW player. But those stats? “Those stats were from 2015. So there’d be more to add to that now. Including players such as Inglis , Folau & Thaiday.”. Funny fact is Inglis, Folau, Thaiday were playing well before 2015. Thaiday went to kindergarten in Queensland. Fact is every whinge NSW have about eligibility is because they themselves have set the precedent. It’s why Queensland pick their team after NSW. Look at how quick they crapped themselves after picking Taumo and Mal went and had lunch with Taumalolo? You Blues are the kings of excuses and whinging. Queensland are the Kings of Rugby League as Origin shows.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Yes, the game is being ruined. I keep hearing fans talk about how this is the worst season in years...
NQR
Roar Rookie
Nat, I’m a believer you’re 7 (kicking and management) and Captain ( leadership) are the players you rely on most in the final 20mn. Unfortunately he’s been ordinary in this part of the game all year.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Okay I’m curious which Blues player was singing the QLD song? I know of only Gallen trying and crying because he couldn’t get it. I believe you’re the insecure little black cat that started ranting (about origin eligibility) when I was simply responding to my fellow Cowboy and Queensland supporter. See we’re annoyed about getting an overrated blue almost killing our team (from QLD) in the game last night but you wanted to talk about Inglis?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Duffy? Did you misspell you-know-who? Walker would combine well with Josh Schuster. Throw in Duffy (sic) at fullback and Moses Mbye at 9 and thats a spine like a T-Rex.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Well when Cameron Smith captains the Kangaroos, everyone gets to sing it.
Redcap
Roar Guru
There's really no point trying to reason with Billy-Bob here. :happy:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I wasn’t the one making an outrageous statement about how NSW players would never be good enough to sing a stupid Queensland ditty. That was you. Yet I showed that indeed many New South Welshman had already sung such a ditty after having played for Queensland. So you’ve got nothing. :thumbup:
PK
Roar Rookie
Absolutely no way was the Taulagi niggle in back play a send off event. A speaking to at most, not even penalty worthy let alone a sin bin which allowed Newcastle into the game.
PK
Roar Rookie
It was a shame to see a sin bin (Taulagi) for a minor indiscretion in backplay which had nil affect on the play or on either player. A simple bit of niggle which for the last 100 plus years has been a non-event. Why is it a sin bin this year? No idea but its ruining the game!
NQR
Roar Rookie
I love the NSW spin on Origin eligibility. Let’s see who stipulates the rules from day one? Players like Steve Rodgers, Sterling straight off the bat made your interstate 10 I’m guessing? It’s not Queensland fault NSW liked adjusting the rules from day one. It always makes me laugh they adjusted the rules for Nagas to play for NSW but squeal loud that those rules allowed Inglis. Oh birth certificate but let’s not forget the first indigenous player or Captain was a Queenslander. Just like Mario and Ben Ilias were probably the first internationally born? It all opened the options for QLD. Tamou was the most hilarious but they quickly changed that one when QLD said okay so can we do the same. Just like the local Panther being born and bred.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Theres 17.9 per cent of players who have ever pulled on a Maroons jersey not actually being from Queensland. Compare that to NSW, who have selected just 10 interstate players out of a total 258. Ten others were from outside Australia, for a total of 7.8 per cent non-authentic Blues. Those stats were from 2015. So there’d be more to add to that now. Including players such as Inglis , Folau & Thaiday. Those names ring a bell for you NQR? :laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Cowboys made fairly easy ground in general in that game . The sin bin was deserved when it came , but cost them big time. Newcastle threw that game away , when they got the lead. By throwing the ball away in attacking positions. Young is huge & can’t even make a tackle on Holmes when he’d stopped him. Just let him run away to set up a try. Despite throwing the ball away often, Newcastle had 3 more tries if anyone decided to back up at all when long breaks were made . By Best & 2 by Frizell. Cronulla weren’t fantastic against a very depleted Bulldogs. Yet their attack was still good enough to get them a comfortable win. If their attack is even similar next week, they’ll win by 20 plus .
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Sort of agree . His first 50 was just OK . He doesn't get a lot of depth on his kicks and he mishits way more than he used to. I say elsewhere his kicking game has gone from a solid seven to a 5 ( I did say 4 but thats more where he comes from ) and his defence has dropped off as well. God I wish he could tackle like Tommy D.
R N
Roar Rookie
Yep, I agree Nat. I really like Dunn as a player. Lovely hands, great pass, adds something different to the team and when he gets match fitness would love to see him start.
Nat
Roar Guru
Wasn't pretty but happy for the boys. NQ tried to lose but the Knights have cannot get a win. I thought Ponga got much better as the game went on. If he stays clear of head knocks he'll be fine for Qld.
Nat
Roar Guru
I get Chester in a game like that but not to use Dunn when Jetski was struggling was a head scratcher.