South Sydney have slipped to a fourth defeat in five as the Cowboys recorded their first win outside of Queensland – and only their second away from Townsville – thanks to an inspired performance from fullback Scott Drinkwater.
After a slow first half, with only one try and a field goal leading to the unusual score of 0-5 to North Queensland, the visitors’ attack clicked into gear, with Val Holmes grabbing two and Drinkwater picking up two assists to go with four line breaks of his own.
The final score of 31-6 was a fair reflection of the run of the game. Souths could have no complaints.
It was a night to forget for the Bunnies, who have struggled badly through the Origin period. Cam Murray and Damien Cook, who backed up from Wednesday night, were both well below their best, while Latrell Mitchell remains sidelined with an injury picked up in Blues camp.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, had four who were still nursing their Caxton Street hangovers – plus Blues hooker Reece Robson – but were excellent. Drinkwater bossed the contest from the back and was the game’s outstanding player, as he has been in most Cowboys games this year.
Todd Payten will be delighted with his side’s defensive resolve, which shut down one of the best attacks in the NRL while still managing to create at the other end. Jason Demetriou, on the other hand, will wonder where that offensive threat has gone.
There was a moment, with 45 seconds or so to play in the first half, where Lachlan Ilias attempted a chip and chase inside his own half.
The chip and chase, you’ll remember, is the last refuge of the scoundrel, the play you pull when you’ve run out of ideas. That fairly summed up Souths’ attack. Nothing worked for them in the opening 40.
It didn’t come off, and ended up costing them, too, as Scott Drinkwater slotted a bonus field goal from the resulting field position as they clock ran down.
The Bunnies had actually defended well, but their usually lethal attack totally departed them. It’s hard to diagnose why.
There’s the obvious absence of Latrell Mitchell, but they’ve become accustomed to their star man missing out and usually compensate well enough.
Losing Cam Murray to a HIA will also have blunted their effectiveness, but that was just fifteen minutes in 80 of underperformance.
Ilias did eventually show some spark with a smart solo try, but he has struggled with the absences of Murray, Mitchell and Cody Walker. Perhaps that is to be expected of a young player who is used to being alongside such elite talent.
Blake Taaffe, too, is young and is only ever going to be a deputy at the club. He’s definitely a first grader, but not at South Sydney given the strength they have in the spine.
Without their attack, Souths are nowhere near the top of the table. They have massively improved their defence, but it’s their ability with the ball that is truly elite.
The last tackle options were terrible, the pace in the attack just a little off and the execution sloppy. Cody Walker throwing directly into touch behind Richie Kennar was emblematic of the wider issue.
The last few weeks have seen their defence slide badly, and where once they could outscore opponents, that’s now gone.
Demetriou has serious questions to ask ahead of the run-in, because this is now one win in five for his side, with a very dangerous trip to New Zealand coming next time out.
If Souths have struggled with their attack, North Queensland have finally found some solidity in their defence.
The best version of the Cowboys in 2022 was always built on a defence-first mentality, with the attack left to a barrage of back five metres and the hope that one of Scott Drinkwater or Jeremiah Nanai would create something from nothing.
That lack of offensive spark was ultimately what cost them in the Preliminary Final against Parramatta, but it was the defence that delivered them that far in the first place.
North Queensland started 2023 poorly, and Payten repeatedly referenced how their defence wasn’t where they needed it to be. Now, with a little more cohesion in the ranks and some key names back, it’s all coming together again.
The key to this might be Drinkwater. He’s one of the worst defenders in the NRL – on a one-to-one level at least – and his poor tackling has often been the major knock on him when discussing higher honours.
But organisationally, he’s right up there with the best, flitting from one side of the field to the other to marshal the line and make sure the numbers are where they should be.
It was Drinkwater who allowed Souths’ only try – remember, he still can’t tackle – but more than made up for it in organisation. Oh, and it helps if you create so much in attack, too.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its only early days, the Cows were world beaters last year too and look what happened. That wasn't a good performance by the Bunnies, and they can't afford to lose any more games but they will come good and at worst they will just make the 8 and fail again like last year, that's their go as they do it every year, same playbook every year :laughing: we're use to it, as Bunnie fans.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Muzz Manyana I wouldn't go that far but Cody Walker seems to think that by getting cranky things will work for him more, which they don't as its the reverse! Cody is a great player and we all love his work as he’s a genius when he's ON and he brings that spontaneous genius footy to the Bunnies, that is what we love about him, as he's not regimented as most of his attack is off the cuff and yesterday there was nothing there that the Bunnies did or wanted to do to suite his game or did he create anything, every time he went wide AJ wasn't there and there were no chances, as either his passes went out of play or didn’t do anything out wide. JD said it all in the post-game interview, the Cows wanted to win at all costs while the Bunnies were flat and disinterested and just though by showing up they will win. Never thought that the Bunnies in such a short time will be nearly out of the 8 but its happening and if they don't pull their finger out then they should hang their boots up for 2023 as its looking exactly like 2022 as at BEST they will end up 7th with 32 points, and if they do, they have NO chance and what Trell said after they signed their contracts, that the Bunnies will win the 2023 GF IS A BIG DREAM.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Souths without Mitchell is a way less potent attack machine, especially if a good defense starts targeting Cody. Add to that the Cowboys are starting to find their mojo. Smashed the Storm a couple of weeks ago so wasn't surprised they won this one as well.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Townsend was into him all game , and got the desired result .
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think Townsend was the niggler ! And he got the desired response of putting Cody off his game.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Cam & Cookie were buggered from mid week work but tried their best . Koloamatangi & Tatola offered resistance. Taafe is not NRL standard . Cody was not over his leg injury and so was out of sorts. No Latrelle means little attack. Their season is at a crossroad now due to injuries. They need their best back and soon.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Souths are in a hole. I'm seeing it as a motivational problem. They had a horrendous draw to start the season and put a lot of energy into making sure they won the bulk of those games. Since then they've tried to coast and get into shootouts with teams rather than defending their way to wins. Next week is going to be extremely telling - versing the Warriors in NZ. If any game requires an attitude adjustment it's that one.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
Cody Walker looks lost without Mitchell there to hold his hand.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
The Cowboys looked great. Plenty of attacking options either side of the ruck, Great shape and plenty of support runners pushing through. I can watch that style of footy all day!
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yep. Walker was terrible, which isn’t usually like him in attack. He kept kicking the ball dead , which didn’t allow South’s to build up pressure in attack. Also threw some terrible passes to no one & out . Especially in the first half.
steveng
Roar Rookie
You go and coach the Bunnies “langparker” as you seem to know everything and all about coaching an NRL side and a SOO side for that matter. :laughing:
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Cook (#9) was spent (from Origin) and should have been rested, Taafe (#1) and Illias (#7) had shockers, I don't think one can blame Cody for not playing that well without a spine!. I was at the game, and Cody was doubling up on effort, tackles and moving from left to right for attacking plays, he tried more than the rest, sure not his best, but the problem was the spine, not Cody as it appeared like he was a one-man band yesterday.
steveng
Roar Rookie
WB spot on and this won’t end with the Cows 31-6 thrashing last night, as they have the Warriors at Go Media Stadium, Auckland where they have NO chance of beating them next Friday. This is a free fall that was on the cards as this side hasn’t shown any balls and does NOT have a go when their top players are out and in comparison, to the other sides that had more players playing SOO and injured. Lets see what happens as they have the Warriors then the Bulldogs which they might be a chance and I say “MIGHT”??? then for the last 8 games plus another bye they might have a chance of winning 4 so all up the Bunnies will end up with max 32 points which is at best 7th or 8th or not making the 8? This is what I can’t understand with this sides coaching and administrative brain trust, why they can’t get it through their heads that this time of the season is the most important to where the Bunnies will end up on the ladder. Looks like another dud year for the Bunnies to add to the others on the list since 2014, very disappointing :angry: :angry: :angry:
NQR
Roar Rookie
Cody is lost without his big buddy running off him. Souths have a powerful skilful pack but I just think the Cowboys have an equally strong and skilful pack maybe better at full strength. Murray and Cook are their attacking weapons but after the recent Origin experiences I think Cotter, Robson and Nanai confidence has risen and the Souths duo is shattered at present.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I watched this game with our commentary but based on the number of iso shots they had of Walker, presumably he was a big part of the story. Boy. he was triggered. And when he is triggered, his game falls apart. At half time Walker had 9 tackles, 4 ,misses and had given away one penalty. I think if the Cowboys had run at Walker more, there would have been more misses and more penalties and the game would have been over earlier than it was. I'm reluctant to make light of Cody's performance and the way he was lashing out as it genuinely seems like something was wrong there. Whether an event happened in his personal life recently or there is a longer, ongoing mental health problem, i feel it safest to back off him. If he was just angry cause his leg was bothering him, well different story.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Did Latrell pick up his calf injury in NSW camp? I thought he took it into camp for game 1 Anyway, Souths are starting to look like one of those teams who need a certain player on the field to be successful. No slight on that. I think Mitchell not only does so many great things, he also draws a lot of the opposition’s attention allowing others to shine EG Cody Walker (only just back from injury himself) is a more dangerous runner and ball player when he has Mitchell sweeping out beside him, than when he has Taaffe doing the same Lots of teams have flat spots at this time of year to build nicely again come semis. I think Souths will be in that boat as players come back from injury and rep commitments Drinkwater has been phenomenal for the past 4-6 weeks. Cowboys fortunes seem to have swung as his form has surged…
R N
Roar Rookie
Granville isn't a lock... he certainly isn't there best option. But I was thinking yesterday why he Payton keeps picking him somewhere. I think it's because he is so wholehearted that he embarrasses the other forwards into performing.
NQR
Roar Rookie
They have 3 options that would all bring something Hiku can’t. Luki power and speed, Labutt speed, pass and quality defence, Feldt offloads, support play, vision and X factor. Hiku has supposedly not made an error or conceded a penalty in the last 3 games and the Cowboys beaten Storm, Panthers and Souths. However with the Panthers game on the line Hiku does a brain explosion kicking it over the dead ball line. Oh and that wasn’t recorded as an error in the stats?
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Drinky has 16 TA's this season (equal 2nd)with Chad and Tommy combining for 17 (Tommy with only 6) To say he is vital for NQ to be able to win matches is an understatement he is essential. The last season and a half have turned him into a gutsy player as well as he is not shy to take the ball into the defence or put his body on the line at fullback. If nsw change fullbacks for O 3 with Mitchell not being match fit if he plays who comes in ? Gutho, Edwards, Kennedy or Drinky.. ? I think it will end up being Gutho as he has a great combo with Moses and is sound defensively. If they want points though Drinkwater in with a bit of a show.
kk
Roar Pro
It's time! Souths should merge with Easts.