Part one is done. The Cowboys defeated the Dolphins 34-10, keeping their season alive and giving their differential a decent boost in the process.
Part two is simple: they need to go to Penrith next Saturday evening and win. By how much will depend on the result between the Roosters and Rabbitohs the night before.
Todd Payten would have approached this with a singularity of purpose, conscious that his side were on a three-game losing streak and had dropped a game identical to this one, away at the Titans, not too long ago.
“I was really pleased with how we handled the pressure through the week, and we started the game 14 from 14 (sets) and scorer a couple of tries to get 18-0,” said Payten.
“The second half, we bombed a couple of tries which is disappointing but we did enough to win. We came down to win and we’re happy to walk away with two points.
“When we play finals, we’ll deserve it because we’ve got to go through Penrith next week. We’ve got to move quicker defensively, we can’t cough up the ball in our own end and we’re going to have to find another gear.”
From the start, it didn’t look like this Queensland derby was going to be as tough, with teh Cowbos racing into an 18-0 lead before Josh Kerr was binned for a hip-drop tackle, with Zac Laybutt adding another – his second – while he was away.
Not that anyone told Kyle Feldt: the winger was lucky to stay on after raising his foot into Sean O’Sullivan’s face, a move likened to the Karate Kid on commentary. He wasn’t penalised at the time, but might find a Dangerous Contact charge in the post from the judiciary.
The Dolphins are made of tough stuff, however, and fought back strongly to salvage pride with Jamayne Isaako furthering his case for top tryscorer with another two tries.
“They thought they could put 60 on us at one stage, at 24-0 it wasn’t looking rosy, but from the sin bin on we hung in pretty good,” said Wayne Bennett.
“Coming in at half time, it was a pretty tough time because it was all going against them. Their strength and their ability to play for each other got them through that second half. They’ve continually shown that and it’s what gives me confidence about our future.”
North Queensland have not always covered themselves in glory with the footy in 2023, and have largely been decent or absolutely terrible.
Tonight, fortunately for them, was one of the decent days where Scott Drinkwater turns up, Tom Dearden gets space and Chad Townsend finds his kicking range.
Laybutt was the beneficiary for one, taking a spilled kick to the house, and they even scored from deep – not a classic Cowboys move – after a superb Murray Taulagi break.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki did a fair impression of Jeremiah Nanai with some silky ball skills out wide, too, and Heilum Luki continues to impress. There was plenty to love tonight.
But there was something strange about the Cowboys attack, too. It was as if they thought that, having a comfortable lead, they could mess about and not go further.
Drinkwater dropped one cold with the line begging at the end of the first half, and at the start of the second, Feldt decided to channel 2005 with an extravagant flick pass. Suffice to say, Benji has nothing to worry about.
Payten had rinsed his side at half time for their profligacy, because he knows they need every point that they can get. It’s not inconceivable that it could come down to that, and leaving 12 points on the table might end up a big problem.
When they kicked into gear again late, it was more simplistic, probing and waiting for the Dolphins to make a mistake. Against this edition of Redcliffe, that’s plenty enough.
Everything worth saying about the Dolphins on the field has been said, really. Everyone knows their spirit and tenacity, as well as their limitations.
They have a crack, try to complete high and stay in the game, but also have a lot of young guys, a lot of fringe NRL standard players and a few who might be past their sell-by date in first grade.
They’ve lost ten of the last 11, which is, obviously, very bad, but have rarely been blown out and regularly competitive.
Off the field, they’ve just kept going. This was a meaningless game for them, but they still commanded 33,000 fans at the big stadium, with the bulk roaring on Redcliffe and cheering them home even when there was, realistically, not much to shout about.
It’s impressive stuff and validates the decision to go to Brisbane for a second team. The Broncos are away in Canberra this weekend, but the public is there and they are showing up to support their team.
Next week they get the Warriors, too, and given the number of Kiwis in Southeast Queensland, they might well top that attendance again.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Hosing from his mouth? A fat lip maybe . That’s some great hyperbole TB. O’Sullivan didn’t leave the field and had plenty to say at the ref straight after the contact. I’m wondering if he had a blood transfusion just to get to full time on your television. Anyway it would appear there is no charge and neither Bennett or Payten thought it was a great issue even after being asked on 3 separate occasions at the post game conference? Maybe Neame suffering a fractured throat from a stray elbow against the Dolphins had Bennett and Captain not wanting to say much?
The Barry
Roar Guru
O’Sullivan was injured, he had blood hosing out of his mouth…
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think credibility comes from the way people view & comment on things. I don’t play for Penrith or hand out penalties to players who do the wrong thing? Neither do I back every act by every player who plays for them. There you go again, backing a player who does the wrong thing, just because they play for the Cowboys. You do the same for anyone who plays in or for Queensland. I think you’ll find that’s where you are lacking. In reason or fairness with comments. Especially those that are firstly about the Cowboys players. :thumbup:
Redcap
Roar Guru
There’s a lot of anger and paranoia in your comments, Robert. It’s not healthy.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Yep. I see you’re happily trolling and name calling as usual with zero interest in what the discussion is about. Whatever gets you off I guess.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Yeah he has literally lifted his foot so many times in his career. I take it you’re fine with collecting a player in the air also? Like I said if you’re going defend a flying reverse elbow from your team that fractures the face of an opponent along with Luai rubbish you have little credibility.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Are you alright there BiBo? You seem a tad, erm, deranged. Help is available.
NQR
Roar Rookie
It wouldn’t be the same if TB, DT and Panthers weren’t together in their collective opinion. It’s amazing the Sydney centric gang are so collectively united against the officials. DT are you disagree with the officials? That’s hilarious as you are the honourable spokesperson for whinging about official.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I don’t support any dangerous acts from players. This coming from the guy who thinks that aiming your boot at 90 degrees, to kick anyone in the head who tries to challenge for a high ball is just fine. Oh, he always does that , it’s purely an accident! :laughing:
NQR
Roar Rookie
Fracturing an opponents face jumping into contact and swinging the elbow cocked at 90 degrees is purely accident in your eyes. Oh only if it’s a Panthers player doing it of course. The biggest accidental contact of the weekend I’m guessing is the young Panther belting Sivo with the fist on the end of a swinging arm? Or is it the Digit up an opponent’s backside?
NQR
Roar Rookie
So I guess when the ball is in Feldt’s hands and O’Sullivan is 2m away he’s a chance of contesting the ball? Come on, Feldt is literally holding the ball and looking away ( at the ball behind his shoulder) when O’Sullivan makes the contact. If Feldt was looking at O’Sullivan on contact I’d agree. If Feldt wasn’t leaning back and taking the ball behind him I’d agree. If Feldt wasn’t still in the air I’d probably agree. If Feldt’s leg straightened or he locked his leg straight I’d probably agree. For you to say O’Sullivan is going to contest the ball when Feldt already has it in his arms with O’Sullivan feet firmly on the ground before the contact is not actually watching the contact. Yes Feldt runs towards the ball but he leaps straight up. Feldt has no forward momentum as he is coming down. Officials and bunker concluded it was accidental yet here we have hyperbole hysteria. If Feldt had any force behind it I’d suggest O’Sullivan would have been injured considering his own speed coming into the contact? Maybe Feldt slightly miss judge his leap and had to lean back further than he intended? Fact is catching the ball behind your shoulder is a good safe technique because it prevents opponents from getting to the ball and if you lose it it will go backwards.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
We’re all biased to the clubs we follow, yet many of us can at least see some things that happen in football games with a bit of fairness . I could have told you that NQR isn’t one of the many. :laughing:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You're trying hard mate, but that act was indefensible. He's straight out kicked Sullivan in the face with some intent. Sullivan had eyes for the ball and could have challenged if not for getting kicked in the face a metre and half away from the ball. And yes he had some momentum, because was running at the ball.. Leave it there champ, you're just digging a bigger hole for yourself. Plus as an afternote, Feldt does have some form in unsavory on-field acts.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Speaking of the big anti-Queensland conspiracy, Bwana, I'm back in Brisbane and stand ready for further instructions... :stoked:
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Billy Slater made a career out of it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Whatever mate… you honestly think people are saying Feldt kicked O’Sullivan in the face is all part of some big anti Queensland conspiracy I’ve known for a while you’re delusional but this is bordering on needing professional help LOL
NQR
Roar Rookie
Frizzell didn’t notice? LOL. Hitting people in the head isn’t related to head high? LOL. Lashing out with the leg ( Kikau, J.Reynolds)and contacting with the boot isn’t kicking? LOL. Feldt’s feet are off the ground when O’Sullivan makes contact and only bloke moving forward into the contact is O’Sullivan. Hey but it’s dirty Feldty LOL.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Those things are all unrelated A high tackle is completely different to the Mitchell clip that Frizell didn’t even notice to kicking someone in the face You’re the one being hysterical bro and literally defending a player for kicking someone in the face… which is what you’ve falsely accused me of doing for almost a decade Do you not see your own hypocrisy…? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha… you’re right, every time I watch cricket, outfielders under a high catch kick their legs like can can dancers… I admire your passion for your team but this is absolute gibberish
NQR
Roar Rookie
Mate if you can defend a bloke mule kicking another player lying on the ground with “he’s holding on to his leg”. I think I can say what I have in Feldt’s defence. As for all over the shop. One minute you’re carrying on about defenders being responsible about aiming too high and next minute there was nothing in the Mitchell contact? Usually Mad woman stuff. The only blokes that kick people are Reynolds and Kikau.