Cowboys
32
Match Complete
Knights
20
| 74 |  | G. Shibasaki | ||
| 58 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| 57 | | K. Mann | ||
| 52 | | H. Hunt | ||
| K. Feldt | | 46 | ||
| C. Hess | | 44 | ||
| 42 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 41 | | T. Hoy | ||
| K. Feldt | | 39 | ||
| K. Feldt | | 38 | ||
| K. Feldt | | 24 | ||
| J. Clifford | | 23 | ||
| K. Feldt | | 20 | ||
| H. Tabuai-Fidow | | 19 | ||
| K. Feldt |  | 15 | ||
| K. Feldt | | 9 | ||
| J. O'Neill | | 8 |
| 5 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 5 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The stuttering North Queensland Cowboys are pitted against the Newcastle Knights in today’s Saturday-arvo encounter. Join The Roar for live scores from 3pm (AEST).
The Cowboys are one of the NRL’s most frustrating sides. Boasting a list laden with representative talent, they’ve been unable to play to their potential for some time, and 2020 has been no exception.
Contrast that with the Knights, who suddenly look like the real deal. Kalyn Ponga, locked in long-term with the club on a multi-million dollar deal, is dominating from fullback, and tonight his former club will see first-hand what they’re missing out on.
To be fair to the Cowboys, injuries have played a part this year, and will again tonight. Michael Morgan and Valentine Holmes are still out injured, although there is a chance towering prop Jordan McLean could make an early comeback after being named in the extended reserves. Corey Jensen has dropped out of the side after last week’s loss to the Tigers which saw North Queensland out of the game by halftime.
There’s just the one change for the Knights today from the side which so comprehensively dismantled the Broncos last week, although it is a significant one: gun centre Bradman Best is out of the side after breaching COVID-19 protocols. Enari Tuala comes into the backline in Best’s place.
Game information
Kick-off: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass
Teams
Cowboys
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Justin O’Neill, 4. Esan Marsters, 5. Connelly Lemuelu, 6. Scott Drinkwater, 7. Jake Clifford, 8. Josh McGuire (c), 9. Reece Robson, 10. Francis Molo, 11. Mitchell Dunn, 12. Coen Hess, 13. Jason Taumalolo
Bench/Reserves: 14. Ben Hampton, 15. Gavin Cooper, 16. Peter Hola, 17. Reuben Cotter, 18. Tom Opacic, 19. Shane Wright, 20. Jordan McLean, 21. Jake Granville
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Kurt Mann, 7. Mitchell Pearce (c), 8. David Klemmer, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Tim Glasby
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tex Hoy, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Herman Ese’ese, 17. Aidan Guerra, 18. Brodie Jones, 19. Tautau Moga, 20. Phoenix Crossland, 21. Pasami Saulo
Jeremy Shrubb
Guest
I reckon the cowboys were going to win but there was no way Ponga doesn’t score that try.
danwain
Roar Rookie
Bewilders me that your team won a game 5 hours ago and you are still complaining about the referee...
danwain
Roar Rookie
No he doesn't, but he could run behind the play or something similar so he can't possibly be impeding anyone. We all knows players milk it as much as they can, so why offer that opportunity?
Rob
Guest
Next time I see the dummy half run into the in goal after passing the ball 10 m out from the line I’ll be reminded of your clever advice. Maybe that is what Smith does when he knows a defender will run in to his back after passing the ball? Robson doesn’t have to move out of the way of a player behind him.
Rob
Guest
Sorry I disagree. If that’s very good Reffing than Donald Trump is a very good leader.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I just realised the Knights problem - they are wearing Broncos jerseys!
Fish
Guest
Well done Cowboys. Much better performance. The no try decision on Masters was a head scratcher. Robson passes the ball, not a decoy. Bunker must of been on their second scotch. That’s not even a rule. Crazy stuff.
Aiden
Guest
Exactly. I was thinking that. When the Roosters are running up cricket scores and their FB is taking the ball on his chest and bursting through the line at will, you’d think that Coaches would have twigged to the tactic a bit more often. If kicking out of your own half say, just never ever give him the ball. From the sideline you have your defense ready, he gets it from almost a standing start of at all.
Big Daddy
Guest
C'mon Scott we know you pressed the wrong button. You just got lucky.
Rob
Guest
Helps against Teddy as well. Any team with a gun kick returner and it’s probably worth keeping it out of their hands.
Aiden
Guest
Kicking into touch constantly when playing out to deny ball to Ponga. Seems bleedingly obvious. Can someone smarter than me explain why teams don’t do it more often when playing against gun fullbacks. Cam Smith will do it. Cronk used to do it a bit. Honestly, most play is so conservative.
Rob
Guest
Great work Scott Pryde. Don’t know how you picked that. First weekend I have jumped off my team and played the joker? Fair dinkum I might start backing the opposition. Did that for about 10 years of SOO until 2016? Backed the Broncos in 2015 GF because I didn’t want to repeat the head and heart loss of 2005.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I never go the Refs fault when we win !. There was one STORM guy on here, who shall remain nameless who complained for a month after the 2017 GF because the Refs stopped the Storm winning by 40. Go figure
Rob
Guest
Knights have played poorly dropping the ball all day. The Cowboys have played some great football but the Officials have found away to keep it interesting. Sorry but as a defender you are not obstructed by tackling or running into an attacker after he has thrown a ball to a player outside. If the player runs back behind the passer yes but Masters never did. Robson was not a decoy ? He passed the ball and the defender came from behind him. I struggle to watch such blatant rule manipulation to keep a game close. Please stop the WWF stuff. It criminal.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah I don't like it either. That was not good to look at ,the way he ran to the Cows player. :rugby:
Luke S
Roar Rookie
Well done Cows! The refs tried to stop you but you hung in there ;)
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. Wide smiles here .
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You think that was a penalty try?? He was 10 m from the line. No way you give him that.
danwain
Roar Rookie
I thought the refs had a great game today also, no idea about the whinging on here
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Yeah that’s how I saw it. Backed into a defender and then threw his arms in the air.