Taumalolo dominates as Cowboys surge on to overwhelm Warriors
NORTH QUEENSLAND Tries: Goals: NZ WARRIORS Tries: Goals: Referees: Crowd: NORTH Queensland’s midseason surge has continued, with the Cowboys grinding out a 24-12 NRL win over the freefalling Warriors in Townsville.
Scores were locked at 12-12 last night after a dogged first half and, while the Cowboys never reached any great heights, they rolled on to a fourth- straight win without Johnathan Thurston.
The Warriors, also without their injured star half Shaun Johnson, will need a minor miracle to sneak into the top eight.
North Queensland’s forwards laid the platform, with Kiwi wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo at his brilliant best with 174m from 17 runs, while new Queensland State of Origin player Coen Hess also impressed with 130m off the bench.
The Warriors opened the scoring after 10 minutes when second- rower Bunty Afoa showed great speed to charge over from 30 metres out. The Cowboys were quick to hit back when Lachlan Coote hit Justin O’Neill with a great ball as the veteran broke his tryscoring duck for 2017.
The Cowboys edged ahead when recalled winger Javid Bowen pounced on a crafty Jake Granville kick.
Their lead was brief when Warriors back-rower Simon Mannering sliced through some poor defence in the final minute of the half, with Issac Luke’s conversion making it 12-12 at the break.