NQ leave it late to reel in Warriors
COWBOYS SLOW OFF THE MARK
NORTH Queensland Cowboys coach Paul Green says his side’s slow start against the New Zealand Warriors was more bad luck than a continuation of a trend this season.
The Cowboys have conceded first in six of their seven matches this season and have trailed at half- time in three of their last four wins.
Their second halves have been defined by flowing attack and hard- nosed defence, and Saturday was no different as the Cowboys went down 12- 0 inside eight minutes and 16- 10 down after 40 minutes before outscoring the New Zealanders after the break.
While he said his side were flat after a short turnaround and three consecutive wins over big teams, Green said the early points against the Warriors had been more unlucky than part of any slow start.
North Queensland had three of the first five sets before Konrad Hurrell’s opener, off a spilt bomb in the middle of the field.
“We actually started well and both those tries we had them under the pump so it went against the run of play,” he said.
“We were under a bit of scoreboard pressure as opposed to how we actually started.”
It was a sentiment shared by co- captain Johnathan Thurston, who said his side had gone down against the flow of play.
“I think we were a little bit unlucky, they put the high ball up there and I had a good look at it and they ran on and scored,” he said.
“They scored a couple like that, Konny ( Konrad Hurrell) ran 80m and Morgo cut him down and they score on the other edge.
“A few tries against the run of play, but it’s great that the boys don’t lose their character.
“They can stay in the fight and they can finish games off, so I’m very proud of them.”
The Cowboys trailed for
They can stay in the fight and they can finish games off so I’m very proud of them
JOHNATHAN THURSTON
nearly 70 minutes before hooker Jake Granville completed his hat- trick with 90 seconds left to play and finally took back the lead.
North Queensland have shown composure to turn deficits into wins late in games, and Green said his side were growing and had showed composure.
“We were a bit frantic … once we calmed down, we got back into our groove and finished off well,” he said.