BRAVE COWBOYS STILL HAVE HOPE
DERBY LOSS LEADS TO NERVOUS WAIT FOR COWBOYS
THE Cowboys’ season is teetering on the brink after their 20- 10 loss to Brisbane last night. While a win would have secured a finals berth they still have hope. A loss by either Manly or St George Illawarra this weekend will see the Cowboys hold on to a spot in the top eight.
Cowboys halfback Michael Morgan is pictured looking despondent after the game and (above) Brisbane’s Adam Blair celebrates his try.
COWBOYS fans must become temporary Penrith and Canterbury supporters this week after North Queensland’s finals hopes were taken out of their own hands with a 20- 10 loss to Brisbane at a sold- out 1300SMILES Stadium last night.
North Queensland need either Penrith to beat the Sea Eagles on Saturday, or Canterbury to upset the Dragons on Sunday, to seal a finals spot.
COME on the Panthers and Bulldogs.
Cowboys fans will become temporary Penrith and Canterbury supporters this week after North Queensland’s finals hopes were taken out of their own hands with a 20- 10 loss to Brisbane at a sold- out 1300SMILES Stadium last night.
The clash didn’t reach the heights of the classics between the two sides which had preceded it, with five of the last six games decided by a point.
But it was the Broncos who kept their top two hopes alive and broke a five- game losing streak against their Northern cousins in style.
Kyle Feldt’s late try proved to be crucial as it brought the club equal on for- and- against with Manly and the Cowboys now require either Penrith beating the Sea Eagles on Saturday, or Canterbury upsetting the Dragons on Sunday, to seal a spot in September.
Embarrassed by letting in 52 points at home to Parramatta last week, Brisbane muscled up in defence and the magic of five- eighth Anthony Milford did the rest.
The Broncos effectively required just 15 minutes of firsthalf attacking brilliance to bounce back from last week’s nightmare.
Milford was mesmerising as he tore the Cowboys’ left edge of Te Maire Martin and Javid Bowen apart, Brisbane exposing that flank with three tries to set up the win.
They led 14- 0 after 25 minutes and the undermanned Cowboys simply did not possess the attacking quality to run them down.
The Broncos’ win may have come at a cost for the Brisbane side with Darius Boyd and Te- vita Pangai both injuring their hamstrings.
Cowboys wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo ( 213 metres) did his best to lift his side, but couldn’t prevent a fifth loss in six games.
North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein played out the match after also hurting his hamstring in the first half.
The Broncos scored first after 14 minutes through some vintage Milford magic after he chipped and regathered and offloaded to James Roberts, who found Matt Gillett for the opening try.
On the 20- minute mark it was Milford’s halves partner Kodi Nikorima who put a spell over the Cowboys’ defence, bursting straight through a Te Maire Martin tackle before grubbering inside for Roberts to score.
Six minutes later the Cowboys’ left edge leaked a third try for the match when Broncos winger Jordan Kahu leapt over Antonio Winterstein to take a Nikorima cross- field kick.
The Cowboys got back into the match when a short ball from Michael Morgan put Gavin Cooper over for their opening try with seven minutes left in the first half.
North Queensland had a glut of possession and territory soon after the break but the Broncos’ defence, still stinging from letting in 52 points to Parramatta, held firm
The visitors eventually found the killer punch with 17 minutes left when Adam Blair crashed over from close range for his first try of the season.