CLASSY BRONCOS Cowboys struggle to contain big men

THE beginning to the North Queensland Cowboys’ new era has fallen flat after going down to the Brisbane Broncos in their opening game of the season.

A healthy crowd of 22,459 filled Queensland Country Bank Stadium last night for the sport’s greatest modern day rivalry, but it was the young Broncos pack that stole the show.

Tevita Pangai Jr and David Fifita were huge in their side’s victory, terrorising the Cowboys’ edges in the 28-21 win.

It was a tough blow for the home side who had been desperate to deliver their fans a fitting welcome party for the $293.5 million facility.

“It’s not the outcome we wanted,” Cowboys coach Paul Green said.

“I’m disappointed, our first go here.

“Our starts to both halves weren’t good enough. There was too many missed tackles in particular … how we ended our sets needed to be better.”

While he was one of the Broncos’ best, Pangai Jr will still face a nervous wait after the forward was put on report for cleaning up a grounded Justin O’neill with a high shot.

Star signing Valentine Holmes took time to warm into his work, spilling the ball the first time the Cowboys marched inside the Broncos 20m. A groggy O’neill received his second head knock within five minutes and went off for a HIA, from which he never returned, forcing a reshuffle with Mitch Dunn in the centres.

Holmes Holmes’s s woes continued when he put down a dipping it was

Anthony Milford bomb and Jake Turpin made the Cowboys pay in the next set of six.

The rake sold Holmes a dummy from close range and dived over untouched in the 11th minute.

The Cowboys hit back soon after with Michael Morgan and Scott Drinkwater combining to unlock Holmes down the left edge and the fullback went a way to redeeming himself, slicing through the Brisbane defence.

The Broncos extended their lead midway through the first half, with quick hands from Brodie Croft and Jamayne Isaako to set up a powerful Kontoni Staggs.

It was Drinkwater, Morgan and Holmes who once again sparked the Cowboys attack, combining to send Kyle Feldt over in the corner in the 33rd minute.

The Broncos burst out of the blocks in the second stanza, scoring through Pangai Junior in their first set after the Cowboys failed to clean up a Croft cross-field kick on their tryline.

Ben Hampton scored in the dying minutes to cover up what was a disappointing first outing from North Queensland.