EMBARRASSED: COWBOYS SLUMP TO A NEW LOW
HANNAY BLASTS ‘HORRIBLE’ COWBOYS AFTER LOSS
IT’S official. The Titans are the best NRL side in Queensland.
It is a fact that will slap Cowboys fans in the face harder than the 30-10 loss at Cbus Super Stadium which broke a 10-game streak over the little brother.
The Cowboys have hit rock bottom. It was the first time they had suffered six straight losses since 2010.
All the extra effort they had put in for the past three weeks was non-existent and the body language suggested they were beaten before halftime.
The all-important inclusion of Michael Morgan provided little difference apart from on the defensive end as he struggled to cope with the Titans’ barrage down his side of the field.
The Cowboys’ defensive woes were only compounded by their 14 errors – from dropped balls and one-onone strips to the ball going out on the full from the kick-off.
It was a self-destructive performance.
The Cowboys showed a brief fightback midway through the first half with back-to-back tries to wingers Kyle Feldt and Justin O’neill.
But it proved futile with the home side running in a late try through Philip Sami to seal victory.
WELCOMING PARTY
While the Cowboys were happy to see the return of skipper Morgan, it appeared the Titans were also ready to roll out the welcome mat.
The Titans worked over the 28-year-old and his recently repaired shoulder, constantly lining up their edge backrowers for charges.
Morgan was steamrolled by Kevin Proctor on his way to the tryline in the 23rd minute and would then be exposed again on the following set when Brian Kelly broke through Morgan’s feeble attempt to set up AJ Brimson.
It was almost a trifecta when Ash Taylor stepped him, only for the try to be disallowed by a controversial obstruction call on Proctor.
The Cowboys captain finished with seven missed tackles from 16 attempts.
DESIRE TO WIN
When a side has the hunger to win, nothing else will satiate it. The Titans have shown a resolve under Justin Holbrook in the past month.
That commitment was again on show against the Cowboys, not better epitomised by the efforts of offcontract veteran Proctor.
The 31-year-old wound back the clock early in the second half, refusing to give up on a Taylor kick destined for the dead-ball area. Proctor dived full stretch around Feldt to knock the ball back in for a Kelly try.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
The positive for the Cowboys is that the only way is up.
Mathematically they can still make the finals, but they are a long way off the pace of the competition.
The positives for the club though comes in their bright prospects.
Hamiso Tabuai-fidow threw a perfect cut-out ball for O’neill to score, while Tom Gilbert also refused to give an inch in the middle of the field.