Cowboys cry foul as finals curse strikes again

IN 2012 it was Kieran Foran’s ‘Hand of Foz’. Last night, it was Mitchell Moses’ forward pass for Will Penisini’s open try that sent a dagger into North Queensland hearts.

Cowboys fans are again ruing a decision that went against them as Todd Payten’s side exited the finals race in controversial fashion.

Foran’s infamous touch that went unnoticed still angers Cowboys fans.

A year later, there was the infamous seventh tackle try against Cronulla. And the year after that, a disallowed try to Johnathan Thurston in the final minute of a semi-final against the Roosters cost them again.

A generation of supporters scorched by missed calls felt that familiar pain all over again as the Bunker, powerless to flag forward passes, sent the Cowboys down 6-0 in the sixth minute.

“I was convinced the pass was forward from Parramatta,” Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss said. “He’s swung around and the ball has gone forward,” echoed cocaller Greg Alexander.

“They can’t do anything about it. Try confirmed by the Bunker … they can’t check this,” Voss added. “There is nothing in doubt there.”

That moment, coupled with Jason Taumalolo’s sin-binning moments later, would have planted the seed of another record thrashing in North Queensland a season ago. Not in 2022. Not in these Cowboys.

In one of the toughest finals in memory, the mental steel Payten spent a pre-season forging never wavered as forwards Reuben Cotter and Luciano Leilua crashed through the Parramatta defence to level scores by halftime.

The Eels’ bold call to base their preparation in Sydney, away from the steaming humidity of Townsville in September, had taken its toll by the 30th minute as Parramatta’s giant pack sucked in gulps of air as the Cowboys’ accelerated.

With 22 minutes to go North Queensland led by eight. With 14 minutes to go, Parramatta’s biggest stars had reversed that deficit to lead by four.

It would take another momentous comeback to seal the win for the Cowboys but in the biggest moment of the match it was the Eels who came up trumps.

Another refereeing howler for North Queenslanders to add to a torture chamber of finals memories.