RABBITOHS NAIL COWBOYS IN THRILLER
Souths sneak win over Cowboys star
JT and GI’s final encounter started with a warm embrace in the tunnel and finished with a bitter taste in the mouth of a Cowboys legend who still can’t stand to lose 314 games into his storied career.
Johnathan Thurston’s last game in the Far North fittingly ended with the ball in the future Immortal’s hands and a chance to tie the game after the siren. It was a classic Thurston moment, the kind that will live on in highlight reels long after his final game.
The poncho-ed masses – 7,651 in all – who’d braved the rain throughout the first half, rose to their feet with anticipation.
The kick sailed towards the sticks but it erred wide to the left. Thurston grimaced, then bowed his head, ending a classic encounter between the two clubs, the final score 21-20.
The star halfback removed his famous helmet and trudged towards the changerooms alone. There was no final salute to the crowd, just a lingering sense of loss for the humble champ and his adoring throng of fans who huddled around the race to capture one final glimpse of their hero.
Teammate Gavin Cooper, playing in his 200th game said his good mate was inconsolable following the club’s second one-point loss to the Bunnies this season.
“We all try (to pick him up),” Cooper said. “He takes every loss hard, especially with the way that one finished. Knowing he had a chance to level it up … he carries the weight of the Cowboys on his shoulders. He has done for a long time.
“That’s what’s made him such a great competitor. Every loss is hard and tonight’s no different. We just keep finding ways to lose games.”
What preceded was arguably the best Rabbitohs game the Far North has hosted.
After threatening to rain all afternoon, the heavens finally opened as the Rabbitohs kicked off proceedings but it did little to diminish the quality of the footy with two of the game’s great stars eager to put on a show early.
Inglis showed his trademark dash while Thurston’s skills in the wet and sublime right boot were superlative. He set up two tries in the opening 17 minutes with deft little grubber kicks, the first to Antonio Winterstein, the second to Cooper.
The rain did little to deter the Rabbitohs from playing their run-and-gun game style. Still, North Queensland held a narrow 14-12 lead at halftime.
“The Cowboys have tested us in both games,” Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold said.
After conceding the opening try early in the first half, Lachlan Coote responded with a lunging effort from dummy half to give them the lead with nine minutes to play.
But the Rabbitohs fought back, with Damien Cook sending Robert Jennings over to tie the scores 20-all.
Halfback Adam Reynolds’ field goal set up the chance for Thurston to attempt the field goal after the siren but it wasn’t meant to be and the Bunnies claimed their eighth-consecutive game.
In a dramatic epilogue to the game, Inglis revealed he had broken his thumb, effectively ruling him out of Game Three for Queensland at Suncorp Stadium this month.
The Maroons team announcement for Origin III will now be made at some stage this morning.