Epic Cowboys win ranks with best
Nail-biting decider produces greatest NRL final finish Never-say-die spirit key for Cowboys
The Cowboys’ nail-biting 17-16 golden point victory over the Brisbane Broncos is the greatest NRL grand final finish in history. The thrilling extra-time contest between the two Queensland sides had a level of drama and emotion not seen since perhaps Canberra Raiders replacement prop Steve Jackson’s remarkable extra-time try to clinch the famous 1989 decider over the Balmain Tigers.
Newcastle’s last-minute triumph over Manly in the 1997 ARL grand final ranks up there, as does Penrith’s emotionally charged maiden premiership win over Canberra in 1991.
The penalty try that allowed Melbourne to clinch their first title over St George-Illawarra in 1999 was also memorable for its heart-stopping end.
But the Cowboys’ stunning effort surpasses all of those games and the gripping conclusion to the 2015 season could not have been scripted any better. In a season punctuated by comefrom-behind North Queensland wins, the Cowboys have credited their unfailing self-belief in finally delivering the NRL premiership to Townsville.
As the final seconds wound down in Sunday’s decider at ANZ Stadium, it looked as though Brisbane’s defence would win the day. That was before a clutch play from Michael Morgan produced a post-siren try to
With the Broncos clinging to a 16-12 lead and having turned in what looked like a match-winning defensive effort, Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt turned the game on its head when he scored in the corner with time up on the clock.
The scene was set for champion halfback and captain Johnathan Thurston to snatch the win for his side with a sideline conversion, and despite the acute angle, it seemed unfathomable that he might miss the most important shot at goal in his brilliant 12-year-career.
You could almost feel the entire Kyle Feldt to tie up the scores at 16-all.
Johnathan Thurston’s conversion hit the post to send the game into extra-time, before the Clive Churchill medallist nailed a field goal from close range to claim a 17-16 win before 82,758 fans in one of the greatest grand finals in history.
The Cowboys made an art this year of running down teams from behind and coach Paul Green said Sunday’s win was evidence of that.
“The way we won says a lot about how we have gone about things this North Queensland region’s heartache and dismay as the Steeden ricocheted off the right-hand goal post to send the match into overtime.
North Queensland fans rejoiced again when Broncos halfback Ben Hunt lost sight of the kick-off, and the ball bounced off his chest and out of his arms to hand the Cowboys’ chief gunslinger a second shot at glory.
After two aborted attempts at a field goal the Cowboys kept their composure, and on the fourth tackle Thurston made no mistake in directing the ball off his boot, between the uprights to claim the unlikely win. year, that end was fitting, that fighting spirit, we know we are never out of a game and tonight was no different,” Green said. “They have showed that fighting spirit all year.’’
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett,, who suffered defeat in his first grand final as head coach in eight attempts, said he didn’t feel like a loser.
“Someone’s got to lose, at the end of the day we got beaten by a field goal,” he said. “Do we feel beaten? No, we don’t. Are we disappointed? Yes, we are.’’ — AAP
But go back to the 79th minute and it looked impossible for the Paul Green-coached side, who had previously been on the wrong side of controversial season-ending calls in each of the past three finals series.
Up until those last brilliant moments, it was far from Thurston’s happiest night, as he struggled to find a way through the Broncos’ almost water-tight defence.
With Jordan Kahu’s penalty increasing Brisbane’s lead to four early in the second-half, Wayne Bennett’s men seemed content to defend and found themselves repeatedly work- ing the ball off their own line.
The Cowboys began testing Kahu with a procession of high kicks to his corner, but the Broncos absorbed the best Thurston and his mates could muster.
The four-time Dally M Medal winner, two-time Golden Boot winner and eventual Clive Churchill Medallist, had tried almost every trick in his phone-book sized list of pet plays, to no avail.
Five-eighths Michael Morgan was held-up ingoal, Thurston’s face-ball to Kane Linnett came unstuck with the line begging, and Lachlan Coote was penalised for a double movement before Justin O’Neil was cut down just short.
But with the seconds ticking down, Thurston’s never-say-die effort to run back 10m to keep the ball alive, with an offload to Morgan, allowed his halves partner to deliver a brilliant back-handed pass for Feldt to tip-toe over and level the scores and set up the grandstand finish.
Brisbane’s role in making this match an all-time classic should not be downplayed.
They were terrific up-front with Kiwis enforcer Adam Blair and Sam Thaiday leading the way for the forwards, and their backs attacked with confidence and speed before tackling themselves to a standstill in the second-half.