POST GAME Round 11 - Cowboys vs Broncos

[Son Edo]

Very happy that we matched them for the majority of the game.

And that was an example of how overhyped Milford is. This was the game where he had to step up and ended up having one of his worst performances, if not his worst yet. Losing the ball twice in opposition territory and missing the field goal with no pressure, right in front of the posts.

Overall I'm pleased that we can still hang with the best and beat them if we improve.

 

[Socnorb]

Mate, just my opinion, but there were definitely forward passes that went uncalled.

Even so Thurston is a absolute champion and he did what champions do and rose when his team needed him.

Not trying to take anything away from the Cowboys win, just something I think the NRL need to crack down on in general.

If they
policed forward passes especially from dummy half ther'd be a thousand penalties every game. I does seem to be given a lot of leeway.

 

[Kimlo]

We've had 3 losses this year, by a combined total of 4 points.

4 points is the total of how much we've lost by this year. That's pretty incredible.

 

[Broncs_Fan]

Very happy that we matched them for the majority of the game.

And that was an example of how overhyped Milford is. This was the game where he had to step up and ended up having one of his worst performances, if not his worst yet. Losing the ball twice in opposition territory and missing the field goal with no pressure, right in front of the posts.

Overall I'm pleased that we can still hang with the best and beat them if we improve.

Milf is tracking along nicely. He is only a young man. He is doing really well.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Proud of the boys for hanging in there in the end. The Cowboys could have easily got one or two tries in the end there but we stood strong.

 

[Super Freak]

Cowboys, the reigning premiers, a team that's meant to be "a level above us" won by 1 point despite having all of the momentum, a fully fit bench and going up against a side that's down to 15 men and struggling to even stop them from going from one side of the field to other.

Yeah, I'm not worried about us this year.

They should have put us to the sword.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

We've had 3 losses this year, by a combined total of 4 points.

4 points is the total of how much we've lost by this year. That's pretty incredible.

Dat Bennett defence. We are definitely tracking towards an amazing F/A come the end of the year

 

[Tunza's Chin]

Mate, just my opinion, but there were definitely forward passes that went uncalled.

Even so Thurston is a absolute champion and he did what champions do and rose when his team needed him.

Not trying to take anything away from the Cowboys win, just something I think the NRL need to crack down on in general.

Sure, as a one eyed fan it might seem that way after a loss. But objectively, as league fans, we want to see the 100% obvious ones called every time, but otherwise let the game flow. I didn't notice any tonight TBH apart from the one that was called.

Kodi's a good player, but I am noticing more and more the difference it makes when Macca's off the field. Maybe it's because Kodi's usually on with the bench forwards, but we seem to lose ruck dominance in both attack and defence.

 

[Fernando]

Cowboys, the reigning premiers, a team that's meant to be "a level above us" won by 1 point despite having all of the momentum, a fully fit bench and going up against a side that's down to 15 men and struggling to even stop them from going from one side of the field to other.

Yeah, I'm not worried about us this year.

They should have put us to the sword.

Again, for the last time tonight, for me the big worry is that the Cows go from one side of the field to the other with regularity in the last
quarter, injuries or not.

It is just a matter of time until they put us to the sword late in a game, I reckon.

 

[Stix]

I agree. The injuries we suffered tonight sucked, but it's been the same story with or without injuries in recent encounters in the final quarter.

Taumalolo just annihilates us.

They also have JT organising the assault like a madman, they just flick the switch and bury teams. We don't have that yet.

 

[austin71]

Milf will come back from this huge. He would be feeling this loss way more then anyone could imagine.
Be patient guys. Not the end of the world. 50+ v the Tigers

 

[jd87]

Again, for the last time tonight, for me the big worry is that the Cows go from one side of the field to the other with regularity in the last
quarter, injuries or not.

It is just a matter i until they put us to the sword late in a game, I reckon.

agreed. although you cant help but admire our defense, i think most teams especially cowboys would kill to have the heart of our players

 

[jd87]

also if parker was kicking we would have won the game!!

 

[Danoz Direct]

Sure, as a one eyed fan it might seem that way after a loss. But objectively, as league fans, we want to see the 100% obvious ones called every time, but otherwise let the game flow. I didn't notice any tonight TBH apart from the one that was called.

Kodi's a good player, but I am noticing more and more the difference it makes when Macca's off the field. Maybe it's because Kodi's usually on with the bench forwards, but we seem to lose ruck dominance in both attack and defence.

Fair enough. Thought I'd just raise what I thought might be some that could be more thoroughly addressed.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Again, for the last time tonight, for me the big worry is that the Cows go from one side of the field to the other with regularity in the last
quarter, injuries or not.

It is just a matter of time until they put us to the sword late in a game, I reckon.

agreed. although you cant help but admire our defense, i think most teams especially cowboys would kill to have the heart of our players

Too many Cowboys fans in here......

 

[Big Pete]

Mate, just my opinion, but there were definitely forward passes that went uncalled.

Even so Thurston is a absolute champion and he did what champions do and rose when his team needed him.

Not trying to take anything away from the Cowboys win, just something I think the NRL need to crack down on in general.

That's all well and good, just as long as you know that it's pointless and doesn't get to the root of the problem.

It's like complaining about the lack of penalties in the GF. Sure, you could have a point about the Coote hit on Boyd and JT hitting Gillett off the ball...but it's never going to change the result.

Better to just look forward.

 

[Super Freak]

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Johnathan Thurston, celebrating his 250th game after over a decade of service for North Queensland, has capped off another memorable Queensland derby with a 75th minute field goal to take his Cowboys to a 19-18 victory in front of a packed out 1300SMILES Stadium.

On the play prior to his field goal, Thurston was hit behind play by Broncos prop Josh McGuire and got up holding his right hip.

But in a moment that encapsulated his 15-year career, Thurston brushed off the hit and remained poised to snap the game-winner.

Broncos back-rower Matt Gillett owned the night in a losing side, bagging a double and saving a certain try when the Cowboys were on course to run away with the game.

Meanwhile, Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt froze on the eve of State of Origin, with three ghastly knock-ons in the space of 15 minutes.

Whether it was enough to dissuade Maroons coach Kevin Walters is a question yet to be answered, but Feldt – who has been solid in all areas in every game this year – appeared distinctly rattled by the occasion.

Feats of sheer brilliance were punctuated by momentum-halting errors, until the Cowboys took the game by the reins and looked to shake the undermanned Broncos into submission 20 minutes out from full-time.

The Broncos were down to just two man on the bench with 27 minutes to go after Corey Oates (illness) and Jack Reed (head knock) failed to return after half-time.

Thurston was amped up in his milestone night; putting hits on, catching high balls and placing freakish high kicks.

His Cowboys came out a different team to last week, moving the ball and owning the ruck from early on. They were the first to strike with a soft, close-range try to Matt Scott via Jake Granville, but that signalled the start of Feldt's horror show.

Back row stalwart Gavin Cooper made amends for Feldt's drop off the restart with an error-forcing tackle on Anthony Milford before Thurston had Jordan Kahu fooled with the kind of towering bomb some halves could only conjure in a dream state.

But again, errors killed off any chance of points, while Gillett crossed for an easy try close to the sticks off a Ben Hunt short ball.

Feldt continued to fumble – off a regulation hit-up and another stock-standard high ball – and Gillett nabbed his first-half double off another tidy Hunt short ball.

A Jordan Kahu penalty goal had the scores reading 12-6 at the half, and things got worse for the hosts when Ben Hannant knocked on first hit-up of second half.

Gillett was the key in the ensuing try, running a strong line to free up Boyd for a clean face ball for Kahu's corner try.

The Maroons back-rower was again in the thick of it when he saved a certain try, cutting down Linnett just metres out in 52nd minute.

With a chance to put the Cowboys away, Anthony Milford blew a chance inside the Broncos attacking red zone with his first of two costly knock-ons in the final half hour, and Lachlan Coote made him pay with a self-assisted try on the very next play.

The Cowboys put O'Neill over 16 minutes from time and it seemed just a matter of time before they would wrangle a weakened Broncos to the ground.

But they stood strong, and while both teams had opportunities – including Milford's blown field goal 15 metres out right in front and Ben Hunt's 40-metre shot – it was Thurston with the coolest head of all five minutes out from time.

Next week's Origin camps will leave both sides with a large talent void, as the Cowboys face the Dragons at WIN Stadium next Saturday and Brisbane head back home for another Friday night affair with Wests Tigers.

North Queensland Cowboys 19 (Matt Scott, Lachlan Coote, Justin O'Neill tries; Johnathan Thurston 3 goals; Thurston field goal) defeated Brisbane Broncos 18 (Matt Gillett 2, Jordan Kahu tries; Jordan Kahu 3 goals) at 1300SMILES Stadium. Half-time: Broncos 12-6. Crowd: 25,163. Holden Cup: Cowboys 38-18.

Thurston field goal seals epic comeback win - NRL.com

 

[Fernando]

Too many Cowboys fans in here......

Pfft