Round 2
North Queensland Cowboys 43 d. Sydney Roosters 6

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Cowboys off to another flyer as the Roosters show signs of trouble
Mon March 26, 2007
North Queensland were the best team in the opening five rounds last year and this year have got off to another flyer disposing of the Sydney Roosters 43-6 with worrying signs already at Bondi.

The Cowboys blew the Roosters off the park with the little men Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and Aaron Payne causing absolute havoc and Jason Smith in vintage form before he was injured.

Thurston and the Bowen cousins got two tries each as the Roosters were simply never in the contest.

Brenton Bowen scored two tries in the opening ten minutes and Thurston crossed in the 19th minute as the Cowboys raced out to an 18-0 lead.

The Roosters tried hard to plug the gap in the first half being very unlucky with a few referee decisions but finally got on the board in the 32nd minute when Lopini Paea crossed over.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall was disallowed a try when he was tackled by someone in a blatantly offside when attempting to score a try and he would have scored with no interference. Anthony Minichiello was disallowed a fair try due to the obstruction rule when the Cowboys defender made a poor read and went for another Roosters attacker. The Roosters are now feeling the wrong end of the stick with 50-50 calls and it won't be long before coach Chris Anderson or club officials start raising awareness of what is now happening.

Smith came off in the 44th minute and that didn't stop the second half becoming a massacre with the Cowboys scoring four unanswered tries with Thurston crossing in the 52nd minute, Matthew Bowen in the 58th and Luke O'Donnell crashed over in the 71st minute. Thurston converted all six tries for the Cowboys to lead 36-6 and coach Graham Murray gave him an early mark.

The onslaught didn't end with Matthew Bowen crossing for his second try and Ashley Graham added the extras. Payne landed a drop-goal in the final seconds to rub salt into the Roosters wounds.

It's been a nightmare start for Anderson with whispers out already that he won't last the season at the Roosters. Anderson has received the same kiss of death that Ricky Stuart received last year with the Roosters management full support. Unfortunately it was always going to be a tough job for Anderson inheriting a squad that has struggled badly and recruited extremely poorly in the post-Brad Fittler era.

The Roosters have to show complete faith in Anderson for the next two years and allow him to bring up the youth in the Roosters and allow them to buy wisely. They are the favourites to sign out of form Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley, but they have to be careful on the price tag as O'Meley is showing signs that he's in the backend of his career.

In further bad news for the Roosters, Test forward Anthony Tupou has been ruled out of action for between 2-3 weeks after straining his right hamstring in the Cowboys loss.

It is hoped Tupou may be back in time for the Broncos Good Friday clash or at worst a Round 5 comeback against the Raiders.

The only other injury concern is Premier League half Josh Lewis who aggravated the AC joint in his shoulder during the Jets win in Auckland. The full diagnosis on Lewis won't be known until later today when he meets with physiotherapist Tony Ayoub.

Roosters supporters have to keep faith in Anderson and the rebuilding phase they are going through. They've enjoyed a fine era, but Fittler's retirement and poor recruitment policies have hurt them and now it's up to Anderson to pick up the pieces.

The Cowboys have again started on fire and they did the same last year winning five on the trot only to miss out on the top eight. Murray will be working hard to ensure the same collapse doesn't happen again.


Bowman back for Cowboys
Tue March 20, 2007
Veteran centre Paul Bowman has been rushed back into the Cowboys line up for Saturday's home clash against the Sydney Roosters at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Bowman made a successful return from a career threatening neck injury in the Wizard Queensland Cup last Friday night for the Young Guns and Cowboys coach Graham Murray had no hesitation to rush the former State of Origin representative back into the side.

Unfortunately it means that Mark Henry is the unlucky player to miss out after a fine performance against the Broncos last week where he crossed for a try.

Cowboys Round 2 Team v Roosters:

1 Matt Bowen, 2 Brenton Bowen, 3 Ashley Graham, 4 Paul Bowman, 5 Neil Sweeney, 6 Jason Smith, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott, 9 Aaron Payne (vc), 10 Carl Webb, 11 Steve Southern, 12 Luke O'Donnell, 13 Justin Smith. Subs: 14 Rod Jensen, 15 Jacob Lillyman, 16 Sione Faumuina, 17 Shane Tronc.

Click Here to keep an eye on all the team lists.

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