Round 3
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 18 l. North Queensland Cowboys 22

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

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

Cowboys continue winning ways as Dragons fall short
Sat March 31, 2007
North Queensland's excellent start to the season has continued defeating St George Illawarra 22-18 after at one stage leading 22-0 and doing it easy.

The Cowboys were the front runners of the competition last year before falling into a horrendous heap where they missed out on the semi-finals and this year again are off to a flyer with three wins from as many matches.

It didn't take long for Johnathan Thurston to leave his mark on the match with a classy try in the 5th minute and Thurston also converted for the Cowboys to lead 6-0.

Ashley Graham crossed for the Cowboys try in the 10th minute when a deft grubber from Thurston down the left side caught out the Dragons defence. Thurston was unable to convert with the Cowboys up 10-0.

Thurston was in the action yet again setting up the Cowboys 3rd try in the 30th minute with another well timed kick for Brenton Bowen to pounce on the ball. Thurston landed a great conversion as the Cowboys went up 16-0 and that remained the score until half-time.

Paul Bowman extended the Cowboys lead in the 50th minute with a try that came on the back of a 40/20 touch finder from Thurston. Another great goal from Thurston extended the Cowboys lead to 22-0.

The turning point in the match came when Thurston was sent to the sin bin and in that time off the field the Dragons scored two tries through Richard Williams in the 64th and 68th minutes to give them some hope with Wes Naiqama converting both tries.

Luke MacDougall scored in the final moments with Naiqama convertin from outwide to give the Dragons one final chance of snatching victory. St George Illawarra came within a whisker of doing what Penrith did last night but the Cowboys defence held firm and Neil Sweeney who had a possible try disallowed in the first half took the bomb to save the day for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys victory was soured with impact forward Carl Webb suffering a suspected broken jaw. North Queensland coach Graham Murray said, "I'm not sure how it happened but it looks like he's got a broken jaw which is a massive blow for him and us.

"He's been in great form and I really feel sorry for the bloke, I know the effort he's put in in the off-season, he's devastated at the moment."

Despite being sin binned for ten minutes in what could have been the defining moment, Murray heaped praise on Thurston and said, "He came up with the big plays on very important occasions.

"That's what you need, your No.7 to be at the hub of everything that you do and he was.

"He knows what he's doing out there, it helps the coach I tell you."

Thurston confirmed that he's now the premier player in the game and a fit Thurston will have the Cowboys up there as genuine contenders.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown said, "It's not acceptable how we played, the first half, I know they are a good team, but the first half we were poor.

"We were just off the pace, they were three yards ahead of us.

"We've played the same way all year, five gameswe've had - we could have won five and we've won two because we keep doing the same silly mistakes."


Head and Poore return, Houston to debut for Dragons
Tue March 27, 2007
Source: www.dragons.com.au

Mathew Head and Justin Poore returning from injury and suspension respectively have been named in the Dragons starting side for the match against the Cowboys at WIN Stadium this Saturday with Chris Houston named on the interchange for his NRL debut.

Head has been named at halfback with Ben Hornby shifting to five-eight replacing Richie Williams. Tony Caine has been elevated to start at hooker, replacing Simon Woolford (ankle); Corey Payne has been named subject to his judiciary hearing in the back row, replacing Beau Scott (foot).

Rangi Chase has been named on the interchange to make his Dragons debut and is the only addition other than Houston to the Dragons team that was named and/or played last week.

Unavailable Dragons are Mark Gasnier (pectoral), Sam Isemonger (knee), Brett Morris (thumb), Dean Young (knee), Simon Woolford (ankle) and Beau Scott (foot).

Dragons: Josh Morris, Luke MacDougall, Keith Lulia, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Ben Hornby (c), Mathew Head, Justin Poore, Tony Caine, Jason Ryles (c), Ashton Sims, Corey Payne, Ben Creagh. Subs: Adam Peek, Danny Wicks, Dan Hunt, Rangi Chase, Lagi Setu, Chase Stanley, Chris Houston (three to be omitted).

News sent by: www.dragons.com.au

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