Round 6
North Queensland Cowboys 48 d. New Zealand Warriors 20

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Warriors toppled in Townsville
Sun April 20, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

North Queensland turned on a potent second half to clear away from the Vodafone Warriors in their sixth-round NRL encounter in Townsville tonight (Saturday).

The Vodafone Warriors were only 14-22 down at halftime but the Cowboys found another gear in the second half as they piled on another 26 points to shoot clear for their third straight win.

Fullback Matt Bowen, who had already scored twice in the first half, was gifted a third by a deft Johnathan Thurston kick. Indeed it was Thurston who predictably lit up the match. He was typically involved in almost everything that was happening, reminding everyone - if they needed any prompting - that he does play the game on another planet. In all he laid on five of the Cowboys' nine tries and made three line breaks, constantly igniting raids that had the Vodafone Warriors stretched to cope.

But the end result - a 28-point defeat - hadn't seemed the most likely outcome at halftime.

After giving up a 0-10 lead inside the first 12 minutes, the Vodafone Warriors had recovered to be right in it at halftime.

With centres Jerome Ropati and Brent Tate both taken into touch in the opening minutes, the Cowboys had the weight of possession in the opening exchanges.

And they profited with an eighth minute try to Bowen, back in the side after a two-game absence through injury. And that soon became 10-0 through a Justin Smith try.

A Grant Rovelli bomb, tapped back by Manu Vatuvei, then produced Simon Mannering's first try of the year. And while Steve Southern scored soon after to take North Queensland to a 16-6 lead, a Michael Witt penalty and a converted Ian Henderson try brought the margin back to 14-16 with halftime in sight.

However, a critical error gave the Cowboys another shot at the Vodafone Warriors' line and they didn't pass it up, Bowen's second try making it 22-14.

It wasn't insurmountable at all - but not too long after the break the situation deteriorated as winger John Williams siezed on a perfectly placed bomb for one try and centre Ben Harris scored the first of his two for the night.

If Thurston's skills and Bowen's incisions weren't threatening enough, the Vodafone Warriors also suffered through winger Patrick Ah Van, back rower Epalahame Lauaki and finally centre Jerome Ropati - who was actually on the wing by then - all taking knocks of varying degrees. Ah Van's forced him off the field, Lauaki had a spell on the bench before going back on and Ropati left the field with three minutes left after another hamstring problem.

The score blew out to 44-14 before the Vodafone Warriors arranged an overlap for Ropati to score while playing on the right wing.

But the Cowboys jetted in for another to all but hit 50 points, giving the Vodafone Warriors their third away loss from as many matches this year. This one followed the 18-32 reverse in Melbourne and a near-record 6-52 loss to Manly. The Vodafone Warriors face a second straight away match against competition pace-setters Gold Coast next Sunday.

Like the Manly loss, this display in Townsville had little to recommend it other than the period in the first half when the side fought back after another slow start.

The record now shows three wins at home against well-performed opponents but three away defeats against three of 2007's top four sides.

Micheal Luck lived up to his reputation as one of the NRL's hardest-working defenders as he made 49 tackles while Witt kicked four goals from four attempts.

Match details:
At Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville:
North Queensland Cowboys 48 (Matt Bowen 3, Ben Harris 2, Justin Smith, Steve Southern, John Williams, Ashley Graham tries; Johnathan Thurston 6 conversions).
Vodafone Warriors 20 (Simon Mannering, Ian Henderson, Jerome Ropati tries; Michael Witt 3 conversions, penalty).
Halftime: 22-14 Cowboys.
Referee: Jason Robinson.

Report source: www.warriors.co.nz


Cowboys NRL and NYC teams - Bowen still out
Tue April 15, 2008
North Queensland will once again be without the services of dynamic fullback Matt Bowen as they prepare to take on the New Zealand Warriors in what should be a thrilling clash.

Both sides have won their last two matches with the Cowboys edging out the Dragons 20-16 and the Warriors thumping a disappointing Bulldogs 36-16 with a sizzling second half display.

Ashley Graham remains at fullback and has done an outstanding job at the back in Bowen's absence as Coach Graham Murray named an unchanged side that got the points last weekend.

Bowen is currently out with a knee injury and no time frame has been set for his return.

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP
North Queensland Cowboys v New Zealand Warriors
Dairy Farmers Stadium
Saturday 19th April 2008
7:30pm

Cowboys (NRL):
1 Ashley Graham
2 Ty Williams
3 Mark Henry
4 Ben Harris
5 John Williams
6 Justin Smith
7 Johnathan Thurston (c)
8 Ray Cashmere
9 Aaron Payne (vc)
10 Carl Webb
11 Steve Southern
12 Jacob Lillyman
13 Luke O'Donnell

Subs:
14 Anthony Watts
15 Sam Faust
16 Shane Tronc
17 Dayne Weston
18 Matthew Bartlett
(one to be omitted)

Coach: Graham Murray

Injured:
Matt Bowen Knee TBA
Matt Scott Ankle TBA
Sione Faumuina groin 6 weeks

TOYOTA CUP
North Queensland Cowboys v New Zealand Warriors
Dairy Farmers Stadium
Saturday 19th April 2008
5:15pm

Cowboys (NYC):
1 Sam Bowie
2 Obe Geia
3 Brandon Boor
4 Tyson Martin
5 Steven Beaumont
6 Brady Payne
7 Ray Thompson
8 Shaun Maloney
9 Ryan Carr (c)
10 Josh Land
11 Blayne Harling
12 Chris Faust
13 Nick Slyney

Subs:
14 Tom Humble
15 Chris Riesen
16 Dane Hogan
17 Daniel Vineula

Coach: Grant Bell

Tue April 15, 2008
• Ropati returns for Warriors trip to Townsville
  

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