NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 30 CANBERRA RAIDERS 50
IAN HOWE, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday
CANBERRA shocked the finals-bound Cowboys in Townsville as Josh Papalii, playing his 352nd and final game in the NRL, was on the winning side while his teammate Coby Black set a new points-scoring record for a debutant with nine goals and two tries for 26 points.
The result means North Queensland have set a record of their own with the worst points differential (-152) of any finalist in the NRL era.
It began badly for the Cowboys with Reuben Cotter sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Papalii from the kick-off, and while he was off the field the Raiders opened the scoring with Xavier Savage touching down his own grubber.
Kaeo Weekes and Black quickly scored further tries to put Canberra 18-0 ahead, with Black’s in particular the result of some dazzling play by the capital city side.
The Cowboys replied through Jake Clifford and John Bateman, while the bunker denied Thomas Mikaele a first try in the NRL.
Papalii then scored under the posts with Savage scoring his second to give the Raiders a 30-12 half-time advantage.
Scott Drinkwater got the score back to 30-18 before Ethan Strange created Black’s second try.
Braidon Burns scored to keep the Cowboys’ spirits up but they were quickly doused by Savage and Strange tries to put the Raiders on 48 points.
Jason Taumalolo scored a consolation try that preceded a Black penalty-goal that brought up 50 points.
In the opening week of the play-offs the Cowboys will face the Sharks in an eliminator, while the Raiders are the first team since the Roosters ten years ago to miss the finals a year after winning the minor premiership.
COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Braidon Burns, 3 Jaxon Purdue, 4 Tom Chester, 5 Robert Derby, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Tom Dearden, 8 Coen Hess, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Heilum Luki, 12 John Bateman, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs: 14 Soni Luke, 15 Sam McIntyre, 16 Thomas Mikaele, 17 Kaiden Lahrs, 18 Kai O’Donnell (not used), 19 Ethan King (not used)
Tries: Clifford (20), Bateman (22), Drinkwater (45), Burns (59), Taumalolo (72); Goals: Drinkwater 5/5; Sin bin: Cotter (1) – dangerous tackle
RAIDERS: 1 Kaeo Weekes, 2 Jed Stuart, 3 Simi Sasagi, 4 Matthew Timoko, 5 Xavier Savage, 6 Ethan Strange, 7 Coby Black, 8 Josh Papalii, 9 Owen Pattie, 10 Joseph Tapine, 11 Noah Martin, 12 Matty Nicholson, 13 Ata Mariota. Subs: 14 Malachi Smith, 15 Joe Roddy, 16 Morgan Smithies, 17 Vena Patuki-Case, 18 Tom Starling (not used), 19 Daine Laurie (not used)
Tries: Savage (11, 33, 62), Weekes (13), Black (15, 51), Papalii (30), Strange (65); Goals: Black 9/9
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 6-18, 12-18, 12-24, 12-30; 18-30, 18-36, 24-36, 24-42, 24-48, 30-48, 30-50
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater; Raiders: Coby Black
Penalty count: 6-7; Half-time: 12-30; Referee: Peter Gough