NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 46 CRONULLA SHARKS 34
IAN HOWE, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Friday

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS scored nine tries but conceded six in an extraordinary game that saw 80 points scored in Townville, with the Cowboys moving into the play-off places while the Sharks will probably drop out of the top eight after this defeat.

Two players – Murray Taulagi and KL Iro – scored try hat-tricks in a game in which defences on both sides could best be described as ordinary at best.

But after being defeated 6-38 at home by the Sea Eagles last week, it was a welcome return to the winners’ circle for Todd Payten’s team.

The Cowboys scored an early try from Scott Drinkwater to take the lead, but the Sharks responded with two tries by Siosifa Talakai to give them a 12-6 lead after twelve minutes.

The Cowboys responded with two tries from Taulagi and one each from Reed Mahoney and Braidon Burns to take a comfortable-looking 26-12 interval lead.

But Blayke Brailey’s converted try cut the deficit and despite Tuilagi scoring his third, Iro’s first two tries tightened the score to 30-28 with a quarter of the game remaining.

But the Cowboys stretched their lead again with tries from Soni Luke and Tom Dearden and Iro’s third came too late to realistically affect the outcome, which was confirmed by a late Heilum Luki try.

COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Braidon Burns, 3 Jaxon Purdue, 4 Tom Chester, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Tom Dearden, 8 Coen Hess, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10, Jason Taumalolo, 11 Heilum Luki, 16 Thomas Mikaele, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs: 12 Jeremiah Nanai, 14 Soni Luke, 15 Sam McIntyre (not used), 17 Griffin Neame, 18 Matthew Lodge, 20 Zac Laybutt (not used)

Tries: Drinkwater (4), Taulagi (15, 28, 52), Mahoney (34), Burns (39), Luke (66), Dearden (74), Luki (80); Goals: Clifford 5/9

SHARKS: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Mawene Hiroti, 3 Siosifa Talakai, 4 KL Iro, 5 Samuel Stonestreet, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Nicho Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Toby Rudolf, 11 Billy Burns, 12 Teig Wilton, 13 Jesse Colquhoun. Subs: 14 Briton Nikora, 15 Cameron McInnes, 16 Oregon Kaufusi, 17 Thomas Hazelton, 19 Hohepa Puru (not used), 20 Riley Jones (not used)

Tries: Talakai (10, 12), Brailey (45), Iro (55, 58, 76); Goals: Hynes 5/6

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 10-12, 16-12, 22-12, 26-12; 26-18, 30-18, 30-22, 30-28, 36-28, 42-28, 42-34, 46-34

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cowboys: Thomas Mikaele; Sharks: Nicho Hynes

Penalty count: 4-2; Half-time: 26-12; Referee: Belinda Sharpe; Attendance: 17,888