The in-form North Queensland Cowboys stunning change in form has seen them run down the Warriors in the dying stages of their clash.
The game marked Johnathan Thurston’s 250th career game and the Test star played a strong hand in achieving the 28-24 victory.
The Warriors started the game in red hot style, picking up early tries to Konrad Hurrell after just 6 minutes and Jonathan Wright just a few minutes later.
Lachlan Coote, whose restart after Hurrell’s try went dead which eventually lead to Wright’s try, made amends by setting up tries for Jake Granville and Kane Linnett to get the Cowboys back into the match. Just before halftime, Solomone Kata scored to give the Warriors a 6 point lead at the break.
Ten minutes into the second half saw Manu Vatuvei score one of his typical bulldozing tries, giving his side a 12 point lead. The Cowboys then kicked into gear scoring three tries to nil to close out the match, the last coming on the stroke of full-time to secure a 4 point victory for the Cowboys.
Cowboys: 1. Lachlan Coote; 2. Justin O’Neill, 3. Tautau Moga, 4. Kane Linnett, 5. Antonio Winterstein; 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston (c); 8. Matt Scott (c), 9. Jake Granville, 10. James Tamou, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Jason Taumalolo.
14. Rory Kostjasyn, 15. John Asiata, 16. Scott Bolton, 17. Ben Hannant.
Tries: Granville (22, 71, 80), Linnett (30), Coote (53)
Goals: Thurston 4/5
Warriors: 1. Tuimoala Lolohea; 2. Jonathan Wright, 3. Konrad Hurrell, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Manu Vatuvei; 6. Chad Townsend, 7. Shaun Johnson; 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Thomas Leuluai, 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering (c).
14. Nathan Friend, 15. Dominique Peyroux, 16. Sam Lisone, 17. Albert Vete
Tries: Hurrell (6), Wright (9), Kata (37), Vatuvei (50)
Goals: Johnson 4/4, Townsend 0/1
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match:
Cowboys: Jake Granville
Warriors: Ben Matulino