NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 32 WESTS TIGERS 28
CALLUM WALKER, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday
IN a match that had just about everything, the Cowboys managed to cling on by the skin of their teeth after Wests almost fought back from 26 points down.
There probably hasn’t been a worse start to a game in 2025 than the one engineered by Wests here, with John Bateman and Jaxon Purdue crossing in the opening 17 minutes as Jarome Luai was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Starford To’a managed to cross to stem the tide somewhat, but Scott Drinkwater’s effort on the stroke of half-time, as Adam Doueihi this time sat in the sin bin for a professional foul, sent the hosts into an 18-6 lead at the break.
Jeremiah Nanai dotted down immediately following the resumption with Jaxson Paulo and Tom Dearden efforts sending the Cowboys 32-6 up on the hour.
Credit to the Tigers, though, and after To’a grabbed a second along with Heath Mason and Charlie Staines four-pointers, the visitors were back to within ten points at 32-22.
And when Jahream Bula streaked home with four minutes to go, North Queensland were suddenly holding on for dear life – something which they achieved against a Wests barrage.
COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Robert Derby, 3 Zac Laybutt, 4 Viliami Vailea, 5 Jaxson Paulo, 6 Jaxon Purdue, 7 Tom Dearden, 8 Jordan McLean, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Sam McIntyre, 11 John Bateman, 12 Jeremiah Nanai, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs (all used): 14 Harrison Edwards, 15 Kai O’Donnell, 16 Griffin Neame, 17 Coen Hess
Tries: Bateman (14), Purdue (17), Drinkwater (40), Nanai (41), Paulo (46), Dearden (58); Goals: Drinkwater 4/7
TIGERS: 1 Jahream Bula, 2 Sunia Turuva, 3 Adam Doueihi, 4 Starford To’a, 5 Charlie Staines, 6 Heath Mason, 7 Jahrome Luai, 8 Terrell May, 9 Apisai Koroisau, 10 Royce Hunt, 11 Samuela Fainu, 12 Alex Seyfarth, 13 Alex Twal. Subs (all used): 14 Brent Naden, 15 Jack Bird, 16 Sione Fainu, 17 Tony Sukkar
Tries: To’a (25, 63), Mason (65), Staines (68), Bula (76); Goals: Doueihi 4/5; Sin bin: Luai (12) – professional foul, Doueihi (37) – professional foul
SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 8-0, 14-0, 14-6, 18-6; 22-6, 26-6, 32-6, 32-12, 32-18, 32-24, 32-28
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cowboys: Tom Dearden; Tigers: Starford To’a
Penalty count: 3-3; Half-time: 18-6; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Attendance: 17,470
