NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 30 PENRITH PANTHERS 30
CALLUM WALKER, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday
IN an NRL rarity, North Queensland and Penrith held on for a magnificent draw in one of the most entertaining fixtures you will see all season.
The Panthers led 30-18 inside the final ten minutes, but the Cowboys rallied to send the game into golden-point – where neither side could land the killer blow.
Isaiah Papali’i crossed in the sixth minute to hand the visitors a 6-0 lead, but Jeremiah Nanai responded for the Cowboys to level proceedings.
A Luke Garner double sent Penrith 18-6 up with the half-hour in sight, but even then Todd Payten’s men refused to let the reigning premiers go, Viliami Vailea reducing the deficit to just six at half-time.
The ever-impressive Jake Clifford dotted down immediately following the resumption to restore parity once more, but efforts from Thomas Jenkins and Blaize Talagi made it a twelve-point ball game with just nine minutes remaining.
This Cowboys side is made of stern stuff, however, and quickfire four-pointers from Robert Derby and Tom Dearden set up a grandstand finish at 30-30.
And despite both sides trading field-goal attempts in golden-point, a draw beckoned in exhilarating fashion.
COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Robert Derby, 3 Jaxon Purdue, 4 Viliami Vailea, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Tom Dearden, 7 Jake Clifford, 8 Jordan McLean, 9 Reece Robson, 17 Coen Hess, 11 John Bateman, 12 Jeremiah Nanai, 13 Sam McIntyre. Subs (all used): 14 Harrison Edwards, 15 Thomas Mikaele, 16 Griffin Neame, 22 Kai O’Donnell
Tries: Nanai (16), Vailea (35), Clifford (46), Derby (72), Dearden (74); Goals: Drinkwater 5/5
PANTHERS: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Paul Alamoti, 3 Izack Tago, 4 Luke Garner, 5 Brian To’o, 6 Blaize Talagi, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Mitch Kenny, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Liam Martin, 13 Isaah Yeo. Subs (all used): 14 Brad Schneider, 15 Liam Henry, 16 Luron Patea, 17 Thomas Jenkins
Tries: Papali’i (6), Garner (22, 28), Jenkins (53), Talagi (65); Goals: Cleary 5/5
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 6-12, 6-18, 12-18; 18-18, 18-24, 18-30, 24-30, 30-30; 30-30; 30-30
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cowboys: Viliami Vailea; Panthers: Isaah Yeo
Penalty count: 5-1; Half-time: 12-18; Referee: Todd Smith; Attendance: 19,324