MANLY SEA EAGLES 18 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 19
TOM SMITH, 4 Pines Park, Sunday

SCOTT DRINKWATER’S golden-point drop-goal completed the Cowboys’ smash-and-grab raid on Fortress Brookvale against the Sea Eagles. 

A sell-out crowd packed a sun-drenched Brookvale Oval for this Sunday afternoon clash, and the locals were happy as Haumole Olakau’atu powered Manly to a 14-6 half-time lead. 

But Braidon Burns’ brace got North Queensland back in the contest before Reuben Cotter levelled it 18-all in the 78th minute. 

Jake Clifford missed the shot at goal that would have won it for the visitors, completing a horror afternoon for the goal-kickers. 

Clifford and Jamal Fogarty each booted just one successful conversion from four attempts, when more accuracy would’ve secured victory inside the 80 minutes. 

But Drinkwater had no issues with his radar in the Cowboys’ first set of extra time, drilling the one-pointer from 30 metres out, directly in front. 

The result means North Queensland leapfrog Manly into the top eight, and leaves the Sea Eagles waiting at least another week for their historic 1000th first-grade win. 

These sides entered Round 19 sharing a nine-win, seven-loss record. 

The Cowboys arrested a three-game losing streak by overpowering the Panthers minus their Origin stars last Saturday, whereas the Eagles were upset by the Eels. 

North Queensland coach Todd Payten called on Maroons trio Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi to back up from State of Origin duty, while Manly boss Kieran Foran named Blues Tolutau Koula and Olakau’atu, the latter an unused sub on Wednesday. 

Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden – who hasn’t played since Round 10 due to an ankle injury – was named in the number 23 jumper but didn’t line up on the day for his long-awaited return. 

There was more carnage too, with John Bateman injuring his hamstring, Ben Trbojevic failing a head-injury assessment and Corey Waddell hurting his ankle. 

The visitors silenced the Brookvale faithful inside ten minutes, when Drinkwater found Tom Chester with an inside ball and the centre crossed beneath the sticks. 

Burns almost had another in the right corner, before Tom Trbojevic strolled through the North Queensland defence to gift-wrap Jason Saab four points. 

Koula’s quick hands sent Lehi Hopoate into the left corner, then Olakau’atu shrugged off four defenders en route to the whitewash. 

The Bunker controversially denied Reed Mahoney for a double movement, then returned the favour for Olakau’atu up the other end, leaving it 14-6 at the break. 

It stayed that way until Burns dived over from dummy-half 19 minutes into the second half. 

Saab’s second – this one off Fogarty’s boot – restored Manly’s eight-point buffer with 15 minutes left. 

But the powerful Burns scored a second, before Drinkwater kicked into the path of Jaxon Purdue, who handed Cotter the equalising try. 

Clifford sprayed his shot at goal from 15 metres in from the left touchline, then a speculative attempt at a two-point field-goal in the 80th minute. 

But after Drinkwater marched the ball up the field with the Cowboys’ first set of golden point, the mercurial fullback calmly drilled the drop-goal that secured victory. 

GAMESTAR: North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater assisted two tries before booting the match-winning field-goal in the 82nd minute. 

GAMEBREAKER: With their first set of golden-point extra time, Drinkwater stepped up from 30 metres out, directly in front.

MATCHFACTS

SEA EAGLES
1 Tom Trbojevic
2 Jason Saab
3 Tolutau Koula
4 Reuben Garrick
5 Lehi Hopoate
6 Joey Walsh
7 Jamal Fogarty
8 Taniela Paseka
9 Jake Simpkin
17 Simione Laiafi
11 Haumole Olakau’atu
12 Ben Trbojevic
13 Jake Trbojevic
Subs
10 Kobe Hetherington
14 Corey Waddell
15 Nathan Brown
16 Ethan Bullemor
18 Josh Feledy (not used)
22 Nicholas Lenaz (not used)

Tries: Saab (17, 66), Hopoate (24), Olakau’atu (28)
Goals: Fogarty 1/4

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

Tries: Chester (10), Burns (59, 69), Cotter (78)
Goals: Clifford 1/4
Field-goals: Drinkwater (82)

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 10-6, 14-6; 14-10, 18-10, 18-14, 18-18; 18-19

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Sea Eagles: Haumole Olakau’atu; Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater

Penalty count: 6-5
Half-time: 14-6
Referee: Peter Gough
Attendance: 16,892