NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 28 MELBOURNE STORM 24
CALLUM WALKER, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday

WILL WARBRICK may well have scored four tries, but it wasn’t enough for Melbourne as North Queensland stunned their Victorian opponents with a remarkable comeback.

The Storm led 24-14 heading into the final twelve minutes, but three Cowboys tries in six minutes turned the game on its head, with Todd Payten’s side able to hold out in the remaining stages for a famous victory.

Melbourne must have been wondering how they let this one slip, with Warbrick cancelling out Jake Clifford’s opener, before the Storm winger dotted down again after Braidon Burns had sent the Cowboys into the lead on twelve minutes.

Sualauvi Faalogo notched a four-pointer just before half-time as the visitors led 16-10 at the break.

And that lead was extended to ten points immediately following the resumption when Warbrick grabbed his hat-trick.

Murray Taulagi was the beneficiary of a perfect Cowboys scrum move to bring the hosts back to within six at 20-14, but Warbrick again restored Melbourne’s ten-point advantage just after the hour.

That seemed to kick North Queensland into gear, however, and after Sam McIntyre had barged over, Heilum Luki’s try and Scott Drinkwater’s conversion levelled proceedings on 72 minutes.

Burns then secured victory with a fine finish with five minutes to go.

COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Braidon Burns, 3 Jaxon Purdue, 4 Zac Laybutt, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Tom Dearden, 8 Coen Hess, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Heilum Luki, 12 Sam McIntyre, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs: 14 Soni Luke, 15 Kai O’Donnell (not used), 16 Griffin Neame, 18 Thomas Mikaele, 19 Liam Sutton (not used), 21 Matt Lodge

Tries: Clifford (5), Burns (12, 75), Taulagi (53), McIntyre (69), Luki (72); Goals: Clifford 1/4, Drinkwater 1/2

STORM: 1 Sualauvi Faalogo, 2 Will Warbrick, 3 Jack Howarth, 4 Moses Leo, 19 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Stefano Utoikamanu, 9 Harry Grant, 10 Josh King, 11 Joe Chan, 12 Alec MacDonald, 13 Trent Loiero. Subs: 14 Tyran Wishart, 15 Cooper Clarke, 16 Tui Kamikamica, 17 Davvy Moale (not used), 18 Jack Hetherington (not used), 21 Manaia Waitere

Tries: Warbrick (9, 23, 44, 65), Faalogo (37); Goals: Grant 2/5

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 10-6, 10-12, 10-16; 10-20, 14-20, 14-24, 18-24, 24-24, 28-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cowboys: Jake Clifford; Storm: Will Warbrick

Penalty count: 5-5; Half-time: 10-16; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Attendance: 20,931