Summary
We joked about this one going to golden point – as the last two encounters between these incredible foes has – but could you get much closer than that?
It was like two Queensland State of Origin teams out there in patches; trading blows, trading field goal efforts; but as the script seemingly demanded, it was never not going to be that man, JT, who made the difference.
You don’t see a Wayne Bennett-coached side give up a lead too often; and with the Cowboys very much second-best for large parts of that game, you just weren’t sure it would be their night.
Injuries may have played a part in the Brisbane fade away – they were shorn of bodies on the interchange bench near the end – but take absolutely nothing away from the Cowboys at the death.
JT pulled the strings; but the big men, Scott and Tamou, really stepped it up, to get the forwards moving.
I’d just about called this for Brisbane about 15 minutes into the second half, but you really can never write off a champion side.
What a game, and what a treat for the massive, and parochial, crowd up in Townsville.
Thanks for your company, you won’t see too many better regular-season games of footy then that. Bring on Origin.
Full-time: North Queensland 19-18 Brisbane
80 min: There goes the siren, and what a remarkable comeback, and what an unbelievable effort from Johnathan Thurston, to get his side home!
He lost to the Broncos in his first ever game in a Cowboys jersey, but he’s absolutely willed his teammates home here. He was hobbling on one hip for the last three or four minutes, but he’s still managed to pluck the winning point!
79 min: But it’s wide! The Cowboys get the restart and they’re in absolutely no hurry to drive this.
It’s safety first; they’ve only got half a minute to hold on. And would you believe it!
78 min: Massive set of six for the Broncos – how much time have they got left?
Massive hit on McCullough from Matt Scott. Mou-schka, he’s nailed him!
Blair settles it about 40m out, it’s a long, long way out, but they’ve got it to the hands of Ben Hunt!
He lines it up under pressure, he’s got an absolute piece of this ball, what a monster of a drop goal effort.. it sails, it sails..
78 min: Thurston probes down the right-hand side, they’re not a mile short the Cowboys; but the Broncos hold desperately on!
They’ve put it down in the build up, straight away – and now it’s another six for North Queensland!
77 min: It’s Brisbane with ball in hand, and here’s Milford’s moment. He looks the return fire – but would you believe it; he’s shanked it!
Drop goal miss, it’s still Cowboy’s by 1!
Drop goal! North Queensland 19-18 Brisbane (Thurston)
75 min: I can scarcely keep up with this, this is high-octane stuff! The Cowboys get down in the Broncos’ half, and despite getting hit late with a real whack round the kidneys, JT picks himself up and snaps off a screamer.
Have we seen this before?! Still plenty of time on the clock though!
74 min: The Cowboys get a zero tackle, but they can’t make enough from the six.
Brisbane set up – and this time they do look for the drop goal. It flies to Milford, he’s smack bang centre about 30m out; he looks up at the posts, and as the ball flies to him, he’s put it down!
72 min: A fine set of six from the Broncos, and they’ve been rewarded with a scrum feed. The refs have decided there’s an micro-tiny knock on from a Cowboys player!
Do they set up for the drop goal?
It’s Corey Parker with a charge at the line – the skipper’s over, he’s broken the line – but he fails to ground it! Would you believe it, with a body under him he reaches out, but the ball flies free.
No try! North Queensland 18-18 Brisbane
70 min: No, sir, says the Bunker! Not sufficient downward pressure from Morgan, and the Broncos have survived.
They suck in the deep ones; and now they’ve got a shot at the Cowboys’ line.
70 min: A real scrappy moment for the Cowboys; they set it up for a massive play on the 5th but the dummy half pass was a shocker! As the ball rolls harmlessly, Morgan retreats before beating an on-rushing Brisbane defensive line.
Morgan kicks for himself – he stretches desperately to ground the ball; he’s got his fingers on it in-goal, but is it enough?!
68 min: Remarkable this – the Broncos elect for a short drop out! They’ve tried that once already tonight; and it’s had a similar effect. They look to isolate O’Neill, and almost gather the restart.
But it’s Reed who’s been injured – and suddenly the Broncos have lost three players to injury. We haven’t seen Oates since half-time; he was reportedly suffering dizzy spells, and the visitors are now really up against it.
66 min: And they are coming at Brisbane something fierce now; it’s Granville who almost crosses, only a desperate outflung hand from Milford sees the ball knocked dead.
Six more for the Cowboys, and they’re really flying in the saddle.
Broncos hold firm, but a grubber on last tackle pins Brisbane for another set of six. Inch perfect kick from Morgan – it’s a drop out.
Try! North Queensland 18-18 Brisbane (O'Neill)
64 min: Well the noise level inside the stadium has just gone stratospheric. The Cowboys looked dead, buried, cremated about 15 or so back, and all of a sudden – we’ve got a game on!
Thurston kicks perfectly, and we’re all square.
62 min: If you’ve come late to this, clear whatever you’re doing for the next twenty minutes, because this is starting to bubble nicely.
Linnett with a great break, he’s steamed into a gap after some great hands in the build up, but with Thurston inside he couldn’t find him. They go to the right – don’t tell me, don’t tell me..
61 min: Good hit ups from Tamou and Scott; Thurston almost puts one of his centres through, but the Broncos tidy up at the back.
They need some good sets to steady this; the crowd’s come alive and they’re sensing their boys are in with a sniff here.
Try! North Queensland 12-18 Brisbane (Coote)
58 min: Thurston reverses the play on the 5th; shoots it wide back to Coote who has a good look at the Bronco’s right-edge defence.
The former Panther drops it on the boot; grabs a fortuitous ricochet and crosses the line!
Well, there’s the slice of luck, and here’s the two extra from JT. Great kick from near the sideline – right over the black dot.
And suddenly, it’s only a converted try the difference!
56 min: Cowboys need something, and they need someone not called Thurston to lift here.
Kaufusi with an impressive break, a nice bust down the guts, and it allows JT to put a testing kick in. Kahu equal to the task, and he just finds his way back in to the field of play.
53 min: Is it still Friday the 13th up in Townsville? Are these guys stuck on the Gregorian calendar or something? Because they look like 13 black cats playing under 13 ladders out there.
Winterstein puts it down just outside his own try-line, and they can’t buy a trick.
50 min: Pressure-relieving penalty for the home side, as a Broncos player is pinged for passing off the ground, post-tackle.
The crowd, a formidable 25,000+ find their voice, as this is a real chance!
The Cowboys push for the corner but unbelievable tackle from Matt Gillett, and the moment’s lost! Linnett pushes for the corner, it’s two on one, but Brisbane’s dual try-scorer effects a cracking tackle, and the attempted offload runs forward.
48 min: Good strong runs up the centre, but the Cowboys seem to lose their momentum on the fifth. A series of hospital passes as about six players stand flatfooted in the centre of the paddock. JT points furiously trying to marshall his troops but they look light on inspiration.
Meanwhile Boyd breaks the line and scampers 40m; isn’t he having another scorching season.
Conversion! North Queensland 6-18 Brisbane (Kahu)
46 min: No mistake from right in front, although reasonably far out. It’s been Jekyll and Hyde from the boot from Kahu; one of the few things you could critique this Brisbane side for thus far.
Feldt is subjected to another high ball, and gee whiz, didn’t he make ugly work of that! Almost an AFL-style spekkie there, twisting and turning, leaping and snatching – except that there wasn’t a single player near him! Hunt’s got his number, the Cowboys winger.
44 min: Bad to worse for North Queensland. Penalty to Brisbane with Blair impeded in the play-the-ball. They point to the posts and Kahu looks to grab an additional two.
Some concerns over Michael Morgan’s fitness meanwhile in backplay ; the Cowboys don’t want to lose him.
Try! North Queensland 6-16 Brisbane (Kahu)
42 min: It’s pretty silent inside this stadium that’s seen their home chargers win five from five this season; because the Broncos have absolutely walked this one in. Through the hands, Boyd prominent and it’s easy as you like for Kahu in the corner.
The kick from the touchline fails to come back, so no extras from the try-scorer.
Second half: North Queensland 6-12 Brisbane
40 min: We’re back under way and oh deary me. Whatever Green said at half-time forget about it; Hannant’s dropped it on the Cowboy’s first carry; and Brisbane are straight back on the front foot!
Updated
The Broncos edged the completion rates, with Cowboys making six errors to Brisbane’s two. Three of those were crucial dropped balls not far out from their own line which wouldn’t have pleased Paul Green too much.
JT’s been absolutely everywhere but he’s going to need some teammates to step up if they’re to get back into this.
The players are back on the paddock; the second half is just around the corner.
Half-time: North Queensland 6-12 Brisbane
40 min: Some razzle-dazzle as the Cowboys try to keep the ball alive after the siren. You’d think it’s a finals game the desperation on show here.
A fine end to a pulsating first forty; some thrills, some spills and a fistful of entertainment along the way.
The players grab their breath and I’ll do likewise! Your thoughts on that first break-neck offering?
38 min: Parker with a clutch tackle on Cooper; and now it’s Jarrod Wallace rushing out of the defensive line to snatch an intercept!
How’s that – second tackle and the big lad off the interchange charges out like Usain Bolt. Nice stuff; and then Milford gets a quality kick into touch. Pressure relieved, but the Cowboys have got one last sniff. What can they muster?
36 min: Feldt with another bomb kick from Hunt. These are looking easy now.
Thurston with half a break – he offloads to Linnett and suddenly it’s the Cowboys really asking questions.
JT tries the grubber, and Cooper is taken out. Surely a penalty to the Cowboys; and the refs agree!
Cowboys with a set of six, just 10 out.
34 min: Strong defence from the Cowboys as they look to shake one loose from the Brisbane ball-carriers.
Linnett with some good metres, as the Cowboys get across half-way. Tahu with a massive leap and catch from a very dangerous Thurston kick. He climbed over several bodies to snatch that one; massive play for the visitors.
32 min: So having been well and truly on the back foot in the opening exchanges, momentum has very much swung back towards the Broncos.
Hunt goes to the sky again; no surprises he targets poor Feldt – who gets an ironic cheer from the home crowd for holding on to it! Poor lad, you’d hate to hear to voices inside his head after this opening horrorshow.
Try! North Queensland 6-12 Brisbane (Gillett)
30 min: Nice work through the hands and Gillett grabs his second! They go upstairs to check on a little bit of off-the-ball handbags; McCullough taking exception to some close attention he was receiving, but there’s nothing in that.
Kahu from almost the identical spot of the one he shanked, but he doesn’t repeat the mistake. Two extra added.
Penalty! North Queensland 6-6 Brisbane (Kahu)
28 min: Brisbane opt for a shot at the two, and Kahu does significantly better this time from right in front.
A bit of a settler perhaps, and now the Broncos enjoy some possession. The big men fire some one-off runs, before Hunt scampers for some good metres. Just 5 out, and Hunt looks to get his outside man in..
26 min: It’s been a helter-skelter opening first stanza. Sure, the wind’s played a role, but there’s also been some downright shoddy ball retention. Nerves? Axle grease on the pill? Surely there hasn’t been some Hansi Cronje action on this ball, has there, because neither side can hold on to it.
24 min: Would you believe this; the wind is really wreaking havoc! Brisbane go to the heavens and Kyle Feldt has put it down, again! He was only metres out from his own line, now they’re going to have to defend for their lives.
Hunt takes it to the line, he’s got Oates charging through a gap, but he’s put it down! Poor ball security, and a massive chance goes begging!
Updated
Try! North Queensland 6-4 Brisbane (Gillett)
22 min: Great stuff – the refs are happy with it. Game on.
Deary me; Kahu’s absolutely duffed the conversion! Not far out from front and centre – let’s hope that doesn’t come back to haunt Brisbane.
21 min: McCullough just inches short of the line, some flowing backline work; has Gillett got the metres? Cowboys players cry out for a double-movement, but has the centre done enough? We go upstairs.
19 min: Brisbane unfortunate not to get the pen for an offside; Boyd sees the funny side but his side don’t get the advantage.
Cowboys spill it after another quality JT defuse. It falls to Milford; you don’t want to be throwing this lad freebies! Brisbane 20 out and they’ve got a penalty.
Tap taken – here we go.
18 min: Tamou charges to the line, could it be another try for a Cowboys front rower?
Well held up, and the grubber is smothered by the Broncos defence. Key defence there. They take it out from their own line, some good metres up the centre before McGuire gets a bone-jarrer. Thurston defuses a swirling bomb; gee, he’s been in this already, hasn’t he?
16 min: Millimetre perfect from JT; he’s found a kick to land just inside the in-goal, and Tahu has grounded in his own territory. Another line drop-out and it’s good position once more for the Cowboys.
15 min: Massive tackle from Thurston saves the Cowboys’ blushes; Oates breaks the line but the tenacious half-back hangs on. A mistake from Brisbane, and North Queensland survive. What a let off!
Conversion! North Queensland 6-0 Brisbane
13 min: No mistake from JT, he calmly adds the extras from right in front.
Not so, Feldt – he’s bombed the restart and put it down cold! Brisbane 20m out, and what an opportunity this is to hit straight back.
The swirling NQ breeze claims it’s first victim; the Townsville Zephyr if you will!
Try! North Queensland 4-0 Brisbane (Scott)
12 min: Matt Scott strolls over, easy as you like and it’s first blood to the Cowboys!
The pressure was always going to tell; 18 tackles back-to-back and finally the Broncos defence was breached.
Updated
11 min: Brisbane attempt a short drop out; either that or the lad’s shanked it because frankly, that looked ugly.
Can they keep the Cowboys out from this distance? Surely not..
9 min: Boyd forces it over the dead-ball line, a drop out to come. Some good pressure there, and the Cowboys get the repeat six.
They’re probing, and posing questions – they go to the last and Thurston is just beaten to the kick by Milford. Forced dead, another drop out.
7 min: Thurston with a big hit on Milford; that’s going to be a great battle all night. Many are tipping the youngster to feature prominently in the Dally M charts later in the season.
Cowboys with a penalty; first real look at the Broncos line, they’re about 15m out with a few tackles to come.
Updated
5 min: Lovely yards from the Broncos – quick hands put Oates in a half-gap and the giant winger almost punishes the hosts. The Cowboys survive and they’re forced to bring it out under rugged defence.
3 min: JT with a scrum feed about 25m out from the Cowboys’ line. Scott with an offload to help some metres out wide. Thurston looks to put a teammate in a hole but it’s gone down. Feed to Brisbane.
Kick-off
1 min: Brisbane receive first and make some steady one-off runs up the guts. A non-descript set of six but Coote almost drops the kick that ends the set! Could have been a shocker for the Cowboys fullback, his side recover with a steady six of their own.
The players are out on the pitch – JT receives a very special ovation from the home fans as he prepares for his 250th game for the club. Can you even remember him in a Bulldogs jersey?
Refs are ready, we’re ready. Let’s do this.
Evening all – hope this finds you well, wherever you’re following this coverage. An absolute cracking match for you, and we’re not too far away from kick-off.
Curiously, neither side’s twitter accounts have got any team news up, but I can assure you they do have players named, and they certainly intend to use them.
As always do join in with the coverage – observations, fun facts and off-colour quips are always welcome. Shoot me an email at richard.parkin.casual@guardian.co.uk or find me on twitter: @rrjparkin. Maybe to start with you could find me the line ups for me; be a sport.
I’ll throw you a fun fact to start with – as we know tonight marks JT’s 250th appearance for North Queensland; he made his debut for the Cowboys against the Broncos – he lost on that occasion, can he turn that around tonight?
Preamble
Billy Thorpe may have memorably sung that Friday night’s a great night for football, and when he penned that he probably had this exact clash in mind.
Cowboys v Broncos. A rematch of last season’s epic grand final encounter, which was indisputably one for the ages. Just two points separate the sides with North Queensland looking to knock Brisbane off top spot. It’s a clash of the second and third best attacks and the first and third best defences. The last two times these sides met it was settled by golden point, and if that’s not enough to get excited about, it’s Johnathan Thurston’s 250th game for the Cowboys.
Phwaor. Throw in Origin selection battles between Queensland rivals and you’ve got a maroon bloodbath of your hands.
Or, for those of you who recoil from bombastic or militaristic language around sport, muse upon the more aesthetic pleasures on display tonight. It won’t just be bash and carry, some of the finest hands and footwork in the game are on offer, so grab your chamomile tea and slippers and snuggle in.
What a treat.
Richard will be along shortly to take you through tonight’s live action, but in the meantime, why not check out the latest David Squires cartoon on Jarryd Hayne’s sporting adventures.
