Upsets preserve coming within the NRL with the Warriors coming away from Townsville with the scalp of the Cowboys in one of many greatest shock outcomes of the primary three rounds.
The Warriors, who gained on residence soil over Newcastle after which gave the Roosters a run for his or her cash final week, improved to 2-1 with an all-round skilled show at QCB Stadium to expire 26-12 winners.
Below new coach Andrew Webster they’ve eradicated the cold and warm inconsistency which has been their unlucky hallmark in latest seasons.
North Queensland have been lacking suspended duo Scott Drinkwater and Peta Hiku however after scoring the primary attempt of the match, they have been outclassed by a hungrier visiting aspect.
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Warriors large improvers beneath Webster
Webster’s signing as coach didn’t make many headlines however the former Panthers assistant has achieved a exceptional job remodeling the Warriors in a brief area of time.
Tohu Harris is tackled. (Photograph by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Pictures)
They’ve undergone loads of roster turnover within the low season and there have been loads of critics suggesting they’d be picket spoon contenders this 12 months.
One in every of their much-maligned recruits, former Knights ahead Mitch Barnett stood tall for them in Townsville earlier than an harm ended his involvement late within the second half after 14 hit-ups for 135 working metres, a uncommon line break help and 16 crunching tackles.
They conceded the primary attempt when debutant fullback Tom Chester touched down and after Warriors hooker Wayde Egan and reverse quantity Reece Robson traded tries, the house aspect was up 12-4.
Marcelo Montoya scored the primary of his two four-pointers earlier than tries to veteran lock Jazz Tevaga, in his first look for the 12 months after low season surgical procedures, and winger Edward Kosi seven minutes both aspect of half-time put the Warriors up 22-12.
When Montoya dived over within the nook off a delightfully delayed Te Maire Martin cross halfway by the second half, the Warriors led by 14 to depart the Cowboys followers shocked in silence.
The win ended a 13-game shedding streak in Australia and was their first victory in Queensland’s north since 2018.
Cowboys believing their very own press
There’s no denying it – the Cowboys seem like a group that thought they’d be title contenders this 12 months.
However additionally they seem like a aspect that’s anticipating it to occur fairly than making it occur.
They’d loads of gamers having fun with breakout seasons in 2022 and based mostly on their type over the previous fortnight, they appear to have a collective second-year syndrome holding them again.
North Queensland, who stormed from fifteenth to a preliminary last final 12 months, began the opening spherical with a bang a fortnight in the past, scoring three unanswered transformed tries earlier than hanging on 19-18 at residence to beat Canberra.
Since then they’ve been outplayed by the Broncos in Brisbane and now upset by the Warriors.
“There is something wrong with the Cowboys at the moment. They’ve made a great start to all three matches but only won one of them and that was by a point against the Raiders,” former worldwide Greg Alexander stated on Fox League commentary.
His fellow former Kangaroos halfback, Cooper Cronk agreed: “They’re best performance in Australia for a long, long time. They defended like their lives depended on it and I loved the connection they had in attack. They scored some scintillating tries.”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten is famend for being a straight shooter and it wouldn’t shock if he makes a number of modifications earlier than subsequent Saturday’s stoush with Gold Coast to place a number of egos in verify.
