The North Queensland Cowboys stay unbeaten to start out the 2024 season and transfer to the highest of the NRL ladder, thrashing the Dragons 46-24 in Kogarah because of a outstanding 42-point blitz.
The Cowboys trailed 18-4 after 20 minutes, with the Dragons hitting the entrance thanks to 3 tries in 10 minutes.
The Dragons had been rolling when Kyle Flanagan crossed subsequent to the posts within the nineteenth minute and when the conversion was added, the house aspect solid a useful lead in entrance of an excited crowd at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
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A serious turning level within the recreation got here within the twenty third minute, when Dragons ahead Ray Faitala-Mariner bombed a sure strive.
He regarded a positive factor of scoring after chasing down a grubber, however dropped the ball chilly over the road. It would have given the house aspect a 24-4 lead.
It turned out to be a vital error.
The Cowboys would march down the sphere and rating within the subsequent set which was the primary of seven straight tries.
Hooker Reece Robson supplied wonderful service out of dummy-half, organising three tries near the road to forwards Griffin Neame, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Sam McIntyre.
Fullback Scott Drinkwater was in every single place in assault as was star centre Valentine Holmes, with the 2 proving a handful for the Dragons defence, with the pair each including 4 pointers.
While there have been loads of promising indicators within the first half, it’s again to the drafting board for Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who’s aspect has now conceded 84 factors within the final two video games.
WHAT WE LEARNED
VETERAN FORWARD’S CRUCIAL ERROR SPARKS COWBOYS RUN
The Dragons had all of the momentum with an 18-4 lead within the twenty second minute.
It would have been 24-4 had Faitala-Mariner not spilled a Ben Hunt grubber.
As it turned out, it was an enormous second of the sport because the Cowboys would rating within the subsequent set and placed on 42 straight factors.
“A good hit back because they were under the pump,” Greg Alexander stated on Fox League.
“If Faitala-Mariner scores there its a 20 point lead.
“And even for the Cowboys, it’s very close to game over,” Dan Ginnane added.
Now, contemplating how potent North Queensland regarded with ball in hand, there’s each probability they might have overturned a 20 level lead.
But there is no such thing as a doubting it could have been a distinct ball recreation.
STARS SHINE IN ATTACKING BLITZ
NQ centre Valentine Holmes had an evening to overlook towards the Knights final week, lacking a number of conversions and making quite a few uncharacteristic errors.
However, he rapidly atoned with an excellent show towards a porous Dragons defence.
Holmes was arguably one of the best on floor, working for 226 metres from 20 hit ups, recorded seven sort out busts, scored a try to kicked seven objectives for a private haul of 18 factors.
If Holmes wasn’t one of the best on floor, fullback Scott Drinkwater in all probability was.
Drinkwater had been quiet by his lofty requirements over the primary two weeks, however he turned it on in Kogarah, taking part in very similar to he did for a lot of 2023 when he completed tied-4th within the Dally M Player of the Year race.
Drinkwater recorded two strive assists, had 5 sort out busts, ran for over 100 metres and scored a strive within the Cowboys’ rout.
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FINEFEUIAKI FIRES
When Blake Lawrie ran a kick-off again onerous, his head related with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki’s head and noticed the Cowboys man pushed again and brought from the sphere with blood streaming from a facial reduce. Finefeuiaki would go a class two HIA.
Finefeuiaki returned to attain a strive, make bustling runs and impact 23 tackles in 59 minutes that can produce other golf equipment given the 20-year-old is off-contract after this season.
If the Dragons had a constructive it was the type of former Cowboys backrower Luciano Leilua who was harmful on the left edge and performed the ball rapidly.
The Dragons have by no means conceded 50 factors on the floor as soon as often known as Kogarah-Jubilee.
– NCA Newswire’s Matt Cleary
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Source: www.foxsports.com.au