Cowboys win 500th NRL game against Wasteful Wests

North Queensland has won their eighth straight game, defending their way to an 8-nil win over Wests Tigers in front of 8,267 fans at Campbelltown Stadium.

It wasn't pretty, even bowling shoe ugly at times, but North Queensland has proven they can succeed without their origin stars, scoring late in the piece through Antonio Winterstein, to break a losing run that extended ten years against the Wests Tigers in Campbelltown. Lachlan Coote starred for the victors.

The fullback was safe at the back, defusing the often vanilla attacking kicks from the Tigers, who couldn't get their rhythm going tonight. Wests best opportunities came from some individual brilliance from their forwards, namely Ava Seumanufagai, who went close twice either side of the break to troubling the scorers.

Strangely, it was North Queensland that opened the scoring, from a penalty goal. It was a penalty filled half and once in range, Ethan Lowe stepped up and made it 2-nil. Despite the possession advantage, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses weren't able to prise an opening against a rugged Cowboys defence that deserves plaudits.

They were under intense pressure from a desperate Tigers outfit, keen to avoid three straight defeats, but the passes weren't sticking, so it was left to long range efforts. Luke Brooks chipped for himself, toed through again for rapid wing, Kevin Naiqama to chase but the 90s inspired Fijian wasn't able to reel in the ball just before the line.

That was the closest the home side would get. North Queensland kept them out and finally extinguished their flame in the 76th minute. Much like the game, the sole try wasn't much to crow about. Jake Granville almost conspired to drop it at half before it was stabbed through, knocked on by James Tedesco and eventually Antonio Winterstein scored, sending the punter with #9 in the doubles into a rage.

A final insult for the Tigers, who kicked out on the full to fill the bingo card of errors for the night. For North Queensland though, it is a club record eighth straight, leaving them perched well heading into a treacherous origin period.

Match Details

Wests Tigers 0 North Queensland Cowboys 8
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Crowd: 8267
Halftime Score: Wests Tigers 0 North Queensland Cowboys 2

WESTS TIGERS (0)
Tries:
Field Goals:
Conversions:
Penalty Goals:

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (8)
Tries: Antonio Winterstein
Field Goals:
Conversions: Ethan Lowe (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Ethan Lowe (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Lachlan Coote
2 points - Antonio Winterstein
1 point - Ava Seumanufagai

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

KICK-OFF! Here we go!

3: TEAM CHANGES:

WST: Tigers welcome back Tim Simona in #23. He partners Delouise Hoeter in the centres while Sauaso Sue and Chris Lawrence start in the forwards. Bench is now Seumanufagai, Buchanan, Lovett and Santi.

NQL: Jason Taumalolo starts at lock, Rory Kostjasyn to half due to Michael Morgan being called into the Queensland team. Thus Cameron King is on the bench in #19.

4: First PENALTY for the Cowboys; Taupau caught red-handed stripping the ball.

5: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Sam Hoare makes an unforced error.
A Hoare-able play-the-ball there from the young prop, undoing all the good work.

6: 2-nil early PENALTY count for the visitors. Another easy passage from their own end.

7: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ray Thompson makes an unforced error.
The dew claims another victim. Ray Thompson almost chest passed the ball to the Tigers there with the knock-on.

8: PENALTY Tigers, a huge roar went around Campbelltown after that call.

9: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Curtis Sironen makes an unforced error.
Tigers tried the backline sweep, but opted for the power play to Sironen, who couldn't handle.

15: Neither team can build momentum, Tigers pinged for a forward pass.

17: PENALTY Tigers, from two surging runs. Can they open things up?

18: Rory Kostjasyn ssaves the day. Martin Taupau went close, crashing through some bodies but was brought down centimetres short! No one was present at the play-the-ball and Rory swooped.

19: PENALTY Cowboys, holding the leg.

26: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
James Tedesco makes an unforced error.
Tedesco tried to cut back in, lost it and Cowboys counter.

27: PENALTY Cowboys, do they dare go for the two? Yes they do.

28: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.
Ethan Lowe walks up, and gives us points!

36: PENALTY Tigers, and a deeeep kick from Richards. Can they get on the board?

37: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Wright makes an unforced error.
Wright with a key intervention there, otherwise Richards was in.

37: Lawrence was almost through a hole, ball stripped.. goal? no tap!

39: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Pat Richards makes an unforced error.
Tigers just can't break through! Tedesco tried to chip it to Pat Richards, who couldn't reel it in.

41: Here we go again, with more points?!

42: PENALTY Tigers, easy passage for them.

44: A line drop-out coming for the Tigers after Ray Thompson swept it over the dead ball.

45: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Ava Seumanufagai makes an unforced error.
Trying to replicate his big run in the previous set, Seumanufagai spills it.

47: PENALTY Tigers, Cowboys were obstructing the ruck.

48: PENALTY Cowboys, holding down. They kick for touch.

50: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Luke Brooks makes an unforced error.
Brooks tried to promote it after receiving the pass from Moses, dropped it.

52: RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Naiqama won the race after Brooks' chip kick, but bombed it.

58: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ray Thompson makes an unforced error.
Thompson tried running on last, was taken off balance and dropped.

63: It was convoluted but six more! Tigers on the attack.

69: PENALTY Cowboys. Naiqama takes his opposite in the air.

77: VIDEO REFEREE: Antonio Winterstein has stolen this, maybe..

77: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Finally! It was very ugly. Granville almost knocked on from the play-the-ball, it was grubbered through, Tedesco spilled it and Winterstein slid in.

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.
A big kick for Ethan Lowe, to stretch it to eight. He strides in, swings it in.

78: KICKED OUT ON THE FULL.. that will be game.

80: FULL TIME :: Cowboys have won in Sydney! It took ten years, but the visitors have broken their drought against the West Tigers, 8-nil winners.