Thurston's Cowboys shoot down the Eagles

Cowboys skipper Jonathan Thurston has led his side to a comprehensive 30-12 victory in front of 7,643 fans on a slippery night at Brookvale Oval.

The win ended a 10 year hoodoo over the Sea Eagles in Sydney and extended the Cowboys away record in 2015 to 8 games in a row. The win now secures a place in the Top 2 with fellow Queensland side the Broncos, as they are now clear of the third place Roosters by 4 points.

The loss was further compounded for Manly, with star playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans failing to return after the break with a suspected pectoral injury which could be a huge blow to their slim finals chances.

Thurston started the game with a wonderful cross field kick in the 7th minute which bounced up for an unmarked Antonio Winterstein to start Gavin Cooper's 200th first grade game in style.

Then 10 minutes later, Daly Cherry-Evans pounced on a loose Winterstein offload and kicked the ball ahead for himself scoring under the posts to tie the scores at 6 all.

Manly gave away two penalties in their own half shortly after the Cherry-Evans try and they were made to pay when Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote got a magical offload away to centre Kane Linnett to score. Jonathan Thurston made it 12-6.

A spilt ball from late inclusion Peta Hiku was picked up by Cherry-Evans who was penalised for being in an offside position. Jonathan Thurston took the shot at goal to extend the lead to 8 points.

In the 35th minute, Cherry-Evans was left clutching his shoulder and received treatment from the trainer, however he managed to stay on the field. Shortly after a Kieran Foran error saw Kane Linnett break away downfield who found Antonio Winterstein who burst through a Brett Stewart tackle for his second try of the game.

North Queensland lead into the break 20-6 but the scoreline didn't really reflect the contest. After halftime Cherry-Evans failed to return in a big blow to a potential Manly fight back. However, Manly responded in the best way possible when Brett Stewart scored his 86th try at Brookvale Oval. Jamie Lyon made no mistake with the conversion putting Manly back in the game.

Two unforced errors from Luke Burgess, who received two awful passes in a matter of minutes put Manly under tremendous pressure and it finally took its toll when Michael Morgan shrugged off two defenders to score in the corner. Thurston hit the cross bar with the attempted conversion and the scores stayed at 24-12.

The Cowboys didn't have to wait long to wrap up the game however, when Michael Morgan again shugged off a would be tackler to set up Jake Granville who raced away to extend their lead.

From there the Cowboys were never troubled and finished the game with a convincing 30-12 victory which puts them in a superb position to secure a home semi final in 2015.

Next week the Cowboys are back home to host struggling Parramatta on Monday night, while the Sea Eagles have a tough assignment across the ditch in Auckland on Saturday afternoon at Mt Smart against the Warriors.

Match Details

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12 North Queensland Cowboys 30
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Crowd: 7643
Halftime Score: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6 North Queensland Cowboys 20

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (12)
Tries: Daly Cherry-Evans, Brett Stewart
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/2)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (30)
Tries: Antonio Winterstein (2), Kane Linnett, Michael Morgan, Jake Granville
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Johnathan Thurston
2 points - Lachlan Coote
1 point - Ben Hannant

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Monday Night Football at Brookvale Oval where the Manly Sea Eagles host the North Queensland Cowboys. A few changes for the Sea Eagles with Peta Hiku returning to the starting side in place of young gun Tom Trbojevic. Dunamis Lui is out replaced by Ligi Sao at lock and Jayden Hodges moves to the bench. No late changes for North Queensland who are 1-17.

The Cowboys have not beaten Manly in Sydney in 10 years. Will the hoodoo continue? North Queensland will want to show that this Cowboys side doesn't travel like warm milk! Expect them to lift for Gavin Cooper who plays game 200 in the NRL.

Manly are $1.85 favourites with the TAB. Cowboys $2.

1: We are underway at Brookvale Oval!

2: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Jorge Taufua makes an unforced error.
Taufua drops a bomb inches from the sideline. Cowboys get first attacking opportunity 20m out.

3: Cooper charges through the line and Cherry-Evans makes a great tackle. Manly now work their way out of their own half.

4: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Feleti Mateo makes an unforced error.
Mateo spills the ball. Cowboys scrum 30m out.

5: Penalty Cowboys - Peta Hiku raced out of the line and took Coote without the ball.

6: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Thurston with a beautiful cross field kick finds Antonio Winterstein unmarked. Great start for North Queensland. 4-0 Kick to come.

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston nails it from out wide, its Cowboys 6 Manly 0.

9: Penalty Manly - Ben Hannant holds down too long in the tackle. Manly tap 40m out, on the attack.

10: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
O'Neil bats the ball down from Matai who would have put Taufua over. Manly scrum 10m out.

12: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Kieran Foran makes an unforced error.
Kieran Foran spills the ball, under pressure from opposite Michael Morgan. Cowboys off the hook.

12: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
Winterstein makes a break downfield then spills the ball looking for Thurston.

13: Lachlan Coote under pressure with a bomb but makes no mistake. Great take by the fullback.

15: Sea Eagles again bomb Coote but he is safe as houses again.

16: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Daly Cherry-Evans. Kick to come.
Cherry-Evans swoops on a loose offload from Winterstein. He kicks the ball ahead and scores under the posts. Great try!

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon makes no mistake. 6 all at Brookvale!

18: Manly with a great chase on the 5th tackle kick. Picking up the tempo after the try.

19: Penalty Manly - Gavin Cooper not releasing the player on the ground. Manly 40m out on the attack.

20: Good defence Cowboys. Winterstein wraps up opposite Peta Hiku on the last.

23: Coote makes a break finds Linnett who finds Thurston on the inside. Thurston tackled twenty out. Great support play.

24: Penalty Cowboys - Matai not getting back to ten metres. Cowboys on the attack 30m out.

25: Penalty Cowboys - Markers not square. Cowboys 10m out and another set of 6.

26: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
Lachlan Coote gets a magical offload away and Kane Linnett bags a try. Cowboys 10-6, kick to come..

27: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Jonathan Thurston adds the extras. North Queensland now lead Manly 12-6.

29: Penalty Cowboys - Hiku spills a bomb and its taken by Cherry-Evans who is in front of him. Thurston points to the sticks.

31: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston knocks it over to make it 14-6.

33: Really good end to the set with Thurston putting in a long grubber kick. Hiku deep in Manly's own half now.

34: Penalty Manly - Stewart milks it from the play the ball, old stager.

35: Cherry-Evans may have injured his shoulder. Receiving some attention from the trainer.

36: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote makes an unforced error.
Great pressure from Brett Stewart sees Coote spill the ball. Big chance for the Sea Eagles.

37: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Cowboys scoop up the ball from a Foran mistake and on the counter attack Linnett streaks away and finds Antonio Winterstein who bursts through Stewart to score his second.

40: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston lands it from the sideline and has a glare at the Manly fans who are giving it too him. Cowboys 20-6 now.

40: Halftime at Brookvale. North Queensland lead 20-6.

40: North Queensland lead at the break, but the scoreline doesn't really reflect the contest as Manly have been well in this game. The Sea Eagles have made crucial errors and Jonathan Thurston has been able to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye. Antonio Winterstein has bagged a first half double with 2 superb tries. Another try from Kane Linnett who received a magic offload from fullback Lachlan Coote. Manly's sole try came from Daly Cherry-Evans who pounced on a Cowboys error to score. Its the Cowboys in control and Manly have their work cut out for them in the second half but have certainly not been poor. Great second half coming up!

40: Underway in the second half!

40: Big news coming out of the Manly camp with Daly Cherry-Evans not returning after injuring his shoulder or pectoral muscle.

41: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Kane Linnett makes an unforced error.
Linnett spills the ball. Manly scrum on halfway.

42: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brett Stewart. Kick to come.
The Prince of Brookvale score his 86th try at Brookvale. Massive play.

43: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Jamie Lyon makes no mistake. Manly back in it!

46: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Wright makes an unforced error.
Wright fumbles playing the ball. Scrum Manly 20m out. Big chance.

47: Jonathan Thurston takes an intercept and makes it to halfway. He is a menace!

49: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Wright makes an unforced error.
Wright spills a cross field bomb close to the line. Manly off the hook.

52: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Luke Burgess makes an unforced error.
Poor communication from Manly sees Burgess get a rough pass at his ankles. Cowboys in great field position.

54: Possible Cowboys try as Coote dives on a grubber from Thurston. Ruled No Try! Knock on by Coote, Manly 20m restart.

55: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Luke Burgess makes an unforced error.
Gets another rough pass, this time from Willie Mason.

55: Another video ref decision coming up. Ref says no try as Justin O'Neil looked short of the line.

55: No Try! Play the ball Cowboys a metre from the line.

58: Steve Matai goes down after landing heavily. He is ok to continue, play the ball.

59: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
Morgan gets on the outside of Steve Matai and scores in the corner. Cowboys up 24-12. Kick to come.

60: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Thurston hits the upright. Cowboys lead 24-12.

64: Kick too deep from Kieran Foran. Cowboys get a zero tackle re-start.

65: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jake Granville. Kick to come.
Michael Morgan strugs off Justin Horo and takes off setting up Jake Granville who scores beside the posts.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston makes it 30-12. The Cowboys well in control now.

66: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
O'Neil knocks on a short kick off. Good result for the Sea Eagles.

67: Penalty Cowboys - Symonds knocks on and Coote takes off up field. Manly penalised for trying to drag Winterstein into touch.

69: Morgan goes for the line on the last but is held up short by desperate Eagles defence. Manly ball.

70: Sam Hoare leaves the field after a head clash with Ligi Sao who also leaves the field. Could be a couple of busted beaks in that clash.

71: Good shot from Jorge Taufua on Justin O'Neil!

71: Terrible use of the video referee as the on field refs don't know whats happening. Seriously! Manly ball after the delay.

71: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Hiku loses the ball. Not the Sea Eagles night.

75: Manly work their way of of their own half as they game starts to wind down.

76: Another great take from Lachlan Coote who has been outstanding at the back tonight.

76: Matthew Wright leaves the field with a shoulder injury. Does not look too good.

77: Penalty Sea Eagles - Thurston inside the 10 metres.

79: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Steve Matai makes an unforced error.
Matai spills the ball a metre from the line. Cowboys ball.

81: It's Fulltime at Brookvale Oval and it's North Queensland 30 defeating Manly 12.