​Cowboys finish strongly to embarrass Eels in Townsville

It may have been an error-riddled contest for the first 60 minutes, but a late surge has seen the Cowboys record a 46-4 massacre over the Eels at 1300Smiles Stadium.

Coming into the match the Cowboys were widely expected to account for the Eels with ease, and while the fulltime score may reflect a dominant performance, Parramatta produced a solid effort for much of the match.

Despite conceding two early tries to Antonio Winterstein (5th minute) and Jason Taumalolo (15th minute), the Eels were able to work their way into the contest after weathering North Queensland's initial assault.

Coming up with a try through Reece Robinson (23rd minute), the Eels managed to keep up with the home side for the remainder of the half, due to a high error count from both sides.

After starting the second half strongly, the Eels looked to tie the scores after Brad Takairangi dived over in the corner; however the centre was unable to keep control of the ball.

Shortly after Rory Kostjasyn (47th minute) burrowed over from close range to extend the Cowboys lead, but poor completions from both sides allowed the Eels to stay in the game.

Needing to come up with a big play, Johnathan Thurston produced just short of the hour mark, nailing a 40/20 to give the Cowboys a terrific opportunity to blow the game open.

Shortly after, Jason Taumalolo barged over for his second before an onslaught of tries from Kane Linnett, Jake Granville, Lachlan Coote and Matthew Wright saw the Cowboys run out 46-4 winners.

Next week the Cowboys will take on the Raiders in Townsville on Saturday, while the Eels will take on fellow strugglers the Titans on Monday night on the Gold Coast.

Match Details

North Queensland Cowboys 46 Parramatta Eels 4
Venue: 1300SMILES Stadium
Crowd: 13767
Halftime Score: North Queensland Cowboys 10 Parramatta Eels 4

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (46)
Tries: Antonio Winterstein, Jason Taumalolo (2), Rory Kostjasyn, Kane Linnett, Jake Granville, Lachlan Coote, Matthew Wright
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (7/8)

PARRAMATTA EELS (4)
Tries: Reece Robinson
Conversions: Reece Robinson (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Jake Granville
2 points - Jason Taumalolo
1 point - Johnathan Thurston

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Monday Night Football between North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels.

Both sides are 1-17, with Joseph Paulo coming into the Eels lineup in place of Chris Sandow.

Cowboys kick off and Joseph Paulo takes the first run of the night.

1: Lachlan Coote defuses a Luke Kelly bomb close to his own line.

2: Thurston dummies and passes to Gavin Cooper, but the Eels are able to tackle the rampaging second rower.

3: Luke Kelly kicks straight to Lachlan Coote; on the next tackle the Cowboys get a penalty.

4: Another North Queensland penalty sees the home side start a set 15 metres out.

5: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Kane Linnett unselfishly passes to his winger following a bad defensive read from Ryan Morgan on his line.

6: Poor discipline from the Eels to concede two penalties back-to-back resulted in that try.

6: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
The kick can't fade back quickly enough. No goal from the sideline.

8: Good set from the Cowboys after points sees the Eels start from their own end.

9: Granville dummies but is pulled down just short of the line.

9: Ethan Lowe tackled on the last, but worrying signs for Parramatta.

10: Parramatta knock on inside their own 20 metre zone.

11: The Cowboys butcher a chance to post a second try after Lachlan Coote loses the ball with two players on his outside.

12: Justin O'Neill gets an offload away inside his own half. Cowboys full of energy early on.

12: Hopoate knocks the ball dead after Thurston kicked ahead for Linnett and Winterstein.

14: Gavin Cooper shut down close to the line.

15: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jason Taumalolo. Kick to come.
Great work from Jake Granville to enable Taumalolo to use his strength to barge over. 8-0 Cowboys. KTC.

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
No trouble for Thurston who adds the extras.

17: Granville away again, but as he attempts to play the ball he knocks on.

19: Thurston able to clean up a loose ball following an Eels bomb inside the Cowboys half.

20: Isaac De Gois on for Parramatta.

20: Antonio Winterstein knocks on. The Eels will finally have a chance to put on an attacking set.

21: Scott Bolton replaces Matt Scott.

21: Will Hopoate's pass goes into touch, but Parramatta will get a reprieve after Thurston touched the ball.

22: On the first tackle the Eels make a mistake.

23: Reece Robinson over for a try, but we'll check with the video to see if he went into touch.

23: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Reece Robinson. Kick to come.
Great work by Radradra to burst down the sideline before linking up with his fullback in support.

23: Cowboys fans will protest that Radrdara had a foot on the line as he passed. but the try is awarded.

24: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson unsuccessful.
With Chris Sandow on the other side of the world, Robinson is back as goal kicker. On his first conversion attempt the former Raider pushes the kick left.

26: Note a change in jerseys: Hannant is in #16, Bolton in #17.

26: Penalty to North Queensland after the Eels were inside the 10 metres.

27: Takairangi has to take the ball dead; Cowboys get a line dropout.

29: Ryan Morgan saves a try with an up-and-in tackle.

29: Thurston loses the ball trying to put Winterstein over for a try.

32: Robinson earns a penalty after Lachlan Coote was caught in the play the ball.

33: Joseph Paulo comes up with a play reminiscent of Chris Sandow's game last week. Cowboys scrum.

34: Semi Radradra draws a penalty after Rory Kostjasyn failed to release the flying Fijian.

35: Eels have done well to work their way back into the contest. Looked like a massacre was brewing after 10 minutes.

36: Bad play from the Eels sees the Cowboys come up with possession.

37: Once again, Ethan Lowe is tackled on the last tackle.

37: Justin O'Neill down clutching at a knee.

37: O'Neill plays the ball, appears to be fine at the moment.

37: Radradra almost gets away from the Cowboys, but he is tackled short of halfway.

38: Parramatta knock on in-goal. Cowboys get a 20 metre restart.

40: Joseph Paulo takes Thurston in the final play of the half. Cowboys lead 10-4 at the break.

40: The Eels kick off and manage to find touch after the ball rolled pass Ethan Lowe.

41: Beautiful work from Brad Takairangi to touch down after a Radradra offload from a bomb. Checking with the video ref.

41: Takairangi has lost the ball. No Try. Big let off for the Cowboys.

44: Penalty to Parramatta. They find touch just short of halfway.

45: Cowboys survive an Eels attacking raid and then receive a penalty.

47: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Rory Kostjasyn. Kick to come.
Poor defence from the Eels, Kostjasyn just had to fall over the line to score.

48: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston makes the Eels pay for their bombed try taking the Cowboys out by 12.

50: Cowboys to start a set just short of halfway following a Cowboys error.

51: John Asiata takes his first run of the night.

52: Lachlan Coote makes another error on halfway. If the Eels are good enough to capitalise on the opportunities being provided there a chance of scoring points tonight.

52: Daniel Alvaro on for the Eels.

53: Goal line drop out to Parramatta after Lachlan Coote was deemed to have come into contact with the ball.

54: The Eels will get another set after the Cowboys knock down an attacking raid.

55: Pauli Pauli makes an error. If you thought yesterdays match at Belmore was a bludger, this ones doing its best to be even worse.

57: Lachlan Coote's kick is too heavy. 20 metre restart for the Eels.

58: Kane Linnett defuses a Joseph Paulo bomb close to the tryline.

59: 40/20 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Johnathan Thurston kicks a 40/20.
Despite Reece Robinson's best efforts, the Cowboys mastermind comes up with a potentially game-changing play.

60: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jason Taumalolo. Kick to come.
Not satisfied with one try, Taumalolo scores his second.

61: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
From in front, Thurston finishes off the play he instigated. 22-4 to the home side.

62: Robinson on the spot to take a chip-bomb from Thurston on his goal line.

64: Joseph Paulo's kick hits a Cowboy and to make matters worse the Eels are tackled on the last inside their own 30.

64: Ethan Lowe comes up with a dropped ball close to the line.

65: Tepai Moeroa makes another error. Far too many mistakes from both sides.

65: Kane Linnett has crossed for a try, but Darcy Lussick is appealing for obstruction. Video Ref.

65: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
Rightfully the try is awarded. Cowboys too good tonight.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
28-4.

67: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jake Granville. Kick to come.
He's been the best on ground tonight and he deservingly scores.

68: Great work by Thurston to put Gavin Cooper into a hole before linking up with Granville.

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Add another two points.

70: Thurston traps the Eels close to their own line with another great kick.

71: Luke Kelly comes up with a shocking last tackle play.

72: As bad as Chris Sandow was last week, the Eels look to be missing a lot in attack. In saying that the amount of errors from both sides hasn't made for much of an entertaining contest.

74: Hopoate makes a nice catch.

75: Cowboys penalty inside the Eels half.

76: Ethan Lowe ignores an unmarked Matthew Wright.

76: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Lachlan Coote. Kick to come.
Lowe's missed chance matters little as the Cowboys cross for their 7th try.

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
That kick brings up the 40.

80: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Matthew Wright. Kick to come.
That'll be it for the Cowboys. One last try to send the home fans away happy.

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
He is just too good. Cowboys 46-4