Cowboys flex premiership muscle to tame Titans

North Queensland have prepared for the finals with a 42-12 win over the Gold Coast in front of 16,977 fans at 1300 Smiles Stadium.

The Cowboys have been the comeback kings of the National Rugby League (NRL) this season and after a scare were dominant in the second half, to put away a gallant Titans team whose terrible season finally came to an end with a thud.

Neil Henry had some cheer early backing up from their surprise win against St George Illawarra gave them some spring into their step. Agnatius Paasi was stiff to be denied after his superb one-on-one steal and run was pulled back but Kalifa Fai Fai Loa crossed a set later to continue their momentum.

James Roberts burst through a soft middle of the Cowboys and found his fullback to double the Titans lead to 12-nil. Once again, the Cowboys were forced to play from behind against a spirited Titans outfit that just avoided the spoon, thanks to Newcastle's loss earlier in the day.

Once things clicked into gear though, North Queensland turned back into the machine that were in the minor premiership hunt for most of the season. Ray Thompson sprung the short-side to get them on the board. Linnett leveled proceedings after Man of the Match - Lachlan Coote sent it through the hands.

The fullback played a hand in sending Linnett's outside man, Antonio Wintersein across to give them a surprising four-point lead going into the break after their shock start. Coote added one himself three minutes after the resumption to make it eight.

Gold Coast spent most of the opening fifteen after half-time parked on the Cowboys line but weren't able to penetrate despite a multitude of penalties. North Queensland then produced the sucker punch as Thurston combined with his old partner, Gavin Cooper to make it two converted tries the difference.

From there - it was part central in the far north. Jake Granville pulled out the magic to reel in a grubber to confirm Winterstein's double before he darted across for his own four-pointer.

James Tamou got himself off the nudie run with his 72nd minute effort before Kane Linnett rounded out the display with his second after a long range attack to set up an all-Queensland qualifying final against Brisbane.

Match Details

North Queensland Cowboys 42 Gold Coast Titans 12
Venue: 1300SMILES Stadium
Crowd: 16977
Halftime Score: North Queensland Cowboys 16 Gold Coast Titans 12

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (42)
Tries: Ray Thompson, Kane Linnett (2), Antonio Winterstein (2), Lachlan Coote, Gavin Cooper, Jake Granville, James Tamou
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (2/4), Ethan Lowe (0/2), Kyle Feldt (1/3)

GOLD COAST TITANS (12)
Tries: Kalifa Faifai Loa, Josh Hoffman
Conversions: Kane Elgey (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Lachlan Coote
2 points - Johnathan Thurston
1 point - Gavin Cooper

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to 1300SMILES Stadium up in Townsville - the 3rd placed Cowboys are hosting the Gold Coast Titans who are bound for Mad Monday in just 48 hours time. There's little at stake here - pride for the Titans and racking up some form for the Cowboys going into next week's finals showdown with Brisbane.

Team news - Taumalolo benched for the Cowboys, Hannant will start. For the Titans, David Mead is out - Kalifa Faifai Loa starts in his place. Matt White starts for Dave Taylor with Ryan James moving to the second row. Matt Robinson comes in on the bench.

2: Easy metres early for the Cowboys. Titans start deep in their own half off the first kick.

5: Relieving penalty for the Titans coming out of their own end. Cowboys dominating thus far.

6: VIDEO REF | Paasi tackled, stripped by Feldt... then he STRIPS IT BACK, RUNS 20 metres and SCORES! This will be green lights!

7: Or not. NO TRY. Penalty Titans - Feldt's initial strip was a two-man tackle.

7: VIDEO REF | Now Kalifa Faifai Loa is in! Takes a high ball, we're just checking onside and grounding.

8: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Kalifa Faifai Loa. Kick to come.
Kalifa can jump! He gets the opening try of the evening.

8: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Kane Elgey successful.
Elgey converts with ease.

11: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Josh Hoffman. Kick to come.
Titans in again! Started by James Roberts who found Hoffman to cross.

12: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Kane Elgey successful.
Elgey slams it through.

16: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Ray Thompson. Kick to come.
Cowboys hit back through Ray Thompson! A simple dummy and go!

17: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
A wide attempt first up and no trouble for JT!

20: PENALTY Titans! They will go back on the attack.

21: A great tumbling take from Gavin Cooper to recover the kick, and he earns a penalty.

22: Another PENALTY to the home side. Burr goes a tad high.

24: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
Cowboys score through one of the men to play all 24 games this season. Thurston stabbed a kick into the defender and Coote swung it left to the rampaging centre.

25: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Another tough attempt for the Queensland and Australian rep but he swings it like a golf swing.

26: After the bright start - it is all unraveling for the Titans. Nene McDonald kicks out.

27: PENALTY Cowboys! Coote taken on suspicion.

28: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking grounding for a Winterstein TRY.

28: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Kept his feet in, and it was a beautiful pass from Coote to set it up.

29: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
The wingers keep giving Thurston tough conversions. He is 2/2 thus far.. can he make it 3? Nope, swung too wide.

31: PENALTY Titans! Hannant caught offside.

32: James Taumalolo just didn't want to let him go. Penalised.

33: A third now, Ethan Lowe made camp there.

34: Make it four quickly after Taylor was bowled over. Titans just camping down there to finish the half.

34: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking a Titans TRY.. Taylor grounding.

34: RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! It was spilled by Taylor.

34: Guess what! Penalty.. this time to the home side.

35: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote makes an unforced error.
Lachlan Coote tries the magical with the pick-up, just spills it.

37: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scott Bolton makes an unforced error.
Bolton tried to play it too quick. Knock on.

40: KICK-OFF! Here we go again!

42: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Ryan James makes an unforced error.
It took 33 minutes for the first Titans error. Now they have a second right off the first set.

43: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking grounding for some reason..

43: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Lachlan Coote. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY!! Easily grounded. Cowboys continue where they left off.

43: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
From close range, Thurston hooks it.

46: SIX MORE Titans..

47: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Kyle Feldt makes an unforced error.
Feldt tried to reel in the intercept but couldn't.

48: PENALTY Titans! Rory Kostjaysn caught offside at marker.

49: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking who grounded this. Roberts or Winterstein.

49: Obviously NO TRY! Knocked on by Roberts.

49: PENALTY Cowboys! Taumalolo caught high by Douglas.

55: PENALTY TITANS! Taumalolo with a high tackle.

56: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
James Tamou makes an unforced error.
More reversals than an MMA game. Tamou ruled to knock on.

56: PENALTY Titans! Cowboys slower than government procedure in the ruck.

58: PENALTY Cowboys! Douglas ON REPORT for a flop.

60: SIX MORE for the Cowboys as Moseley just rocketed the ball.

61: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Gavin Cooper. Kick to come.
Cowboys show the Titans how to score! Thurston found space and sent Cooper into it.

63: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Kyle Feldt unsuccessful.
Kyle Feldt has taken the kicking duties now.. and misses.

66: VIDEO REFEREE: Jake Granville might have reeled this back for Winterstein.

66: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Granville has done it! He swept it back for Winterstein to plant down.

67: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe unsuccessful.
Feldt sacked, so we have our third kicker for the night. Ethan Lowe, step right up! A toughie first up and he sprays it.

68: PENALTY Cowboys! High tackle.

69: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jake Granville. Kick to come.
After setting up the previous one.. Granville puts on a burst of speed to get through.

71: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe unsuccessful.
Ethan Lowe despite his first attempt, gets a second shot and misses again!

71: The season can't end soon enough for the Titans. Kick out on the full now.

72: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by James Tamou. Kick to come.
The celebrations have started in Townsville. Tamou crashes through and celebrates with a dance.

74: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Kyle Feldt successful.
Right in front, surely Lowe can nail this one! Well no, it'll be Kyle Feldt again.. he gets his first NRL goal.

76: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Agnatius Paasi makes an unforced error.
Paasi couldn't take a hard pass.

76: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
Linnett crosses to get past the 40 mark.

78: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Kyle Feldt unsuccessful.
Feldt taking confidence from his first conversion in the NRL, spews it wide again.

79: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Jake Granville makes an unforced error.
Granville juggled one on the burst.

80: FULLTIME :: Cowboys finish the regular season with a flexing 42-12 win.