Eastern Suburbs v North Queensland
1st min - Matt Bowen is back! Fantastic.
Thought - I can’t believe Aaron Payne is not the automatic backup for Cameron Smith as Queensland's hooker. With Matt Ballin and Nathan Friend as options, they have plenty of depth, but Payne has been a standout for the Cowboys for years and should be given the nod.
4th minute - Michael Bani makes the first error of the evening. I can't help but start thinking about the tipping comp I'm in with 30 other blokes. In this comp, we have a rule that if you tip zero games correctly, you are given a perfect round score. This much debated rule comes into play for me this weekend as I'm currently sitting on 0 from 3. Roosters win I get 1 point. Cowboys win I get 4 points.
6th minute - Antonio Kaufusi makes some good metres. Reminds us of a few years back when he was with Melbourne. Picked for QLD origin and went on to play for Australia. His disappearance after this success just goes to show how hard it is to come back from serious injury. Even in this game we see plenty of examples of great players missing years from the game.
Matt Bowen - You can tell in the first 5 minutes what he means to the Cowboys, and the game itself.
Willie Tonga - Looked like he was bored playing footy after his knee surgery but simply took time to regain his confidence. Now equal with Justin Hodges if not better.
Willie Mason - Just needed time on the field after knee surgery. Look at him now.
Aaron Payne - often mentioned as the difference between winning and losing for the Cowboys, even if JT is playing. Many pundits closed the door on the Cowboys 2009 season as soon as Payne was out for the season. When fresh, he is their architect.
Anthony Minichiello - Do I need to mention what we, as fans, missed out on because of his injury? And of course what he has missed out on! Would have been remembered as on of the greatest and bravest fullbacks ever if not for injury.
Tough game this. Really a violent sport and these blokes earn their cash. The NRL must find more money for the clubs especially in NSW with so many other sporting markets chasing the dollar. It's always going to be a hard slog.
7th minute - Cowboys score the first try of the match through Bani. A defensive error by the Roosters; but the visitors have been working Willie Tonga's side of the field and this drew Sam Perrett in. John Williams converts. Cowboys 6-0.
10th minute - Mason takes his first hit up of the evening and all 5,000 people in attendance scream as one in united hatred. I can barely hear myself think!
12th minute - The Roosters 'double-team' Tonga again. Are they forcing him to pass by bringing an extra defender and leaving his winger unmarked? Why? Willie Tonga has a passing game and will make you pay everytime.
14th minute - The home side make a nice bust up the right edge but they spill the ball through desperation. Matt Bowen picks it up and runs 80 metres to score. A great reminder of how good it is to see M.Bowen in open space. Cowboys up 12-0.
17th minute - Bani spills a towering Anasta bomb. Recovered by SKD and Nick Kouparitsas is on the spot to claim the loose ball and score. Might be a lot of points in this match. Cowboys 12-6
23rd minute - Todd Carney has touched the ball on the last 3 sets of six and looked dangerous, making half breaks each time. He really is a handful. Roosters destroy his good work by turning it over.
24th minute - 19 year old debutant Michael Morgan takes a hit up from first receiver and gets belted. I hope somebody gave him the old, "welcome to first grade” sledge. Grant Rovelli follows this up with a nice kick to earn his side a repeat set. Rovelli was on the nose with Cowboys coach Neil Henry a few weeks ago. Injury seems to have forced Henry's hand and Rovelli is now leading most of the attack.
26th minute - Repeat set is wasted by the Cowboys. Todd Carney picks up a spilled ball and runs 80 metres up the left touchline to score. A reward for Carney turning up in cover defence. Fails to convert his own try. Cowboys 12-10.
29th minute - This Jared Warea-Hargreaves is an animal. Ferocious. He hits Anthony Watts with a beauty and Watts is 'lights out'.
32nd minute - Matt Scott takes another strong hit up. He has been a standout so far tonight and with QLD origin Mal Meninga in the crowd, I'm sure Matt will be rewarded.
33rd minute - More turnovers from both teams in quick succession. Can we now call this a "scrappy affair"? Or is that just a polite way of saying, "this is a rubbish game of footy so far"?
34th minute - Anthony Watts is electric. He bolts through the Roosters and burns their defence. The ball is then jolted loose from his possession. Watts has really been providing the spark for his side lately and is lightning quick out of dummy half. Somehow this all ends up in a Cowboys try. Shocking decision by the referee. Cowboys lead 18-10.
37th minute - Roosters defence is struggling. Nth Qld butcher a try as John Williams cannot handle a Bowen pass. The Roosters give it back immediately.
39th minute - Bowen is in everything. The Cowboys are such a better footy team with Bowen on the field. In both attack and defence. He is truly one of the stars of our game.
Halftime - Cowboys 18-10
44th minute - A poor kick chase right after halftime is a bad sign for the Roosters and super frustrating for coach Brian Smith. They appear to be experiencing a 'let-down' after last weeks big win at Campbelltown.
46th minute - Perhaps Warea-Hargreaves realised they needed a lift. He just knocked the stuffing out of Michael Bani. It has worked to inspire his team. The next set sees the Roosters trap Watts to earn a fresh six.
50th minute - The Bondi boys are building pressure now with another repeat set. Cowboys just holding on and give away a penalty.
Thought - we've just had a Jake Friend sighting. Only Rugby League would welcome back someone with Friend's recent history. This sport continues to forgive and forget, giving wayward souls and troubled kids a second chance.
51st minute - Phil Graham over for the Roosters. Lucky bounce sees him waltz over the try line untouched. Carney misses again. Cowboys 18-14. (Who would have thought with half an hour remaining, this would be the Roosters last points)
55th minute - The 'scrap' continues. Errors on both sides. It must be hard to stay motivated when playing in front of 3,000 people.
56th minute - Willie Tonga is devastating when het gets early ball. On this occasion he splits the defence, blowing by SKD, then finds Bani who goes over in the corner.
Another decision butchered by the officials as replays suggest Tonga's pass was forward. Cowboys 24-14.
59th minute - Willie Mason fades across field with the ball like a 5/8 and finds Scott Bolton hitting the line... Hilarious to see Willie play this role with such confidence. This is notable because Jason Ryles tries to do something similar during the next set and is crushed by the Cowboys defence.
64th minute - Roosters desperate to create some points here, down 10 with 15 minutes to go. They seem to be fumbling their way through this game. Have had good field position but continue making errors - they do again here. Not good enough from the Roosters.
Thought - I like the way the Cowboys and Neil Henry have managed the debut of Michael Morgan. Bowen and Rovelli are handling most of the kicking duties and Bolton is covering the debutant very well in defence. He is smashing everything coming the way of the 19 year old. Morgan is being injected at opportune moments and is not being asked to do much. This takes the pressure off the kid and in time will give him more and more confidence to play his natural game and learn the art of being a first grade halfback.
71st minute - Tonga over!! The Cowboys have taken full advantage of a lacklustre Roosters performance tonight. Playing a simple brand of football, using a committee of ball players to cover for the injured Jonathan Thurston. Morgan, Rovelli, Watts and Aaron Payne have all shared kicking and organising duties. A good balance.
On this occasion they keep the ball alive through debutant Morgan who finds Tonga where the Roosters were short. Cowboys 28-14.
74th minute - Another Roosters attacking opportunity ends in error as the 1,000 people in attendance start heading to the exits. It won't take long to get out of the car park tonight.
Thought - I've tipped 0 from 4 this weekend. Horrible.
77th minute - North Queensland have completely embarrassed their highly favoured hosts. Anthony Watts carries Todd Carney over the try line to rub salt into the wounds. The Roosters have not handled some poor refereeing decisions very well and this is now a butt-kicking. Cowboys 32-14.
Thought - the crowd tonight sounded like an ‘Arrive Alive’ cup game. (School boy footy where the only people in the crowd are parents of the players and a few people who could get out of school for the big match)
80th minute - Garbage time.
GAME OVER - Cowboys get their first away win of the season: 32-14.
Tune in next week for Manly v Parra.
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