Cowboys in the eight after easy win over the Knights :cowboy: :bang:

12 June 2004


North Queensland has notched up its second win on the trot and is back in contention for the National Rugby League finals following tonight's dominant 30-6 win over the Newcastle Knights at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

The victory was just the Cowboys' second at home this season, but more importantly, it marked their return to the top eight following last week's impressive two-point win over St George-Illawarra.

Unlike the Dragons match, where North Queensland failed to fully capitalise on a glut of possession, the home team ran away with the match in the second half after leading 12-6 at the break.

Three tries in the second 40 minutes plus some poor Knights discipline followed a solid opening half, which featured tries to halfback Chris Sheppard and Neil Sweeney.

But it was the forwards that stole the glory in the second half, with the two biggest men on the finding the try line in unorthodox fashion.

Hulking prop and stand-in captain Paul Rauhihi stripped Matt Kennedy of the ball and raced 30 metres to score, while giant bench forward Shane Tronc showed surprising athleticism to swoop on a grubber kick after it bounced off the goalpost, before he swivelled and scored.

Hooker Leigh McWilliams completed the five tries to one rout, much to the delight of the 14,974 strong crowd.

Missing a host of regular first graders, Newcastle's night was further soured when prop Adam Woolnough was placed on report for a high shot on Jamie McDonald late in the match.

With regular starters Matt Boen, Paul Bowman, Matt Sing all missing due to State of Origin commitments, and Travis Norton and Glenn Morrison out injured, Cowboys coach Graham Murray praised the efforts of several players who were called up from the Young Guns, the club's feeder team.

"The club as a whole is going very well," Murray said.

"The Young Guns have four wins and a draw from their last five games and they've been training very hard."

Murray singled out hardworking backrower Steve Southern, who was making his NRL debut, fullback Daniel Sorbello and winger Neil Sweeney for praise, with Sweeney's positional play on kick returns a highlight of the match.

"That's why we recruited guys like Steve Southern and Shane Tronc, to give us depth in positions," Murray said.

The coach also commended captain Paul Rauhihi, who aside from his opportunistic try, had another strong game.

"He's one of the form front rowers in the competition," Murray said.





COME ON YOU COWBOYS! FORWARDS OWNED NEWCASTLE'S SOFT PACK!!! :drunk: