Cowboys Secure Upset Win Over Panthers in Taumalolo's 300th Match

Live: Cowboys vs Panthers

By Michael Doyle

It was a big night for Jason Taumalolo.

He was playing his 300th NRL match. He became the first player to play 300 matches for the North Queensland Cowboys.

Members of the Tongian Royal Family were in attendance, and they were facing the premiership favourites.

Taumalolo led from the front, and the Cowboys produced their best win of the season.

He has just spoken to Fox League and was asked about what this all means to him.

In typical Taumalolo fashion, he is downplaying his individual accomplishments.

I haven't really thought of how much I've achieved or how many games I've played. I tried to take tonight as just another game. At the end of the day, I've got to come out here and do my job.

Maybe when I retire and kick the feet up, I'll look back on games like tonight with a smile on my face.

FULL-TIME: Cowboys 26 def. Panthers 12

By Michael Doyle

The North Queensland Cowboys have produced an upset win over the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers to celebrate Jason Taumalolo's 300th NRL match.

The Panthers have now lost two matches in a row after falling to the Gold Coast Titans last week.

77' TRY: Clifford seals the win for the Cowboys

By Michael Doyle

An interception by winger Braidon Burns gave the Cowboys an attacking set, and the chance to seal the win.

Jake Clifford reaches for the line, but the ref is going to the Bunker.

Ref Wyatt Raymond believes CLifford has dropped the ball, but Clifford is telling his teammates he absoultely scored.

The replay shows Clifford kept his fingers on the ball and grounded the footy with downward pressure.

Clifford kicks the conversion for a 14-point win.

You can call it lay-down misère, the Cowboys are going to win.

Cowboys 26

Panthers 12

73' TRY: Jeremiah Nanai scores for the Cowboys

By Michael Doyle

Jeremiah Nanai. You star!

The second-rower chased a terrific bomb from Jake Clifford.

He jumped over Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards, caught the ball at full flight, landed on the ground and then reached out to ground the ball.

That is the perfect set after taking the lead with the Clifford penalty goal.

Speaking of Clifford, he has a kick to make it an 8-point lead.

Clifford nails the kick.

Cowboys 20

Panthers 12

70' PENALTY GOAL: Cowboys take the lead

By Michael Doyle

From the halfway scrum, the Cowboys work the ball down towards the Panthers' goal-line.

On the final play, Jaxon Purdue slips with the ball but gets a pass away off the ground.

A grubber kick comes off the legs of Panther Nathan Cleary.

There is a race for the ball, but Liam Martin then pulls a Cowboys off the ball and out of the contest.

Jake Clifford tells the ref he will have a shot at goal, and he makes no mistake.

Cowboys 14

Panthers 12

69' Another Panthers drop

By Michael Doyle

Nathan Cleary gives an offload to Liam Martin.

Martin then tries to pass out of a tackle, and he drops the ball.

The Cowboys have a scrum on the halfway.

The Cowboys are being given a golden chance to knock off the ladder leaders.

67' Panthers suffer another poor drop

By Michael Doyle

Two of Penrith's best have combined for a poor error.

From dummy-half, Nathan Cleary passes to Dylan Edwards, who drops the ball.

In Edwards' defence, the ball was way too far in front of him.

The Cowboys have a scrum 40 metres out.

The Cowboys march to the goal-line, but they too drop the footy.

Penrith forward Isaiah Papali'i off for HIA

By Michael Doyle

Jason Taumalolo takes a charging hit-up, and he runs over the top of Penrith second-rower Isaiah Papali'i.

Papali'i appears to have his head hit the shoulder of Taumalolo.

Papali'i is off for a Head Injury Assessment and he will likely not be back for the rest of this match.

63' PENALTY GOAL: Cowboys level the score

By Michael Doyle

The Cowboys get a penalty for a high tackle, gifting them great field position.

The Cowboys are charging.

SET RESTART. Liam Martin is called for a ruck infringement.

The Cowboys are attacking the goal-line, and halfback Jake Clifford steps off his left foot and tries to break through.

PENALTY. Nathan Cleary is called for a strip.

Clifford tells the ref he will attempt a goal, and he kicks the goal.

Cowboys 12

Panthers 12

60' Dylan Edwards with a try-saving tackle

By Michael Doyle

Cowboys second rower Heilum Luki breaks through a tackle and he is running for the line.

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards is the last line of defence, and Edwards produces the perfect tackle around the legs.

That is a try-saver.

Cowboys 10

Panthers 12

58' NO TRY: Cowboys drop the ball trying to score

By Michael Doyle

The Cowboys are attacking the goal-line.

Interchange Soni Luke burrowed from dummy-half and came inches away from scoring.

Scott Drinkwater puts in a grubber to the in-goal, and Jaxon Purdue chases.

Purdue gets his hands on the ball, but he is flirting with the dead-ball line.

The ball comes loose from Purdue's grip, and it's a knock-on.

Panthers five-eighth Blaize Talagi was also making a tackle on Purdue. He timed his contact to perfection and had a hand in forcing the ball loose.

Cowboys 10

Panthers 12

55' Cowboys targeting the left wing

By Michael Doyle

The Cowboys are targeting the left, which is the right edge of the Panthers defence.

The home side makes a small line break, and a pass is tapped out by the Panthers.

The Cowboys have a scrum at midfield.

From the next set, the Cowboys march down the field and put up an attacking kick to the left corner.

The Panthers are able to clean up, but they are forced into a dropout.

Cowboys 10

Panthers 12

45' PENALTY GOAL: Nathan Cleary kicks Penrith to the lead

By Michael Doyle

The Panthers have an attacking set at the Cowboys' goal-line.

Cowboys forward Heilum Luki is penalised for a high tackle, and Nathan Cleary kicks the simple penalty goal.

Cowboys 10

Panthers 12

42' Cowboys knock-on

By Michael Doyle

With their first use of the ball in the second half, a Nathan Cleary line break gives the Panthers the chance for an attacking kick.

Blaize Talagi catches and it is tapped back for the Panthers.

Nathan Cleary then kicks for the left corner.

Cowboys winger Braidon Burns makes a great catch, then gives and offload away.

DROP.

Centre Zac Laybutt could not take the ball and the Panthers have a scrum 10 metres out.

If Laybutt holds that pass, he could have run a long way.

Second half begins in Townsville

By Michael Doyle

The North Queensland Cowboys have the first use of the footy in the second half.

The Cowboys, running to the right of your screen, have an incident-free set and Scott Drinkwater kicks clear from the halfway.

TEAM LISTS: Sea Eagles vs Storm

By Michael Doyle

For the Sea Eagles, Brandon Wakeham (hooker) and Kobe Hetherington (prop) were ruled out, with Jake Simpkin and Simione Laifai replacing them. Ethan Bullemor was named at starting prop, but he will now come from the bench.

For the Storm, Jack Howarth was ruled out yesterday with a quad issue. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown will take his place in the centres. Tyran Wishart will replace injured halfback Jahrome Hughes (hamstring).

Who outside the NRL top four can win the premiership?

By Michael Doyle

Manly are on the up and can win the comp!

- Jason

Who else can win the comp! The Bunnies are a big chance if all their weapons can fire at the same time

- Simon

Foz Ball can take Manly to the premiership

- Manly Mark

Always got hope for my beloved Sharks Michael.

- KB

We asked who you believe, outside the NRL top four (Panthers, Warriors, Dolphins, Roosters), could win the premiership this year.

We have had a few responses.

HT: Cowboys 10 Panthers 10

By Michael Doyle

A half of a footy that was described by Luke Lewis as a "drop-a-thon" has come to an end.

The Cowboys and Panthers are locked at 10-all.

The Panthers have been horrid when compared to their elite standards.

The Cowboys have rattled them, but even with Penrith having Liam Henry sin-binned, the score is level.