Cowboys vs Rabbitohs: Live updates from Townsville

Live: Cowboys vs Rabbitohs in Townsville

By Jon Healy

Collapse all posts

off Sort Sort posts New: Filters

Choose what information you see below by using filters

Filter Posts

All

31

Key Events

13

Tries

5

Highlights

3

Comments

1

Penitani has two on debut!

J By Jon Healy

The Rabbitohs accidentally charge down Scott Drinkwater's kick and Ashton Ward does exceptionally well to clean up and put Souths on the attack.

The Rabbitohs load up to the left, but Cody Walker swings to the right and gives them the extra man, with Ward throwing another superb two-man cut-out pass to Talanoa Penitani, who brushes between Liam Sutton and Drinkwater to score his second on debut.

50' Tom Chester bombs a certain try!

J By Jon Healy

The Cowboys spin it inside their own red zone and Scott Drinkwater unleashes Tom Chester. He flies 60 metres upfield and has Zac Laybutt inside as he approaches last line of defence in Matt Dufty, but instead of taking the easy option, Chester tries an in and away. He's corralled by Dufty and Chester throws a forward pass.

Laybutt and Jaxon Purdue were both looming up with 30 metres left to the tryline. A guaranteed six points go begging for the Cowboys, who have been pretty ordinary in attack to start the second half.

Drinkwater said before the game that the 18-12 win over the Roosters last week was "boring", and they're playing like they're bored with percentage footy right now.

48' An unhappy moment for the new kid

J By Jon Healy

The bomb puts Talanoa Penitani in the firing line of a flying Robert Derby. He stays grounded but he's served his purpose, clearly spooking Penitani and creating the error.

47' AJ goes mighty close

J By Jon Healy

The South Sydney left side is humming after a clunky first half, but they've found some space out wide and unleashed Alex Johnston.

He gets within centimetres of scoring, but Scott Drinkwater's cover defence is enough to force the knock-on at the last second.

46' Resolute defence from the Rabbits

J By Jon Healy

The Cowboys try going over them, through them and around them, but the Souths jerseys just keep turning up.

Eventually the raid ends with Reed Mahoney's grubber trapped by Lachie Hubner.

He gets possession and Mahoney refuses to accept the referee's call, giving away a penalty as he insists on hanging on to the ball.

43' Duncan's brilliant try-saver keeps Souths in the game

H By Henry Hanson

Sam McIntyre goes over in the left corner, but the onfield decision is no try.

And the bunker upholds the call.

Tallis Duncan's rasping last-ditch tackle means McIntyre can't get the ball down.

As you were.

18-6 North Queensland.

We're back for the second half

H By Henry Hanson

Sounths have a big second-half ahead of them.

North Queensland has looked elite going forward so far today and they're currently 35m out from the Rabbitohs' line.

HALF-TIME: Cowboys rolling with an 18-6 lead over Souths

J By Jon Healy

Two-point field goal for the Cowboys!

J By Jon Healy

What a strike from Jake Clifford and that is as good as you can hit a drop kick.

He adds two more points from 45 metres out as the half-time siren sounds.

Slick from the Cowboys

J By Jon Healy

These are two elite attacking outfits and they're turning it on now.

Tom Mikaele takes a run through the middle and gets a quick play the ball. The Cows waste no time spinning it right and Scott Drinkwater makes the call to pin the ears back, burning Cody Walker for pace before offloading to Tom Chester to dive in.

31' The bunker upholds another no try

J By Jon Healy

Souths think they have a case as Lachie Hubner and Euan Aitken go down while chasing a grubber that eventually rolls dead, but Grant Atkins thinks the contact with Liam Sutton is all above board.

I agree and, perhaps more importantly, so too does the bunker. The Rabbitohs can just consider themselves lucky that the chasers weren't called off side.

Reed Mahoney scores another one!

J By Jon Healy

Jake Clifford pinches an Ashton Ward pass and goes 60 metres up the field, only brought down at the last second by Talanoa Penitani.

But the Cowboys reload straight away and it's Reed Mahoney who's in position to crash over through the ragged defence.

He's grabbed by Lachie Hubner while celebrating (Mahoney's acting like he's playing an away game the way he's shouting into the crowd) and takes exception, and then of course ends up in the face of Cody Walker as expected.

24' Clifford with a monster bomb

J By Jon Healy

We've seen some good spiral bombs over the years, but this one from Jake Clifford might be the longest I've ever seen.

Clifford launches it 55 metres and Matt Dufty has no hope of making a clean catch, but manages to knock it backwards.

22' Souths win their captain's challenge by the barest margin

J By Jon Healy

Jake Clifford's kick chase is superb and he bundles Matt Dufty back into the in-goal, but Dufty protests. He's adamant he was hit in the air and convinces Cody Walker to challenge.

Dufty turns out to be right, by about 4 centimetres I reckon.

18' Souths hit the front as Cody Walker cuts the Cowboys open

J By Jon Healy

There's nothing on as the Rabbitohs go to the left and Cody Walker just james his left foot into the turf, sending Heilum Luki the wrong way and breaking into the backfield.

He's eventually stopped just short of the tryline by Scott Drinkwater, but the Cowboys fullback went too high and Latrell Siegwalt pots the penalty goal for a 6-4 lead.

Talanoa Penitani scores on debut!

J By Jon Healy

The Rabbitohs break down the left through Alex Johnston and Cody Walker, so they spread it the full width of the field and Matt Dufty's Harbour Bridge pass over the top (not unlike Drinkwater's for the opener) is perfect for Talanoa Penitani. Robert Derby turns and gives chase, but the 21-year-old Souths winger is just too quick and wins the race for the line.

Too powerful from Heilum Luki but the bunker says no try

J By Jon Healy

Heilum Luki powers through the attempted tackle of Matt Dufty and carries Peter Mamouzelos over the tryline.

Grant Atkins says no try on the field, and the bunker agrees that it's a double movement as the ball comes down just a few centimetres short and Luki promotes it the rest of the way.

13' Reed's right on the Mahoney

J By Jon Healy

Jake Clifford has done all the kicking thus far today, so no-one's watching Reed Mahoney as he skips out of dummy half on the 30m line and drills a 40/20 that crosses just over the 20m line.