After being dazzled by
Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen, the New Zealand Warriors
have another National Rugby League (NRL) magician to worry
about as a daunting Gold Coast trip looms.
North Queensland Cowboys 48
New Zealand Warriors 20
The Warriors' six-year winning drought in Townsville was extended on Saturday night with a nine tries to three, 48-20 thumping by the North Queensland Cowboys.
After a brief sojourn in the top eight, the Warriors slipped
out again, with a three-win, three-loss record. And their
lack of star quality and poor record away from home will get
another stern test next Sunday, against competition leader
Gold Coast Titans, unbeaten at Skilled
Park.
"We were just flat. We just didn't really have any sting in what we did at all,'' a glum coach Ivan Cleary said.
"It is very disappointing. There are obviously some problems. We will just have to work a bit harder and come up with some answers.''
The Cowboys missed more tackles than the Warriors, 38 to 36, but punched through for nine line breaks to two and gained 1422m to the Warriors' 1180m.
Fullback Bowen, returning from a knee injury, bagged a hat-trick of tries, while Kangaroos halfback Thurston made a compelling case for retention against the Kiwis on May 9.
"[Bowen and Thurston]were on another planet,'' Cleary said.
"They are great players and if you are off, they make you
pay.''
Thurston's most spectacular effort of the night came in the
68th minute, when he found space before chipping infield for
flying Bowen, who touched down for his third try.
Steve Southern provided Bowen with a neat offload for his
first in the eighth minute, while Bowen did it all himself
for his second near half-time, bamboozling Warriors centre
Brent Tate with some fancy footwork.
First-half tries to Simon Mannering and Ian Henderson had the Warriors trailing 14-16 just before the break, but Bowen's second try stretched the half-time margin to eight points.
The Cowboys rattled up 26 points in the second half, recording their third consecutive win and reviving memories of last year's play-off at Townsville, which ended the Warriors' season.
Kiwis hopeful Jerome Ropati was the solitary Warriors tryscorer in the second half.
Thurston's effort was even more impressive considering he defied a mystery virus to take the field.
Said coach Graham Murray: "Scott Prince is playing good football but Johnathan is getting better.
"He is coming back from two shoulder reconstructions, he is just hitting his straps.
"He is still the best player in the competition, as far as I am concerned, and he should be the test halfback.'' _ NZPA
North Queensland Cowboys 48
New Zealand Warriors 20