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North Queensland will rue missing four field goal attempts in a tense 30-30 draw with Penrith, whose five-eighth Blaize Talagi had a career-best game in Townsville.
Jake Clifford and Scott Drinkwater each missed two shots at game-winners – one apiece from close range – as the Cowboys dominated field position during 10 minutes of extra time.
Penrith’s notorious game-winner Nathan Cleary had only one chance of his own in extra time on Saturday night but the strike was charged down by Harrison Edwards and Drinkwater.
The Panthers will wonder what might have been had Mitch Kenny passed to Cleary when the halfback was in position for a shot late in regulation time, instead of inexplicably shifting left on the last tackle.
The four-time reigning premiers will also rue giving up a 12-point lead twice in the game, the second time when the Cowboys scored twice in three minutes late.
Blaize Talagi.Credit: Getty Images
Talagi continued his rise to help the Panthers in the fight to salvage their slow-starting season, while the Cowboys move into the top eight to finish the round.
Prized recruit Talagi was unable to break into the team when Penrith fell to the Cowboys in round five but had a hand in all five of their tries this time around.
Talagi managed a one-handed offload to help in-form Isaiah Papali’i open the scoring inside five minutes, with the five-eighth then throwing the last ball for Luke Garner’s first.
With his boot, Talagi threaded a grubber kick for Garner to complete his double in the first half and then channelled Cleary by sending a perfect kick over the defensive line for Tom Jenkins to score.
Talagi then put the Panthers ahead by 12 points by scoring a try of his own following a knock-on in the in-goal from Cowboys winger Robert Derby, who had a hellish night.
But the Cowboys locked the scores at 30 scoring twice in two minutes in the final 10 minutes, with Derby first redeeming himself on the right before Drinkwater found Tom Dearden in support.
Fighting to hold his NSW fullback jersey from in-form James Tedesco, Penrith’s Dylan Edwards had a quieter performance than he’d have liked, notably dropping a Dearden kick to put the Panthers under early pressure.
He finished with 190 metres and one tackle break in his final game before State of Origin teams are picked, with the Panthers on the bye next weekend.
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The Cowboys spread the ball left and it looks dangerous until Luke Garner looks to intercept a pass and knocks it down instead. Scrum Cowboys, and they’re in prime position here. One, two, three tackles and now it’s time for a shot.
Reece Robson looks to send it to Scott Drinkwater but Liam Martin is lying in the ruck in the way and he runs it instead. The next play Jake Clifford takes a shot but he blasts it wide.
Penrith spread it wide in a bid for a last-second try but Brian To’o spills it, and we have a draw. What a game.
Cowboys 30, Panthers 30 at full-time
So, just five minutes left of this game to find a winner, or we’ll have an old-fashioned draw. Can Nathan Cleary get a shot at a field goal? Or can the Cowboys get one right?
North Queensland kick off and Penrith have a regulation set of six, Cleary sending it long on the last. The Cowboys get to halfway on their last tackle and Scott Drinkwater declines the chance at a Latrell Mitchell-like long shot, going to the air instead.
This time Penrith march upfield with the help of some savvy offloads. By the last tackle they reach the Cowboys’ 40-metre line. Cleary takes his shot – and it’s charged down. The ball ricochets around and the referee rules accidental offside against North Queensland – meaning a Penrith scrum – but the Cowboys challenge. The bunker spots a knock-on by Cleary and it’s Cowboys ball.
Two minutes left.
Wild turn of events here as Blaize Talagi – arguably the best player on the field tonight – throws a wayward pass to Tom Jenkings and Robert Derby – unarguably the worst – makes a tackle that forces an error. The Cowboys get a full set inside Penrith’s half. A field goal here would win it.
They shape up to take a shot through clifford but Penrith’s defence is good and they run it instead. The next play Scott Drinkwater rushes a shot but it goes wide to the left. At least the ball doesn’t go dead so Penrith don’t get a seven-tackle set.
Cowboys 30, Panthers 30 after the first period of extra time
A Reece Robson error gives Penrith one last shot to win it inside regular time, with the team setting up for a Nathan Cleary field goal. But the Cowboys’ pressure on the last tackle has Mitch Kenny second guessing the play and he runs it to the left instead, throws a pass to Dylan Edwards, there’s a loose ball, Cleary gets hold of it and takes a shot at goal but the referee has spotted a penalty to the Cowboys somewhere. Madness.
We’re heading to golden point. It’s been a wild weekend of footy, folks.
Cowboys 30, Panthers 30 after 80 minutes
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Credit: Getty Images
What a turnaround. this is the Cowboys at their best, throwing basses on the halfway line and finding a way through the Penrith defence. Jaxon Purdue and Scott Drinkwater both make half breaks before Drinkwater sends Tom Dearden clear to score between the posts. Drinkwater’s conversion locks up the scores as we enter crunch time. This has turned into a super game.
Cowboys 30, Panthers 30 with five minutes left
Incredible turn of events here. Robert Derby takes a hit-up and loses the ball yet again, the referee calls a knock-on and everyone’s head in the stands drops as the young Cowboys winger has made his sixth error of the game. But North Queensland use a captain’s challenge and the bunker spots Panthers prop Lindsay Smith stripping the ball from Derby’s grasp. Penalty Cowboys.
North Queensland march upfield, then spread it wide late in the tackle count, and centre Viliami Vailea throws a pass to who else but that man Derby, who does well to score in the corner. Scott Drinkwater kicks the sideline conversion and the home side still has a chance to win this one.
Panthers 30, Cowboys 24 with seven minutes left
Mixed night: Robert Derby.Credit: Getty Images
It’s going to be a game to forget for Robert Derby and one to remember for Blaize Talagi. Cowboys winger Derby has struggled under the high ball tonight and made four errors, and after collecting a Nathan Cleary kick in the in-goal it looked like he had done well to crawl back into the field of play before being tackled. But then Derby loses control of the ball and Talagi touches down for what will be the simplest try of his career. Yikes.
Nathan Cleary kicks the conversion and the 12-point margin might be too big from here.
Panthers 30, Cowboys 18 with 13 minutes left
Win or lose tonight, a big story for Penrith will be the performance of five-eighth Blaize Talagi who now has four try assists in the game. Two came from passes, one from a grubber and now another with a nice chip over the top for a chasing Tom Jenkins, who scores in what might be his first touch of the game since coming off the bench.
The try came after a contentious penalty for a high tackle and the crowd voiced their disapproval once more when Jenkins’ try was awarded.
It looks like goal-kicking will be crucial in this contest and Nathan Cleary makes no mistake from the left here.
Panthers 24, Cowboys 18 with 25 minutes left
