Posted: 2024-09-14 04:42:20

North Queensland will go in search of their fifth consecutive win in Sydney in the elimination final against Cronulla — and a simple thing such as all players going to bed early before a game has paid dividends.

The Cowboys advanced to the second week of the NRL finals after co-captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden scored late tries as they rallied to eliminate Newcastle 28-16.

North Queensland has previously struggled when leaving Townsville but the Cowboys have won their last six road trips, and, more crucially, their past four in he NSW capital.

To win the title, as they are situated on the Penrith side of the draw, they will need to win the next three finals in Sydney starting with Friday night's showdown with the Sharks.

"We spoke about our away record at the start of this season and everybody is getting their routine the same," Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater said after the knockout finals win over the Knights.

'We are all going to bed at the same time as at home. When you are away in a team environment, it is easy to stay up a bit later.

"It is a personal obligation to the team to do what you would before home games where you are hanging out on your own or with the wife and where you go to bed normally a bit earlier. That is one reason why our away form has been better."

Three of their four wins in Sydney came against top-eight sides. The Cowboys beat Sydney Roosters 18-16, prevailed 16-6 over Penrith and walloped Canterbury 44-6 last week. The side's defence was integral to all those wins after they were written off by critics.

"We can play a little bit more freely (in Sydney), just with the weight of expectation we have here at home," Cowboys coach Todd Payten said after the win over the Knights in Townsville.

"We have put a lot of effort and work into our routines in what we are doing at our hotels the night before, and what we do on the day of the game, and that has had an impact.

"Our confidence has grown from win to win down in Sydney and we know we are very capable."

The Sharks and Cowboys have played each other five times in finals since 2013, with North Queensland ahead 3-2.

Their last clash in the semis was a 32-30 win to the Cowboys in a 2022 qualifying final when Valentine Holmes landed a two-point field goal in extra time.

Payten said the Cowboys would do "what we are paid to do" against the Sharks.

"They are a good defensive team and quick and athletic across the park. They have got some big bodies and they are skilful. She is going to be a cracking game," he said.

Reuben Cotter of the Cowboys celebrates with teammates after scoring a try

North Queensland co-captain Reuben Cotter celebrates scoring against Newcastle in Saturday's elimination final. (Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)

On Saturday night the Cowboys' comeback had been sparked by 73rd-minute Cotter-try in Townsville which came off a Jake Clifford bomb.

It was knocked back by winger Kyle Feldt, bounced off the knee of second-rower Heilum Luki and was then knocked on by Newcastle's Daniel Saifiti.

From there Cotter went to regather but the ball hit his knee. He and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga dived for the ball, to which Cotter won the race.

Fellow Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden then scored to ice the win.

Skipper Ponga had inspired the Knights to give them a 12-4 lead at the half-time break.

His dazzling footwork was on show early before he set up two tries, one with a trademark burst and another with a well-judged bomb.

His teammates, battle-hardened by three do-or-die regular season matches in the lead-up, were resolute in defence and conceded the one first-half try to an intercept.

Veteran Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt scored his 23rd try of the season, a new club record, when he snaffled an errant pass by fill-in centre Dylan Lucas in the 14th minute to race 85m to score.

Dane Gagai of the Knights is tackled by Murray Taulagi and Valentine Holmes of the Cowboys

Scores were level with 10 minutes to go in the elimination final between the Cowboys and Knights. (Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)

Earlier, Ponga ghosted his way through a hole from 40m out and found hooker Jayden Brailey with a scintillating pass to give the visitors the lead.

Ponga called centre Dane Gagai to get ready for a lobbed bomb and landed it to perfection. Gagai contested, Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater dropped the ball and winger Fletcher Sharpe swooped.

Dearden delivered a try-saving play when he rushed back to tip the ball dead when Knights second-rower Tyson Frizell seemed certain to score.

A brilliant tap-on by Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes for winger Murray Taulagi to score straight after half-time got the Cowboys back in it.

The Cowboys finally grabbed the lead when Drinkwater put prop Jordan McLean over under the sticks but the Knights hit back when Lucas crashed over. Ponga hit the uprights with the conversion to leave it level at 16-all and set up a thrilling final 15 minutes.

Ponga split the Cowboys' defence and Gagai dropped a low pass with the line open before Cotter's heroics proved decisive.

Knights prop Leo Thompson was sin-binned at the death for a late hit on Feldt.

Earlier, a second half hat-trick from hooker Harry Grant guided Melbourne to a 37-10 win over Cronulla.

AAP

Catch up on the action in our blog below.

NRL Saturday scoreboard

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That is where we will leave the ABC Sport live blog

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Thanks for the blog Mick, see ya next time

- Mike

Saturday of NRL finals week  one has come to an end.

Melbourne beat Cronulla, which earned the Storm a home preliminary final.

The Sharks will now host the North Queensland Cowboys in a semifinal next week.

Newcastle have been eliminated.

We will be back tomorrow for the final match of this weekend's finals action.

I hope you join us then.

Goodnight.

Match highlights from the Cowboys-Knights elimination final

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The Cowboys march on in September

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Go the Cowboys.

- Richard - Malmö, Sweden

The North Queensland Cowboys will travel to Sydney next week to face the Cronulla Sharks in a sudden-death semifinal.

Newcastle's Dane Gagai says the Cowboys were better in the big moments

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Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter joins ABC Sport

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North Queensland scored four tries in the second half, including one to Reuben Cotter.

He joined Laurie Spina and ABC Sport after their elimination final win.

"It's an honour, firstly … I try to lead with my actions each week, talk when needed, we've got a lot of leaders in our group," he says.

FULL-TIME: North Queensland Cowboys 28 def. Newcastle Knights 16

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The co-captains of North Queensland have each scored in the final seven minutes to lift the Cowboys to a comeback finals win over the Newcastle Knights.

Newcastle led 12-4 at half time, but the Cowboys scored four tries to one in the second half.

It was 16-all with seven minutes to play, but Cowboys captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden scored late tries to earn a semifinal against Cronulla in Sydney next week.

79' TRY: Tom Dearden scores. The Cowboys win

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It's all over.

The North Queensland Cowboys run the ball on the final tackle and instead of going for the field goal, five-eighth Tom Dearden slices through the Knights' defence and scores.

The Cowboys will travel south and face the Sharks next week.

78' SIN-BIN: Newcastle's Leo Thompson is off

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Kyle Feldt has been whacked by a high tackle from Newcastle prop Leo Thompson.

Feldt was falling, and there was a hint of a swinging arm from Thompson.

There was an all-in wrestle, as the Cowboys resented the high shot.

Newcastle need a miracle with 12 men.

73' TRY: Reuber Cotter scores. Cowboys lead

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Reuben Cotter has scored the biggest try of his career.

He beat Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga to grounding the ball.

After a Reece Robson linebreak, Jake Clifford puts up a high kick.

Kyle Feldt knocked a high kick backwards and ball bounced on the ground and went towards Reuben Cotter.

The ball hits Cotter's knee and it goes into the in-goal.

Cotter and Kalyn Ponga dive for the ball.

COTTER GETS THERE FIRST!

COWBOYS LEAD.

Valentine Holmes kicks the goal. North Queensland lead 22-16.

70' Dane Gagai drops the ball with the line in sight

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Dane Gagai looked certain to score, but he could not catch a low pass from Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga made the break and had four teammates to pass to.

He chose Gagai, but it was at the Queensland centre's knees.

If Gagai catches that, Newcastle score. No doubt.

65' Kalyn Ponga misses the conversion. It is 16-all

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Kalyn Ponga has missed the conversation after the Dylan Lucas try.

That attempt looked good, but the ball seemed to catch the wind and missed.

It is 16-all.

64' TRY: Dylan Lucas scores for Newcastle

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Dylan Lucas — the natural second-row forward who moved into the centres to cover for Bradman Best — has scored a massive try for the Knights.

Newcastle's Phoenix Crossland threw a pass that put  Kai Pearce-Paul in a hole.

Pearce-Paul offloads, and then the ball is shifted to Lucas who goes over.

60' Elimination final enters the final quarter

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Hi All we are also tuning in from Italy (Sicily) Go Cowboys!!!!!

- Rob & Louise

Go Cowboys

- Pete in Portugal

59' North Queensland are on top as Newcastle hold on

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North Queensland's only points of the first half came from a Kyle Feldt interception.

They scored two excellent tries in the second half with brilliant attack, which has been the difference according to ABC Sport caller Billy Moore.

"The Cowboys have lifted. They're playing some good, quality attack."

But Newcastle are holding on, forcing a few errors out of the Cowboys when the home side had attacking opportunities.

52' TRY: Cowboys are in again. Cowboys lead

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Outstanding from the North Queensland Cowboys.

A linebreak from Kyle Feldt put them into an attacking field position.

A set-restart after Newcastle could not collect a Cowboys grubber kick gave the home side a full set on Newcastle's line.

It's Jordan McLean, the prop forward, who is put through a huge hole and scores the try.

North Queensland lead 16-12.

45' TRY: Cowboys score through Murray Taulagi

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Terrific play from the North Queensland Cowboys.

Fabulous structure in attack — the Cowboys go from the right sideline all the way to Murray Taulagi scoring in the left corner.

The final tip-on from Valentine Holmes was first class.

An error from Newcastle's Jack Hetherington on halfway gave North Queensland the attacking opportunity.

Holmes converts from the sideline.

Newcastle leads North Queensland 12-10.

Second half begins in Townsville

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Whoa! steady up there Knights - don't ya go fixin to win this now...

- Leroy

Newcastle have an eight-point lead over the North Queensland Cowboys.

The winner of this match will face Cronulla in next week's semifinal.

Can Newcastle upset the Cowboys in Townsville?

The Cowboys are running to the right of your screen.

More countries being represented on the live blog

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Tuning in from Italy. So excited.

- Ros knight

Hello Ros.

I hope the weather is nice in Italy, where you are.

If you want to join blogging community like Ros, let us know where you are reading from and your thoughts on the footy through the comment section above.

Hello from the other side of the Tasman Sea

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Sooo looking forward to the match ups this weekend, Kia Ora from Hamilton New Zealand!

- Steve.C

G'day Steve.

Thanks for joining us on the ABC Sport live blog of the NRL finals.

We are thrilled to see the international audience is growing.

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