Ryan Papenhuyzen was an early casualty as North Queensland's scrappy defeat of a patchwork Melbourne went closer to locking in a Townsville start to their NRL finals campaign.
The Cowboys prevailed 38-30 in an 11-try affair at home on Thursday, victory in the penultimate regular-season round pushing them three points clear of seventh-placed Manly ahead of the Sea Eagles' clash with Canterbury on Friday.
The Storm made 11 changes to the side that wrapped up the minor premiership last week but kept big guns Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster in the line-up.
Papenhuyzen lasted just 14 minutes though, the injury-plagued fullback grabbing at his lower leg after returning a ball from the in-goal area.
He didn't return but the club waived away fears of another serious injury, stating he had suffered a lower leg cork as he cut a relaxed figure on the sideline.
"The medical staff don't seem to think it's too bad, but he'll have a scan tomorrow and we'll go from there," said Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy also indicated he will name a full strength side for next week's clash with the Broncos.
Melbourne centre Marion Seve (ankle) also left the game early after his leg was caught in an unsuccessful attempt to stretch for a try.
Fresh off a bye, the Cowboys missed 27 tackles to the Storm's four in the first half and were guilty of slack defence on all three tries conceded.
Two errors in as many minutes to begin the contest allowed Lazarus Vaalepu to barge over for his first NRL try.
Kyle Feldt and Murray Taulagi responded with four-pointers for the hosts before Alec MacDonald kept his elbow off the turf to avoid a double movement and register another soft Melbourne try.
Tyran Wishart then pulled the Cowboys' pants down from the scrum base, going himself to fool Jeremiah Nanai and score the Storm's third.
But Super League-bound Felt's second, and a third laser-like sideline conversion from Valentine Holmes, who kicked seven-of-seven, ensured the hosts went to the break with a lead despite completing just 12 first-half sets.
Holmes, in his 200th game, then scored himself after North Queensland opted to run at a disjointed defensive line on the last tackle to begin the second half.
The Storm slotted a penalty goal then a short Cowboys drop-out backfired when forward Griffin Neame wasn't able to clean up a loose ball, Wishart the first to dive on the loose ball and then level the scores.
North Queensland hit straight back though, Reece Robson diving on a loose ball after Tom Dearden's offload on the tryline was knocked down.
They then repelled a series of Melbourne attacks before Dean Ieremia's attempt to swipe a ball dead failed and Nanai scored the simplest of tries.
Ativalu Lisati scored a brilliant, late solo try on debut while Sualauvi Faalogo was electric at fullback after Papenhuyzen's exit.
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Fox Sports is reporting Papenhuyzen has a cork in his upper leg. He won't be back tonight but that might just be precautionary. Early signs are he should be right for next week and for the finals. Seve won't be back tonight either, he has an ankle issue.
That'll do me everybody, thanks for stopping by. Be sure to tune in again tomorrow and all weekend because we'll be blogging every NRL game just as we do every week.
Take it easy.
That'll do us. It's an important win by the Cowboys, it puts them in the box seat for a home final, but they'll be unhappy with the amount of points they conceded tonight.
Storm did very well considering they lost two backs early and were already playing without many of their stars.
Wishart goes short to Lisati, he punches through, sells Drinkwater a dummy and the debutant front-rower has scored an outstanding solo try! What a beauty!
Wishart converts and it's 38-30 Cows.
Back to back penalties puts the Cowboys on the attack and the chance for Holmes to put his side out to a 14-point lead and he makes no mistake. Cows lead 38-24.
Clifford pokes a kick to the corner, it takes two wicked bounces and falls perfectly for Nanai, who brings it around under the posts to score the game that should wrap this game up.
Holmes converts and it's 36-24 Cowboys.
Dearden takes them on, beats two defenders, looks for Robson on the inside but Lisati knocks the pass down only for Robson to get to the loose ball anyway and score. This game keeps going back and forth and once Holmes converts it's 30-24 Cowboys.
Wishart forces drop outs on back-to-back sets, the Cowboys go short, Clifford flies high to tap it back, it falls to Neame, he loses it and Wishart is there to score an easy try! Dominant stuff from the most improved player in the NRL - can he round it out by nailing the goal and levelling the scores?
You bet he can - we're locked up at 24-all.
Moeroa gets hit high by Taumalolo and Wishart takes the two from right in front and Melbourne pull it back to 24-18.
Dearden swings it back to the blind where he finds Drinkwater, he shoots a pass out to Holmes, on to Taulagi and back to Holmes for a very slick try.
Holmes nails the kick and it's 24-16 Cowboys.
Storm get us started for the second stanza!
Howdy Nick! You were correct with Feldt scoring the first Cowboy try, but it seems Melbourne didn't get the memo regarding the opening try of the game...
- Mike
That's what we call a moral victory Mike.
- Nick Campton
Whoa Melbourne, steady up there -we don't take to kindly to out of towners scoring round here...
- Leroy
Cowboys best round up a posse in the second half if they're to slow them down!
- Nick Campton
A woolly old half, that. Plenty of points, an early mark for Papenhuyzen....feels like it's right up for grabs right now.
Clifford pressures Fa'alogo into an error off a towering Drinkwater bomb and on the next play the Cowboys go left, Nanai gets it to Feldt and he's over for his second.
What a strange old half of footy - can Holmes put the Cowboys in front at the break? He's been in top form from the sideline lately....and he drills it! It's 18-16 Cowboys.
Wishart breaks down the left from the scrum, Nanai totally overreads it and Wishart sells him a huge dummy to go over! Geez that's poor from Nanai and very sharp from Wishart, he's one of the most improved players in the league, the Storm utility.
Wishart converts his own try and it's 16-12 Storm.
Munster goes short to Macdonald and he looks to reach out and score....it initially looks like a double movement but upon another viewing the ball just stays off the ground.
That's two tries in two weeks for the hard-working forward - not a bad return given he only had one in his whole career before that!
Wishart converts...no he doesn't, it smashes into the post! Storm narrow the gap to 12-10.
Dearden links with Drinkwater and Holmes and they put Taulagi over in the corner. Melbourne are still trying to form up after the injuries to Papenhuyzen and Seve and the Cowboys take advantage. Holmes converts from touch and it's 12-6 Cowboys.
Big news with the Storm fullback leaving the field. No word yet on what the injury may be. Fa'alogo has gone to fullback, Anderson has switched to the wing and Keegan Russell-Smith comes on at halfback.
A high tackle on Seve gives Melbourne a chance at reply. Munster angles a kick out to the wing, Anderson tips it back inside to Seve and he slams it down! But the video ref says he's knocked it on.
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