Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he was looking for ball control from his side but they coughed it up on their opening two sets before the Dragons gifted them field position with back-to-back restarts.

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Tom Dearden capitalised on the deep territory, putting Coen Hess through a hole before he offloaded to a surging Scott Drinkwater to plunge over.

The Cowboys were then back on the offensive as Dearden forced a goal-line dropout, with Drinkwater turning provider on the resulting set, grubbering to the in-goal for Peta Hiku to bag their second.

A penalty goal by Valentine Holmes made it 14-0 after 22 minutes before the Dragons had their first real crack at the line but Cody Ramsey’s try was overturned due to obstruction.

Moments later the home side had their third after a deft pass by Taumalolo in midfield put Griffin Neame through a hole, he in turn finding a supporting Robson to score against his former club.

Moses Suli’s try before half-time gave the Dragons some hope but the Cowboys kept them at arm’s length to secure the win.

In a blemish for the Cowboys, they lost young-gun back-rower Heilum Luki to a suspected ACL injury in the first half.

AAP

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