Tom Dearden delivered a five-star display which could be enough to get him the Queensland No.7 jersey but it was just enough to get the Cowboys home against Wests Tigers on Saturday night.
Dearden scored a try and was in everything as North Queensland nearly blew a 32-6 lead as they repelled a late four-try blitz by the Tigers to hang on 32-38.
After the Maroons’ 18-6 loss to NSW on Wednesday night there have been calls for Dearden to be elevated to starting halfback at the expense of skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and he did his cause no harm at all at QCB Stadium.
His blond shock of hair bobbed up all over the place in the thrilling win.
Maroons teammate Jeremiah Nanai should be banned from Origin II after he was placed on report for a crusher tackle on Tigers five-eighth Heath Mason.
As Mason was twisted to the ground in a two-man tackle, Nanai lost his legs and brought his torso down hard on the back of his opponent’s neck in an ugly incident which should have earned him a trip to the sin bin.
Based on similar tackles this season, Nanai should cop a grade-two charge which would mean he would likely miss the second match in Perth on June 18 unless he can prove his innocence at the judiciary.
The match looked over heading into the final 20 minutes with the Cowboys up by 26 but after Starford To’a touched down for his second try, Heath Mason scored from the second play from the kick-off.
Wests winger Charlie Staines and Jahream Bula then crossed to make it a four-point margin heading into the final five minutes but the Cowboys survived by the skin of their teeth.
Des not happy with crucial Bunker call
It’s a testament to the high expectations of Melbourne that they are running second with easily the best for and against record in the NRL and they still haven’t hit their straps.
Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen admitted as much on Saturday after they motored to a 28-16 triumph over the Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium.
“We’ve got a few gears and it’s trying to identify which one we want to be associated with,” he told Fox League.
“It’s a luxury to have but sometimes we’re a bit confused what mode to go into and that’s when it looks a bit jumbled up.”
In driving rain the Storm shone through in the end despite the Titans getting the jump on them when Jayden Campbell scored after just five minutes.
A double to fleet-footed winger Sua Fa’alogo and a crucial strike just before half-time by Tyran Wishart gave the visitors a 16-6 advantage.
Phil Sami cut the gap to six points eight minutes into the second half before Grant Anderson crossed twice in the space of six minutes midway through the term to seal Melbourne’s seventh win of the season from 11 starts.
The home side felt hard done by when they were denied a try in the 64th minute, only for the Storm to score immediately after.
Melbourne players Joe Chan and Shawn Blore were caught up on the ground at the ruck and dummy half Sam Verrills picked up the ball and dived over the line.
But after a review, Bunker official Kasey Badger ruled he touched Fa’asuamaleaui’s leg on the way through, which impeded Ryan Papenhuyzen in defence.
“I thought it was the wrong decision,” Titans coach Des Hasler fumed.
“That was word for word what the NRL sent out so I’ll be interested to see what the explanation was. Kasey got it wrong, again.
“In saying that I still think we had opportunities in the game.
“We’ve got ourselves to blame a little bit.”
Anderson then intercepted the ball as the Titans attacked the line and raced 90 metres for a 12-point swing.
Sami grabbed his second try soon after but by then the margin proved too big for Gold Coast to peg back.
Melbourne went into the match without Harry Grant and Xavier Coates after the Maroons duo were rested following Wednesday night’s Origin loss to NSW but Cameron Munster, Trent Loeiro and Xavier Coates backed up and centre Jack Howarth made a strong return from a shoulder injury.
Gold Coast were without the services of AJ Brimson after he suffered a head knock at training but their Maroons trio of Beau Fermor, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Mo Fotuaika managed to turn out despite the short turnaround.
The Titans’ eighth loss kept the pressure on coach Des Hasler with the team languishing in second last on the ladder.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who said before the match he was likely to make a decision on his coaching future next week, looked far from happy with the performance.
While wet weather didn’t make it easy for either side, ill-discipline and errors meant Melbourne struggled to shake the Titans, with a furious Bellamy up out of his seat a number of times, storming into the back of the coach’s box.
with AAP
