NRL Saturday scoreboard
Posted:
2024-09-14 04:42:20
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-14/nrl-finals-live-updates-storm-sharks-cowboys-knights/104336546
North Queensland are through 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.
The 73rd-minute Cotter-try in Townsville 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 an Knights captain Kalyn Ponga dived for the ball, which the Bunker showed Cotter won the race too.
Fellow Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden then iced the win to set up a knockout final with Cronulla in Sydney on Friday night.
Skipper Ponga 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.
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.
That is where we will leave the ABC Sport live blog
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
The Cowboys march on in September
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
Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter joins ABC Sport
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.