Tom Dearden influences Cowboys to gritty win over Bulldogs

An inspiring last 10 minutes from North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden has actually offered the Cowboys an important 20-18 home win over Canterbury that has actually enhanced their last hopes. No. 6 Dearden, among Queensland’s finest in their State of Origin series decider loss on Wednesday night, supported with a gritty and expert efficiency on Sunday. The Cowboys tracked by 2 with 9 minutes staying when Dearden broke away 50m out and discovered novice centre Jaxon Purdue in assistance. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today North Queensland hung on, with Dearden putting a substantial hit on Canterbury forward Josh Curran to remove the ball at a defining moment in the closing phases. The win kept the Cowboys in 8th position on 24 points, with Canterbury in 6th on the very same variety of points however with a much better for and versus. Both sides had State of Origin agents supporting, with the Cowboys quintet of Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai, Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson taking the field. Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton likewise played after being an important part of the NSW series win. There was issue for Crichton in the 14th minute when he lost sensation in his best shoulder when burrowing towards the tryline. He was on the ground for a number of minutes in the hands of fitness instructors before continuing. In the next set, Bulldogs five-eighth Toby Sexton put in a completely weighted grubber kick for forward Josh Curran to race through to rating. Sexton laid on a near reproduction of that effort for Bronson Xeri to plant it down and offer the visitors a 12-8 lead. The Cowboys had actually opened the scoring when second-rower Heilum Luki spotted away after Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz dropped a Scott Drinkwater bomb. Canterbury lost fullback Blake Wilson to the sin-bin early in the 2nd half for an expert nasty and Luki crashed over for his 2nd shot. Kiraz offseted his earlier mistake when he jumped above Holmes to snaffle a deft Matt Burton bomb and rating in the 55th minute. The Bulldogs led 12-8 at halftime. They had actually won the previous 15 encounters with the Cowboys when leading at the break however on this event North Queensland revealed a lot of durability in defence to dominate.

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