Wests Tigers’ hopes of ending a 14-year finals drought have been extinguished, after the North Queensland Cowboys scored three late tries to snatch a thrilling 34-28 win.
Needing a win to stay in contention for the finals, the Tigers looked on track for victory when they held a 12-point lead with 15 minutes to play.
But Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater orchestrated a magnificent comeback from the Cowboys, who scored three tries in a stunning six-minute stretch to sour the mood of the big crowd at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers’ defeat was compounded by the loss of halfback Adam Doueihi, who was taken to hospital after a nasty collision in the first half.
Tigers five-eighth Jarome Luai described the loss, which ended their finals hopes, as disappointing.
“Hopefully, as a team we can take a lot out of that,” he told ABC Sport.
“We’ve still got two more weeks of footy, and yeah, disappointed with where we are.”
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos moved to fifth on the NRL ladder and earned a berth in the NRL finals with a 46-12 win over the Newcastle Knights.
Brisbane made a fast start with two tries in the opening eight minutes, but were tested by the Knights, who sit 16th on the ladder.
Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh played a starring role in the Broncos’ blistering second half, highlighted by a 65-metre individual try.
Look back at all the action in our live blog below, and check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre.
Key Events
That is all for the blog this evening
This is where we will leave the live coverage today.
The Brisbane Broncos have secured their place in the NRL finals, while Wests Tigers have had their dreams of the top eight dashed.
Keep up to date with all the sport news from across the country and around with the world on the ABC Sport website.
Jarome Luai speaks to ABC Sport after Tigers lose to Cowboys
Wests Tigers had a 12-point lead with 15 minutes to play, but three late tries to the Cowboys resulted in a North Queensland win.
The loss ends Wests’ slim chances of making the finals series.
Jarome Luai spoke to ABC Sport’s John Gibbs after the disappointing afternoon.
“Hopefully, as a team we can take a lot out of that,” he says.
“We’ve still got two more weeks of footy, and yeah, disappointed with where we are.”
When asked about the loss of halves partner Adam Doueihi, Luai said his absence was no excuse for losing the match.
“We were two tries up without AD. We’ve got to close that one out a lot better,” he says.
“I thought our defence wasn’t up to scratch with where we wanted it to be.”
FULL-TIME: North Queensland Cowboys 34 def. Wests Tigers 28
— reporting by AAP
Wests Tigers’ hopes of a fairytale first finals berth in 13 years are in tatters after a demoralising 34-28 loss to North Queensland at Leichhardt Oval.
After the Sydney Roosters’ loss to Parramatta blew the race for eighth spot open, the Tigers looked ready to stay in the hunt on Sunday when they led 28-16 in the final 15 minutes.
Mid-season recruit Taylan May had nabbed two tries to help erase a 10-0 first-half deficit, before Jarome Luai celebrated his 150th NRL game with a first Tigers four-pointer that had the home fans ballistic.
But with his side seemingly down for the count, fullback Scott Drinkwater orchestrated a skirmish that yielded three tries in five minutes for a Cowboys side with nothing to play for — as far as finals were concerned.
The heartbroken Tigers’ own finals hopes are now hinging on a miracle, given their for-and-against is significantly worse than the other three teams vying for the last remaining top-eight spot.
The only way the Tigers can secure a first finals spot since 2011 is to win their next two games and hope the Roosters lose of both theirs.
The margins of those four results will need to be 46 points on average, and the Tigers are also relying on the Dolphins and Manly’s games falling their way.
Making matters worse, the Tigers look set to be without their form player Adam Doueihi for next week’s already difficult clash against Canberra.
The halfback left Leichhardt Oval in an ambulance with suspected facial fractures after colliding with the knee of Cowboys veteran Jason Taumalolo early in the first half.
The Tigers’ quest for late points was rocked when Latu Fainu, Doueihi’s replacement at number 7, left the field for a HIA in the final 15 minutes.
The Cowboys looked down for the count when Luai and Brent Naden scored in back-to-back sets for the Tigers with around 20 minutes to play.
But Semi Valemei, after a tough day defensively, crossed in the right corner to give the Cowboys a sniff, before Drinkwater’s cutout pass to Braidon Burns helped the Cowboys draw level.
Working upfield again, Drinkwater belted past Brent Naden and had Jaxon Purdue in support, with the wiry youngster restoring the Cowboys’ lead.
The Tigers had one final raid in the dying minutes but Jahream Bula’s offload landed in the hands of Cowboys forward Reuben Cotter and the visitors held on.
77′ Tigers pressing as Cowboys hold on
Wests Tigers had a golden chance get the score they need to level the scores.
Wests have a scrum, 30 metres from the Cowboys line.
DROP.
Wests drop the footy on the first play.
North Queensland are able to march downfield and turn the ball over on the Tigers’ goal line.
71′ TRY: Cowboys make it a triple treat and take the lead
It’s three tries in three sets of six for the Cowboys.
Jaxon Purdue has scored in the left corner.
The Tigers are stunned.
They have not touched the footy for about five minutes, and the Cowboys have scored three tries in that time.
Fullback Scott Drinkwater threw a dummy and sliced through the Tigers’ line.
Drinkwater drew in the fullback and passed to Purdue, who scored in the corner.
Drinkwater, again, successfully kicks the conversion from the sideline.
Cowboys 34
Tigers 28
10 MINUTES TO GO: Tigers 28 — Cowboys 28
68′ TRY: Cowboys go bang, BANG
The North Queensland Cowboys have gone back-to-back.
Braidon Burns has scored in the left corner.
The visitors run the ball on fifth tackle down the short side.
Burns is taken down in a terrific tackle, but he was able to reach out and score the try.
Scott Drinkwater now has a conversion kick from the left sideline — AND HE NAILS IT.
Tigers 28
Cowboys 28
66′ TRY: Cowboys strike back as Valemei scores a second
North Queensland needed a quick reply, and they got it.
A repeat set at the Tigers’ line allowed the Cowboys to build pressure.
With space on the right flank, the Cowboys shifted the ball to the wing and Semi Valemei scored in the corner.
Scott Drinkwater nails the conversion from the sideline.
Tigers 28
Cowboys 22
62′ TRY: Tigers go bang, BANG and Brent Naden scores
The Cowboys have suffered another defensive lapse, and the Tigers strike again.
Tigers playmaker Latu Fainu put up a high kick.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater runs towards the ball, lets it bounce, and a flying Brent Naden races through to collect the footy and score under the posts.
Tigers 28
Cowboys 16
60′ TRY: Jarome Luai scores to give Tigers the lead
Wests Tigers have retaken the lead, after North Queensland’s right-edge defence suffered a complete failure.
Jarome Luai passes out the back to his fullback Jahream Bula.
Cowboys centre Viliami Vailea misread the play and watched Bula slice through.
Bula has teammates left and right. He passes right and Luai scores under the posts.
It is a try for Luai in his 150th NRL match.
Tigers 22
Cowboys 16
49′ TRY: Tom Dearden picks up a loose ball and scores for the Cowboys
Tom Dearden has scored against the run of play, and the North Queensland Cowboys are back level.
Taylan May dropped the ball in a tackle by Semi Valemei.
Dearden picked the ball up and ran 35 metres to score under the posts.
Tigers 16
Cowboys 16
HT: Wests Tigers 16 leading North Queensland Cowboys 10
The Tigers fans are giving their team a standing ovation.
They have a six-point half-time lead with one of the finest rugby league tries scored this season.
Maybe in the past 20 years.
The Cowboys started well, but it has been all Tigers in the final 20 minutes.
38′ TRY: Tigers score one of the great NRL tries
That try was as good as the Raiders’ game-winner on Friday!
The Cowboys looked set to score, but Reece Robson dropped the ball going for the line.
The was picked up by the Tigers, and an offload to Jarome Luai has the Tigers on the attack.
Luai gets the balls to Taylan May who runs towards halfway.
May is headed to the sideline and produces a flick pass, just like Benji in the 2005 grand final, to Sunia Turuva.
Turuva goes over halfway. He beats one, beats two, beats three.
The winger is over the 30m and beats a FOURTH.
Turuva passes to fullback to Jahream Bula who scores.
YES, YES, YES.
Ambulance called for Tigers player Adam Doueihi
ABC Sport sideline eye John Gibbs has reported that an ambulance has been called for Wests Tigers player Adam Doueihi.
Doueihi was left lying on the ground after reeling out of an attempted tackle on Cowboys prop Jason Taumalolo.
Doueihi was treated by three medics before being able to walk off the field under his own power.
But it has been decided that the Tiger needs to be checked over at a hospital.
Fox Sports is reporting that Doueihi has suffered an injury to his eye socket.
25′ TRY: May scores a double for the Tigers
Great vision from Jarome Luai.
After receiving the ball at first receiver, he goes straight back towards the ruck, which is near the sideline.
He catches out the Cowboys defence, who were not expecting the ball coming back towards them.
Two passes later, Taylan May crosses over in the left corner.
Tigers 10
Cowboys 10
21′ NO TRY: Scott Drinkwater pulls off the perfect try-saving tackle
Every fan at Leichhardt Oval thought the Tigers were going to score.
Prop forward Fonua Pole charged through a hole close to the goal line.
But fullback Scott Drinkwater, giving up at least four weight classes, cuts down the big man with the perfect legs tackle just one metre from the line.
Pole, out of instinct, then promotes the footy to score, but it’s a double movement.
He knows it too, putting his hands on his head in disbelief.
20′ Adam Doueihi ruled out
18′ TRY: Tigers get their first try
Wests Tigers centre Taylan May has scored in the left corner.
The Tigers were gifted a penalty for high contact while attacking the Cowboys’ goal line.
The Tigers took the quick tap, to apply more pressure on the Cowboys.
That pressure pays off as Cowboys winger Semi Valemei rushes out of the line, misses May, and the Tigers score.
Cowboys 10
Tigers 4
15′ Adam Doueihi is being treated in the middle of the field
It’s a bad sight at Leichhardt Oval.
Adam Doueihi is being treated by a trio of trainers after coming off second best, trying to tackle Jason Taumalolo.
Doueihi is walking slowly off the field and will go for a Head Injury Assessment.
As he goes off, Taumalolo approaches to offer his hand and an encouraging word. A really classy act.
10′ TRY: Cowboys score a second
Semi Valemei has scored in the right corner for the Cowboys, after a terrific run by Jaxon Purdue the play before.
Purdue beat several defenders and created a linebreak up the middle of Leichhardt Oval.
Purdue then gave the ball to Scott Drinkwater, who was cut down in a great tackle.
But the Tigers’ defence is in all sorts, and the Cowboys pass to the right wing for Valemei to score in the corner.
Cowboys 10
Tigers 0
www.abc.net.au (Article Sourced Website)
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