NRL live scores: Cowboys vs Knights After the Magic Round thriller, North Queensland are looking to regroup.

 

 

HALF-TIME: The Knights tie the game after a poor start.

After falling behind 18-0, the Knights clawed their way back into the game against the Cowboys by halftime, aided by two sin binnings.

Frizell’s loose arm was binned by Taumalolo.

It’s a clash of titans!

Jason Taumalolo was sent to the bench for a loose arm that clipped Knights star Tyson Frizell high across the face, the latest punishment under the league’s new foul play policy.

As blood poured from his noise, Frizell was left a bloodied mess, and Taumalolo was promptly thrown out.

“A broken nose for Tyson, that was a high tackle from Taumalolo,” said league legend Billy Slater on the sidelines.

“He’s opened up here Frizell,” said caller number nine Peter Psaltis.

The Knights didn’t need another chance to get back into the game, as they capitalised on their extra man to score their second try of the night.

The Cowboys’ woes were compounded minutes later when Lachlan Burr accompanied Taumalolo to the bin, leaving the Queenslanders with 11 guys.

 The Cowboys make the Knights pay for their ‘weak defence.’

For the Knights in Townsville, it’s a bit of a shocker to begin with.

The Cowboys scored first with a daring play down the left flank, but they were helped along the way by some shocking Newcastle defence.

The Cowboys were able to get around the Knights’ edge by shifting the ball quickly across their line. The Knights’ inability to stop Murray Taulagi’s casual run down the left flank and slalom over the line looked particularly flimsy.

“Geez, poor defence there at the end,” said NRL legend Billy Slater.

“I must say, you have to make those tackles; it was a bit desperate at the end, and you need to make those.”

“They attacked that inexperienced right side, they’ve never played together before, caught them off guard,” NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler added.

Why Drinkwater breakdown is exactly what Cowboys want to see

Scott Drinkwater’s tearful post-game interview after the Cowboys’ loss to the Roosters in Magic Round, according to NRL legend Darren Lockyer, is a positive sign for coach Todd Payten and his team.

Drinkwater was a key player in Saturday night’s Magic Round thriller, scoring two tries and leading the Cowboys to within two points of a rally against the Tricolours after they were down 18 points early.

Despite their efforts, the Cowboys would finally fall apart in a 30-16 defeat, and an emotional Drinkwater took full responsibility for a crucial play in which he pushed an extra pass.

“With about 18 minutes to go, we were down by six, so I took a short side down there and probably threw a pass that missed,” Drinkwater told Nine.

“I probably shouldn’t have thrown that, but I did, and it was the last opportunity we had in their half.”

“We were thrown in the bin the next time we came down here, and we’ve been coming out of our back end since then. I’m disappointed because we’re still down by six points if I don’t throw that pass, and if I don’t throw that pass, we’re still down by six points.”

Lockyer said it’s refreshing to see players “hurt” as he commented on Drinkwater’s development in the NRL ahead of the Cowboys’ match against the Knights tonight.

“It shows he’s a competitor, he wants to win, and he cares about the spot,” Lockyer said.

“I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow, we’ve got another Billy,’ as Scott filled in for Billy Slater at the Storm when he made his debut.” So, there’s no question about his ability, and I believe he’ll learn how to play a game and win games as he gains experience.

“But seeing him hurt like that after the game is a sign of a player who strives to improve. And I believe that if a player has skill and talent, which he does, but he hurts like that after a loss – that’s a great outcome for a coach. “