Cowboys Round Up the Sea Eagles

The North Queensland Cowboys have scored a thrilling come from behind victory this afternoon at Brookvale Oval defeating the Manly Sea Eagles 26-24 on the back of a Ty Williams try in the final minute of the game.

Williams scored a hat-trick of tries, one of which could go down as the try of the season, but his most important touch down came in the 79th minute when he scooped up an Aaron Payne grubber to steal the win and break the Sea Eagles hearts.

Manly had looked certain to pick up their first win in more than a month when winger Chris Hicks crossed just three minutes from full time to inch the home side ahead, but the Cowboys were able to grab possession back from a short kick off to give themselves one last opportunity for the victory.

For long stages of the game the Sea Eagles looked the likely victors leading 18-6 at half time and still clinging to a two point advantage with 16 minutes to go, but an inspirational piece of play from the light stepping Matt Bowen and the fleet footed Williams in the 64th minute saw the Cowboys retake the lead after they had earlier led 6-0 after scoring the opening try of the game.

The Cowboys star fullback looked certain to be pinned in his own in goal area after fielding a Michael Monaghan bomb, but he was able to throw a miracle pass to Williams who managed to slip by a lunging Steve Menzies before fending off a desperate Brett Stewart to score an amazing 107 metre try.

North Queensland started the game full of fire and brimstone and their efforts were rewarded with a typical counter attacking Cowboys try that saw five eighth Johnathan Thurston toe through a loose ball that he then scooped up before sending a perfect ball inside to a flying Williams who raced away to score his first of the match.

Going behind seemed to spur the Sea Eagles into action and they quickly hit back with tries to Terry Hill and Paul Stephenson that saw them go in front 8-6, but it could have been more if not for some wayward goal kicking from Luke Williamson.

Manly forged further ahead with a converted try to replacement forward Kylie Leuluai and they struck another blow as the halftime siren sounded with Ben Kennedy getting his arm free and offloading to Stewart who burned over the final 50 metres to give the Sea Eagles a handy 12 point buffer at the break.

North Queensland got themselves back into the contest with two tries in the opening 13 minutes of the second half and after a late scare were able to pick up the valuable two competition points that now see them move into fourth position on the NRL ladder.

After their fifth loss in a row Manly would have expected to drop out of the top eight for the first time this season, but with results going their way over the weekend they were actually able to move up one spot into seventh position, but with a game against the table topping Broncos looming large next Sunday afternoon the Sea Eagles days in the elite eight could be numbered.

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