Cowboys put a noose on the Storm

The North Queensland Cowboys have held off a late charge from the Melbourne Storm to win 24-16 and qualify for the NRL preliminary final for the second year in succession.

After rushing to a 16-nil lead, the Cowboys faced some anxious moments as the Storm reduced the margin to only two points with eleven minutes left on the clock.

But David Faiumu touched down with minutes remaining to book his side an appointment with minor premiers Parramatta next Sunday afternoon. While the Cowboys have replicated last season's finals performance, which fell agonisingly short of a grand final appearance, the Storm have also matched their 2004 finish with defeat in the second week of the finals after beating the Broncos in Brisbane during the opening week.

Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston led the way for the victors, greatly supported by powerhouse forwards Paul Rauhihi and Luke O'Donnell. The Cowboys scored three tries between the 11th and 22nd minute, winger Ty Williams running in two four-pointers in quick succession, including a 50-metre intercept try from a Scott Hill pass, with Matt Bowen the other tryscorer.

Melbourne came close to scoring on a few occasions but were unable to open their account in the first half, Greg Inglis denied after crossing the line and efforts by Steve Bell and Matt King falling short of the line. Storm captain Robbie Kearns dropped out of the side before the match, unable to recover from a shoulder injury, and his teammates seemed lost for inspiration in his absence during the opening half.

But Melbourne countered in the second with Bell awarded a try in the 47th minute, though television replays revealed the Storm centre lost possession before grounding the ball and could consider himself fortunate that referee Paul Simpkins made the ruling on the try without consulting the video referee.

Johnathan Thurston managed a one-on-one strip of the ball from Melbourne winger Jake Webster and from the next set, the Cowboys earned a penalty for Thurston to extend the lead to 18-6. Cameron Smith came close to closing the gap when he burrowed over the line but Matt Sing stripped him of the ball and, somehow, was rewarded with a 20-metre restart.

With twenty minutes left, the Storm ran on the last tackle and using the entire width of the field, produced a dazzling movement for King to score an amazing try. Matt Orford missed the conversion but were within reach of the Cowboys at 18-10. But the Storm halfback scooted over in the 69th minute to give his side a real chance to snatch an unlikely victory.

But the Cowboys regained their composure in the vital final minutes, pinpoint kicking trapping a desperate Melbourne in their own half of the field before replacement player Faiumu delivered the knockout blow.

For Melbourne, defeat signalled the end of a great career for representative forward and club captain Kearns as well as farewelling the Manly-bound pair of Orford and Bell. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have the opportunity to go one step further than last season and earn an historic berth in the 2005 NRL decider.

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