Sin-binning stuns players and NRL experts
Updated ,first published
Brisbane: North Queensland sent two players to the sin bin, including a controversial professional foul call on Reuben Cotter, but put up a tremendous fightback to upset a good old-fashioned Magic Round against the Sydney Roosters.
The Cowboys prevailed 18-12 but had to do it the hard way, especially when Cotter was scrapped in the 55th minute for pinning Sam Walker on goal after kicking the ball.
“I don’t think so [it was a sin-bin]play at real pace, I don’t think I should be sent off; Cotter told Fox Sports after the match: “It may be a penalty, but it’s definitely not a sin bin.”
“The kids got to work and it was the most gratifying thing to see.”
The decision stunned commentators, and constant replays in slow motion made the fight look even worse.
“They come at the same time [at the ball]Greg Alexander said: Fox Sports. “[The sin-bin] It was a step too far. The game is not played in super slow motion.”
The Roosters wasted little time after the sin-bin, with half Sam Walker playing a fine ball to Hugo Savala who scored a minute later for the Bondi club to get back to within six points.
But the Cowboys dug deep to get a well-deserved win, winning seven of their last nine games.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten, who was left without a contract despite his club’s strong start to the season, said he was proud of his team’s effort.
“This is as good a win as I’ve had in six years as head coach at this club,” he said.
When asked about Cotter’s transgression, Payten said match officials should not have watched the footage in slow motion.
“I think if you slow it down like they did, it would be very difficult to make the right decision,” he said. “I’m just asking them [officials] To watch at normal speed. “If you slow him down like that, you’ll see there’s something wrong with him.”
The Roosters were looking for a seventh successive win and got their way when winger Cody Ramsey scored the first try, before Cowboy Matt Lodge was sent off after firing a high shot past Lindsay Collins.
But the Roosters were off the pace and the loss of winger Daniel Tupou in the opening minutes did not help. Backup winger Junior Pauga was hooked after a series of mistakes, including getting stuck in goal when he hoped a Cowboys kick would go over the dead-ball line.
Ramsey was brought back into action when he came off the field for a head injury evaluation.
There was plenty of Origin excitement surrounding the Roosters heading into the clash and several of the leading contenders did not have their best night.
NSW full-back hopeful James Tedesco had a few forgettable moments in the first half and put too much emphasis on kicks when his side were on the attack in the second half. Former Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans was fair if not great, while Maroons hopeful Walker improved as the game went on but was still behind his usual on-air performance.
Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford, who is also tipped as the Maroons’ bolter, outplayed his rivals.
The Roosters are genuine title contenders, but they are guilty of slowing down the tempo in games and producing mediocre performances like the ones they showed at Suncorp Stadium.
Tedesco did well to make a successful captaincy challenge when he spotted Walker struggling off the ball as he tried to re-gather one of his own strikes just before half-time.
This gave Cherry-Evans a two-point field goal attempt, but he missed it.
After Ramsey’s try and then Lodge’s 10-minute break, the Cowboys began to find their rhythm.
The ever-improving Tom Chester and Reed Mahoney did well to get Savala into touch when Tedesco fell short to the makeshift winger.
A few minutes later Braidon Burns dived into the right corner. Burns made his Cowboys debut as a late call-up for Kyle Feldt, who was injured in the Magic Round a few years ago.
Another Tedesco error invited the Cowboys back into attack and Cherry-Evans and Rob Toia soon had a second with Scott Drinkwater on the perfect spot when he took a kick from Cows debutant Liam Sutton.
Burns then had a second in the Magic Round as the first upset was on the cards. On a tough night for the wingers, Burns was unable to complete the match due to a hamstring injury.
Munster and Grant stand tall in error festival
The long-range try involving Queensland duo Harry Grant and Cameron Munster was one of the few standout moments in what can be described as an ugly, error-filled contest against Parramatta.
The Storm won 34-8, but it was certainly the most disappointing showing for the fans who bothered to stick around for Saturday’s final game.
Grant was on his best plan when he ran 30 meters before passing on to Munster, who then linked up with fellow danger men Jahrome Hughes and Sua Fa’alogo to put Jack Howarth aside for an entertaining four-pointer midway through the first half.
The second best moment was when Fa’alogo raced up the field, then passed to Munster’s Grant to score under the posts.
Unfortunately there wasn’t much to get excited about. Both teams struggled to keep possession of the ball, bounce passes back and forth and did their best to convert the locals into Brisbane Lions fans.
Storm spinner Davvy Moale struck the ball in the first over from the second-half kick-off, then Parramatta’s Brian Kelly dropped the ball to deny any scoring opportunity in the next set.
When Fa’alogo made a mistake midway through the second half, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had seen enough and charged into the back of the box, much to the amusement of the crowd.
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