Cowboys 10 Storm 12
JOHNATHAN THURSTON'S hands have helped Australia more often than not. However, last night they may have dealt his country a blow.
With a stray flick of a Thurston finger, fullback Billy Slater's Test hopes were thrown into doubt. Needing only to get through the game to earn his first Australian jumper, Slater lasted just over a quarter of the match.
He was forced to sit on the sidelines with a towel over his closed-over right eye as his teammates held on to continue their success in Queensland - and continue Michael Crocker's unbeaten run in a Melbourne jumper.
Slater's injury looked nasty, and though he wasn't stitched up immediately, there were fears last night that he had suffered nerve damage. His rival for the Test fullback jersey, Brett Stewart, suffered a cut which required stitches under his eye against the Bulldogs last night, too. An eye for an eye, indeed. To complicate matters, Matt Bowen had an indifferent night, leaving Australian selectors to suddenly thumb down the list of potential No.1s when previously their options were well known.
In between all that, there was a pretty good game to consider.
After Melbourne took an early 6-0 lead through Greg Inglis, the Cowboys dominated the next 40 minutes. However, they continually dropped the ball in the attacking zone. The Storm kept their lead until weight of possession - not to mention a 7-1 penalty count - finally counted against them when winger John Williams crossed.
Thurston failed to convert and, as Melbourne generally do, they made the Cowboys pay for their wastefulness. Israel Folau scored from a Crocker pass, and after Smith converted from near touch, the visitors had increased their advantage.
But the Cowboys weren't done. With 11 minutes left, winger Mark Henry scored, and Thurston bent it like … Thurston … from touch to put his side within two again.
As they had done for most of the game, the Cowboys dominated the final moments, but when Williams was bundled into touch by Anthony Quinn and Will Chambers, the contest was over.
A tight finish completely at odds with their last meeting.
Last season, the Storm swamped the Cowboys on the same ground, streaking to a 40-4 half-time lead before winning 58-12.
The Storm's strong start was little surprise given that they had flown straight to Townsville from Canberra after their clash with the Raiders last Monday night to dampen the effects of the five-day turnaround.
But then came the moment that put Slater's Test ascendancy in doubt.
GUS'S VERDICT
THE Storm's win, under the most trying circumstances, rates as one of the greatest I have ever seen.
Courtesy of a lopsided 11-2 penalty count, the Cowboys had the lion's share of possession and all the field position. The Storm refused to buckle under the pressure and kept turning them away with the most courageous defensive effort you could ever witness.
They lost their best player, Billy Slater, to injury in the first half. They were forced to tackle themselves to a standstill in the steamy North Queensland conditions. They truly are a champion team.
MELBOURNE 12 (G Inglis I Folau tries C Smith 2 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 10 (J Williams M Henry tries J Thurston goal) at Dairy Farmers Stadium. Referee: G Badger. Crowd: 24,053
