​Johnathan Thurston once quipped Mitchell Pearce was "the worst NSW halfback ever seen". Further, if he wanted to touch the State of Origin shield he better find Wally Lewis' statue outside Suncorp Stadium. Pronto.
What Pearce might have whispered into Thurston's ear in this latest battle is anyone's guess. But if he mentioned something along the lines of JT getting used to that NRL premiership trophy because he won't have it much longer then not many would have argued. The Cowboys' premiership defence is faltering after the 22-10 loss. And fast.
That its latest blow was struck by a couple of NSW types so scorned come Origin time from a team with only the hapless Newcastle below them would have left an even bitter taste in the mouth.
But Pearce and Blake Ferguson, with little more than pride to play for in a Roosters side so underwhelming until the last month, cast the latest and biggest doubt over how Paul Green can arrest a slide which has every hallmark of a new premier being crowned in October.
The Cowboys - second best for almost all of a 22-10Â loss to the second-from-bottom Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday - could be four points shy of the top four come the end of the round. They will have a mountain to climb to get back into the double chance reckoning with just three games left.
Pearce, all bar dropping the ball over the line for what would have been the sealer mid-way through the second half, was peerless. Ferguson, as destructive on opponents as the scoreboard, was every bit as good.
They'll be more than nuisance value to premiership hopefuls Cronulla and Brisbane in the last three weeks of the regular season.
The signs were there early on. It took Ferguson all of four minutes to inflict another painful reminder of why Justin O'Neill hasn't been fond of playing in Sydney lately, accidentally collecting the Cowboys centre in the head as Ferguson menacingly chimed into a threatening Roosters attack.
It sparked memories of O'Neill being groggy and not dragged from the field in State of Origin I when play was stopped when he was steamrolled by Josh Mansour, much to the ire of angry NSW officials.
O'Neill regathered himself and played on and it was a head knock with more dire consequences to his opposite number Dale Copley which triggered the first score.
The former Brisbane speedster was out cold after placing his head in an awkward spot trying to haul down Michael Morgan, the Cowboys scoring barely 30 seconds after Copley was helped from the field when the durable Ethan Lowe crashed over. Copley's day was done then and there. And so was the Cowboys' it would turn out.
It was all Roosters thereafter. To the point the knockout blow was almost landed before half-time. And more to the point all Pearce.
The maligned Roosters No.7 shovelled the last pass to Copley's replacement Ryan Matterson and Boyd Cordner for two of the Tricolours' three first-half tries, the other when he cannily elected to run on the last play which allowed Shaun Kenny-Dowall to twirl his way over.
A rejuvenated Cowboys should have been expected to rebound after the break. Instead Daniel Tupou swatted away feeble attempts at a tackle. The subsequent play had Latrell Mitchell scorching downfield on the end of a deft Kenny-Dowall pass.
Eventually - long after most had expected - the Cowboys revived their hopes through Kane Linnett. And they pushed. And they prodded. And the Roosters still held firm.
All the while whispering sweet nothings in Thurston's ear. He might want to savour the last month or so with that premiership trophy.
Sydney Roosters 22 (Ryan Matterson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell tries; Mitchell 3 goals) defeated North Queensland Cowboys 10 (Ethan Lowe, Kane Linnett tries; Johnathan Thurston goal) at Allianz Stadium. Referees: Jared Maxwell, Gavin Reynolds. Crowd: 8760.
0 comments
New User? Sign up