Live NRL 2017: Canberra Raiders take on North Queensland Cowboys after Cronulla, Manly record victories

Things I learned this afternoon and tonight: 1. How to spell Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad; 2. The Raiders aren't good this year; 3. The Warriors are as bad as I thought. Hope you enjoyed #stupidsaturday. Here's the podcast on autoplay! Don't forget to pick up a copy of Touchstones!

NORTH Queensland unveiled a sparkling new halves combination when new signing Te Maire Martin scored a double in the mostly-comfortable win over Canberra.

Played in freezing temperatures, this was a game the Cowboys almost always looked like winning despite the loss of talismanic captain Johnathan Thurston for the rest of the year due to a shoulder injury.

The halves scored four tries between them with Michael Morgan dominating the contest by either setting up or scoring them.

COMMENT: The Raiders' season is pretty much over.

A win on debut for Te Maire Martin at the @nthqldcowboys!
#NRLRaidersCowboys#NRL pic.twitter.com/se9wV3lVhC

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

Canberra centre Joey Leilua is in the sin bin for illegal use of an elbow. The Raiders will finish the game with 12 men. North Queensland 31-18.

Michael Morgan is legs-tackled 10 metres short of the line and pops the ball up perfectly for Te Maire Martin who posts his second try. This looks like being a pretty handy combination for the Cowboys, their seventh in the halves this year. Ethan Lowe should eat this conversion for dinner .... and he does. North Queensland 31-18.

A masterclass by @michaelmorgan00, a double for Martin! #NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/HEe7ydZeKH

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

Nick Contric is surely a future Test star. He makes a break out of nothing and the 18 year old winger streaks away to score, with Aiden Sezer converting. North Queensland 25-18.

The youngest Raider steps up! 👏#NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/0iGob4rEJa

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

And Michael Morgan gets a double. He kicks for himself, the ball beats Jack Wighton, and he wins the race. The bunker is consulted to make sure he groudned the ball cleanly and that he did. Ethan Lowe adds the extras. North Queensland 25-12.

Vision of the @nthqldcowboys Try decision in the 58th minute of #NRLRaidersCowboys.#NRL pic.twitter.com/CXJTgAJ6hA

— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) July 1, 2017

Jason Taumalolo's offload in front of the Raiders' posts was just too good, with Te Maire Martin quickly shovelling the ball onto Michael Morgan who scores. There was a Raiders error immediately beforehand. Lowe converts. The crowd is 10,266. North Queensland 19-12.

Try time for @michaelmorgan00!#NRLRaidersCowboys 12-19 after 56 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/ab6SWNXtLw

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

And the news comes through that Jarrod Croker has failed his HIA test and won't be back. Canberra on the attack. Joe Tapine finds his way across the line! Joseph Leilua's overload in heavy, heavey traffic did the damage with the former Newcastle Knight diving over near the posts. Aiden Sezer is doing the kicking and it's an easy one for him. North Queensland 13-12.

Jarrod Croker wont return tonight after failing HIA, worry also for knee injury. If from impact, fracture/sublux worry. 2nd incident unclear pic.twitter.com/foOwIUmrMa

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 1, 2017

NORTH Queensland are so-far, so-good in the post-Thurston campaign as they hold a seven point lead over Canberra at chilly GIO Stadium.

The Raiders' only try of the first half was contentious, with The Bunker appearing to rule that winger Jordan Rapana did not touch the ball before lock Elliott Whithead touched down when replays suggested he did touch it.

But the Cowboys have ground their way to the lead with tries to winger Antonio Winterstein and midweek recruit Te Maire Martin.

COMMENT: Canberra can't blame poor luck for the situation they are in at halftime. Their only try was dubious and their opponents are just outplaying them.

Hear from Jake Granville at HT of #NRLRaidersCowboys.#NRL pic.twitter.com/xlbf513AYA

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

That'll do. Cootey field goal to round out half #NRLRaidersCowboys #ridemcowboys pic.twitter.com/Fr6H4XHglz

— NQ Cowboys (@nthqldcowboys) July 1, 2017

The Cowboys open up a seven-point lead with a Lachlan Coote field goal, taken from just to the right of the posts. They look the goods without Thurston tonight, the Cows. North Queensland 13-6.

Coote with the Field Goal just before the HT siren. #NRLRaidersCowboys 6-13#NRL pic.twitter.com/Wck3D8MPYw

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

Winger Antonio Winterstein scrambles over in the left corner after lead-up from John Asiata. The Cowboys look strong. Kyle Feldt thinks he has another try almost immediately but a pass from Lachlan Coote to Justin O'Neill is called forward. Ethan Lowe can't convert. North Queensland 12-6. 

That tap back from Cooper! 👏#NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/uvU8xtnfy2

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

The Cowboys have a penalty in front and Ethan Lowe takes the kick. The Cowboys edge ahead. Jarrod Croker is off with a knee injury - for a Head Injury Assessment! North Queensland 8-6.

Lowe adds a Penalty Goal, the @nthqldcowboys hit the lead!#NRLRaidersCowboys 6-8 after 22 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/TevkLl8L6J

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

And in his first game for the Cowboys, Te Maire Martin takes an offload from Michael Morgan to score his first try for the club. Ethan Lowe converts. 6-6.

Te Maire Martin scores in his @nthqldcowboys debut! #NRLRaidersCowboys 6-all after 14 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/0mo48kZ6Z8

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

Has Elliott Whitehead scored a try? The question is whether Jordan Rapana touched it in the air. The Bunker says it wasn't. Cowboy Lachlan Coote then fails to clean up the lolling Steeden and Whitehead dives on it. A contentious call here but the green light is flashed. Jarrod Croker with the conversion attempt ... Jarrod Croker converts. Canberra 6-0.

Whitehead with the opening Try of the game!#NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/nZVFSOCp6o

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

We've started in Canberra, where it is only two degrees. Canberra 0 North Queensland 0. 

Let's do this!#NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/SVQ0BxFwMT

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017

CANBERRA: Jack Wighton; Nick Cotric, Jarrod Croker ©, Joey Leilua, Jordan Rapana; Blake Austin, Aiden Sezer; Sia Soliola, Elliott Whitehead, Josh Papalii, Shannon Boyd, Kurt Baptiste, Junior Paulo. Res: Scott Sorensen, Luke Bateman, Dave Taylor, Joe Tapine.

NQ: Lachlan Coote; Kyle Feldt, Justin O'Neill, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein; Te Maire Martin, Michael Morgan; Jason Taumalolo, Ethan Lowe, Gavin Cooper, Scott Bolton, Jake Granville, John Asiata. Res: Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Shaun Fensom, Corey Jensen.

MANLY have shut down a last-minute Shaun Johnson raid to complete their four point win over the Warriors after trailing 16-0 early.

In typical fashion, the Aucklanders let their lead slip between the 16th minute and halftime and Manly widened their advantage after the break at a soaked nib Stadium. There was some life in the Aucklanders, who made it a grandstand finish by narrowing the margin to four with the second try for winger Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

COMMENT: Another capitualtion for the Warriors. Johnson tried some last-ditch heroics but couldn't pull it off.

The Warriors go close! Manly 26-22.

Vision of the @NZWarriors No Try decision in the 69th minute of #NRLManlyWarriors.#NRL pic.twitter.com/aKV0J7malH

— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) July 1, 2017

And Chanze Nicoll-Kolokstad gets over for a try in the right corner, with the Bunker clearing the Warriors of obstruction, Shaun Johnson is able to convert from the sideline. Six tries in six first grsde games, Nicol-Klokstad. Manly 26-22.

Vision of @NZWarriors Try Decision in the 65th minute of #NRLManlyWarriors.#NRL pic.twitter.com/093vX9Assj

— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) July 1, 2017

And the Sea Eagles clear out by more than six. Centre Dylan Walker takes Daly Cherry-Evans' pass and crosses from close range. That's 26 unanswered points for the 'home' team. It's off to the right, the Wright conversion attempt. Manly 26-16.

The @SeaEgles clock 26 unanswered points.@Dwalkz3 slides in!#NRLManlyWarriors#NRL pic.twitter.com/cwM7HKgGEA

— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017