A second-half comeback engineered by the game’s best halfback in Jonathon Thurston, was enough to get the Cowboys over the line against the Eels, as they cemented their spot in the top 8, with a 40-26 win at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
The Eels led for virtually the entire game, before the Thurston magic show began, and there was no inconceivable way to stop him, as he was rampant.
Whilst it was Thurston shining for the Cowboys, Jarryd Hayne showed that he is as good a player as any other, after laying on some beautiful passes in the lead-up to the Eels tries, before scoring one of his own.
The moment of the game however, was a superman like effort from Cowboys winger Kalifi Fai Fai Loa, in which, he looked to be headed over the sideline, before he leaped in the air, and grounded the ball, despite attracting attention from Eels winger, Jordan Atkins.
Cowboys coach Neil Henry was over the moon with the result, and was pleased with his players steely resolve to come back and win the game.
“Credit to the boys to hang in there at 16 points down. It hasn’t happened for a long time and it certainly wouldn’t have happened last year,” Henry said.
“It shows there’s a fair bit of spirit to come back like that and the boys have got it in them.”
Eels coach Stephen Kearney was pleased with his sides effort, but he was absolutely dumbfounded as to how his team surrendered the lead that they had.
“Maybe we thought we were comfortable but when you’ve got the likes of Thurston …. they’re going to terrorise you for 80 minutes and not put the cue in the rack, but I’m not even too sure if we were thinking that way,” Kearney said.
Dally M Points
3 Jonathon Thurston
2 Jarryd Hayne
1 Willie Tonga