The conditions were by no means easy to deal with, and a short turnaround was not helping, either – but despite that, the Cowboys managed to grind out a gutsy win over the Newcastle Knights in Townsville.
For the time being, depending on other results, the Cowboys are now fourth on the competition ladder, with replacement utility Anthony Mitchell the player that was everywhere – as he provided the Cowboys with some spark, that ultimately won them the game.
Knights fans would have had their hearts in their mouths when in-form back-rower Chris Houston was taken from the field – but he was later cleared of any serious injury by the medical staff, following a head knock.
For Knights captain and hooker Danny Buderus, the answer was simple – they could not stop the kicking game of Johnathon Thurston.
“JT just kicked us to death tonight,” Buderus said.
“The kicks he was putting in were the difference.
“We couldn’t get out of our own half in the second period and I think, when we did, we were under fatigue and we made a few bad decisions.”
Although Bennett knows that his side’s team was well and truly a tale of two halves, he was pleased that his side had the opportunities and chances to win the game.
“We had a couple late in the first half we blew and we had about four in the second half and we created opportunities but just made a poor decision with the pass – overplayed it,” Bennett said.
For Cowboys coach Neil Henry, he knows that improvement is needed ahead of next week – but he will take the victory given their shorter turnaround.
“We take bits out of that game moving forward and we know we’re up for a grafting game against the Sharks at Toyota Park – we know that now,” Henry said.
“The business end is still here for us and we need to get there and win that game as well and be a chance to push up into the four.”