Undermanned Cowboys take ‘us against the world’ approach into upset win over Roosters

What a day for the young and undermanned Cowboys. I’m sure the stars in Origin camp enjoyed that one, although it might have been a bit tougher for Reece Robson watching it from NSW camp.

And just like that, it’s all systems go for State of Origin. Our next live blog will be the men’s series opener from Sydney’s Olympic stadium on Wednesday night, followed by the women’s Game II from a sold-out Hunter Stadium on Thursday.

And we’ll have the Round-Up tomorrow morning on ABC Sport.

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I’ll see you then. Up the [REDACTED FOR IMPARTIALITY REASONS]!

North Queensland coach Todd Payten is speaking very highly of everyone on his team, but reserves special praise for debutant Jaxon Purdue.

“Considering he’s a halfback and that’s his first-ever game at centre. He’s had two [training] sessions. He’s impressed everyone at the club.

“He’s just one of those footballers that know where to be. If he keeps his head on his shoulders and keeps working hard, he’s going to be a very, very good player.”

I’ve watched a lot of NRL press conferences this year and Trent Robinson’s comments about the Cowboys are probably the most unequivocal praise for a victorious side that I’ve heard from a losing coach in such a tight contest.

“They kicked us deep into our 10-metre line constantly. The amount of bombs Dom [Young] and [Daniel Tupou] had to take and then they [Cowboys] stayed discipline in that [defensive] set.

“We just didn’t have the same composure. That was a game we needed to win 16-12.”

Robinson recognises the late shift was tough for Joey Manu, moving from centre to fullback on a couple of hours’ notice after James Tedesco’s State of Origin call-up, but is clearly disappointed in the Kiwi star’s performance.

“Joey didn’t have his best night tonight. He was way off what his quality usually is.

“I expect us to be able to adapt. Our spine wasn’t good enough tonight as a whole.”

Luke Keary agrees.

“It was bad. Probably as bad as we’ve been since the Bulldogs game [a 30-26 loss in round five].”

With six of their best players out due to State of Origin, Chad Townsend and Jason Taumalolo are thrilled with this win.

“Everyone that came into the team this week really knuckled down,” Taumalolo tells ABC Sport.

Townsend says: “We had a real mentality of us against the world. I said to the boys ‘if we get the win this week it’ll be the best win of the year’.”

And on the youngsters Jaxon Purdue and Jamal Shibasaki, two 18-year-olds who shone on debut today?

“They’re the future of the club. It’s exciting to see some of these guys come in,” Townsend says.

Scott Drinkwater says: “That’d be up their with one of my favourite wins in this jersey.”

The Roosters try one last play with 10 seconds left from about 65 metres out and throw 15 passes, try to set up for a two-point field goal twice, then Sam Walker grubbers and the game ends with the ball in the hands of 18-year-old debutant Jaxon Purdue.

You might say ‘Yeah, well, the Roosters were missing James Tedesco, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i and Angus Crichton’, but the Cowboys were without captain Tom Dearden, hooker Reece Robson, Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter. This is a massive win for a team that has been battling this year.

The Roosters survive the set on their tryline and immediately spin it right, sending Dom Young away up the right wing, but the defence closes and Scott Drinkwater forces the knock-on from Young as he tries to put it on the toe.

Sam Walker charges down Scott Drinkwater’s kick but it ricochets to Jaxon Purdue, who flies up into Sydney 10m zone.

So it’s a full set for the Cowboys on the tryline.

The flying Roosters winger climbs for a catch above Braidon Burns, who barely has an impact, and Young looks destined for the line, but he has to offload in the tackle of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and he’s dropped the ball a metre out!

The Cowboys fullback makes no mistake this time, curling it in from the right side for the 18-16 lead.

“This will be the biggest upset of the year if they can pull this off,” John Gibbs says on the sideline for ABC Sport.

The Roosters regather the short kick-off, so “if they can pull this off” remains to be seen.

Dom Young marks the bomb and panics as three Cowboys drive him towards touch, so he throws it out the back and Joey Manu cleans up, but he’s forced onto the sideline.

And the Roosters are penalised for getting off the line too fast. So Scott Drinkwater has ANOTHER chance at a go-ahead penalty goal.

Scott Drinkwater misses for the second time today and this was the worst of the lot, about 20 metres in from touch and he just shanks it.

We’re all square at 16-16, despite the Cowboys scoring three tries to two, heading into the final 10 minutes.

A shocking dummy-half pass from Sandon Smith gives the Cowboys the ball in Roosters territory and they sum it up with a brilliant run from Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who makes a clean grab on an off-line pass from Jake Clifford, and beats three defenders to the tryline.

The Cowboys fullback takes a bomb cleanly under pressure from Junior Pauga and beats him, the three or four more defenders to get right up to halfway on the first.

But the set ends with a kick setting up a contest between Daniel Tupou and Kyle Feldt, but Feldt chooses not to contest.

Off the scrum Michael Jennings goes close and Joey Manu sees a chance from dummy half from close range.

He tries to dive over, gets pull down short and then he just gets up and goes again. Blatant penalty for the Cowboys.

“That’s probably the biggest double movement I’ve seen,” Luke Lewis says on ABC Sport. I think I’d have to agree.

He’s been pretty faultless so far today, but the seemingly inevitable Scott Drinkwater error under the high ball finally arrives as he knocks on in a contest with Joey Manu.

And they foolishly challenge and lose it to boot.

The Roosters were pressing the line and Luke Keary’s kick looks destined for Joey Manu’s breadbasket, but Scott Drinkwater does enough to disrupt him in the air and force a knock-on.

In the meantime, North Queensland is back to 13 men as Heilum Luki returns.

North Queensland is trailing 16-10 and they’re going to take a shot at penalty goal to make it 16-12. Odd choice, even if it takes some time off Heilum Luki’s time in the sin-bin.

It’s also an interesting wrinkle in the six-again rule. They got a fresh set on the Roosters’ line for a ruck infringement, and then the ball spun out wide and was knocked on by Braidon Burns, meaning it came back for the penalty.

So, if a team was tied or down two and got the six again, surely they should just Tom Brady the ball down the field to make it a penalty goal instead.

Anyway, all that to say the Roosters lead 16-12.

Drinkwater sent Braidon burns over with his passing in the first half and now he’s flown over with his running game, just crashing through between Sam Walker and Michael Jennings at speed as they slide across and back in defence.

Drinkwater converts and the Cows are with six points with 25 minutes left.

The Cowboys winger is down clutching at a knee and after a long pause Sam Walker is penalised for a cannonball tackle. It wasn’t with great force, but it was straight into the right knee of Burns standing in the tackle.