2 Apr 2015

Cowboys beat Storm in golden point thriller

11:59 am on 2 April 2015

The North Queensland Cowboys have scored an 18-17 golden-point win over the Melbourne Storm in their National Rugby League clash in Townsville.

The Cowboys Johnathan Thurston in NRL action.

The Cowboys Johnathan Thurston in NRL action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

It is the first win of the season for the Cowboys, while the Storm are mid-table with two wins and two losses.

Trailing 16-4 at half-time, the Cowboys rallied to win and avoid their worst start to a season in 13 years.

It came down to a field goal shootout between Queensland Origin halves Cooper Cronk and Jonathon Thurston.

Cronk appeared to have put the Cowboys resistance to sleep in the 72nd minute with a field goal in front of the posts.

But the Cowboys rallied late, Matthew Wright scoring in the 79th minute before Thurston slotted a sideline conversion from his non-preferred side and then kicked a field goal of his own to level the scores with seconds remaining.

Thurston and Cronk traded shots in extra time, including a fluffed left-foot effort from the Cowboys half-back before Thurston eventually kicked North Queensland to victory.

Melbourne had leapt out to a 16-4 lead at half-time through tries to Kurt Mann, Felise Kaufusi and a superb effort from Marika Koroibete who dashed 95m after collecting a Thurston bomb.

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