12 Mar 2011

Cowboys upset Broncos in Brisbane

6:58 am on 12 March 2011

It was a smile North Queensland Cowboys fans had been seeking for far too long, but the cheeky smirk North Queensland co-captain Jonathan Thurston flashed after the Cowboys' 16-14 NRL rugby league season-opening upset of Brisbane on Friday night may become a common sight.

The classy halfback could not help but grin after his dangerous combination with fullback Matt Bowen returned with a vengeance at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

The pair tore up the Broncos in a stunning first half counter-attack before the Cowboys held on in a slippery arm wrestle after the heavens opened.

Broncos captain Darren Lockyer confirmed what many NRL rivals had feared - the old firm of Thurston and Bowen are back.

The win was the Cowboys' first over Brisbane since 2007 - snapping a horror run of seven defeats and it also equalled the Cowboys' total of away wins for 2010.