North Queensland commemorated club legend Jason Taumalolo's 300th NRL game with an upset 26-12 victory over ladder-leading Penrith on Saturday. The win ended the Cowboys' three-game losing run and gave Taumalolo his first milestone victory.
Nanai Shines with Two Tries
Back-rower Jeremiah Nanai scored two tries, the second coming from a flying kick retrieval effort over star Panthers Brian To'o and Dylan Edwards, proving the difference for the Cowboys. Taumalolo was swamped by teammates after the 14-point victory at home in Townsville.
With Tonga's Queen and Prime Minister watching in the stands amid a big crowd, the blockbusting international turned back the clock with a massive 155 run metres, including one bruising run that resulted in a head injury assessment for Penrith counterpart Isaiah Papali'i.
Cowboys Set Early Tone
The Cowboys, who have now recorded the most victories over Penrith since the Panthers' historic run of form commenced in 2021, set the tone early by forcing a Moses Leota error in the first play of the game. A minute later, winger Murray Taulagi crossed for the game's first four-pointer.
A week on from their shock 19-18 loss to the Gold Coast, Penrith looked bound for another defeat north of the border early in the first half after recording an uncharacteristic seven errors.
Panthers Fight Back
They turned the tide two minutes before the break, capitalising on a mistake from Taulagi when Panther Tom Jenkins scored his second try out wide following a magic cross-field kick from Jack Cogger. Tied up at 10-apiece into the break, Penrith edged ahead with a Nathan Cleary penalty goal early in the second half.
But, with errors and ill-discipline creeping back in, only the Panthers' superb goal-line defence kept them in the fight. Two costly penalties gifted the Cowboys back the lead, before late tries to Nanai and halfback Jake Clifford confirmed a famous North Queensland victory.
