The Cowboys maintained the trend of upsets in Round 13 of the NRL, clinching a narrow 18-16 win against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams were short-handed, each missing five players due to State of Origin camps.
Scott Drinkwater delivered a commanding performance, scoring a try, providing an assist, and making a crucial late save against Dom Young, securing the Cowboys’ third consecutive victory.
The Roosters, having to reshuffle their backline after captain James Tedesco was called into the Blues Origin camp on game day, struggled to find cohesion in their attack.
Early in the game, both teams exchanged sets before the Roosters capitalized on a penalty when Chad Townsend was caught offside, allowing Sam Walker to score a penalty goal and give the home side an early lead. A second penalty by Townsend shortly after enabled Terrell May to score from a Walker short ball, extending the Roosters’ lead.
The Cowboys responded in the 33rd minute with Drinkwater’s long cutout pass setting up Braidon Burns for a try in the corner, though the conversion was missed. Just before halftime, Walker’s clever play from dummy half allowed Young to score in the corner, giving the Roosters a 14-4 lead at the break.
The second half turned into a defensive battle. Despite losing young backrower Heilum Luki to the sin bin in the 50th minute, the Cowboys kept the pressure on. Drinkwater’s try four minutes later closed the gap to 16-10. A series of six-again calls and a penalty allowed Drinkwater to add a penalty goal, reducing the deficit to 16-12.
An error by the Roosters opened the door for the Cowboys to equalize with a try from Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, although the missed conversion left the score tied at 16-16 with ten minutes remaining. The Roosters’ fourth penalty of the second half provided the Cowboys with a chance to take the lead, which Drinkwater seized by scoring the match-winning penalty after Junior Pauga was caught offside.
