Thurst Class Storm Ruin JT's Day

North Queensland Cowboys 10 - 32 Melbourne Storm

NRL Round 2
1300smiles Stadium
Attendance: 19288

North Queensland Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain announced on Monday that, on the back of Captain Johnathan Thurston’s signing of a lucrative four year contract extension, the club were: “Confident that we have put in place a squad that can challenge for the premiership this year and for years to come.”

Thurston: The plus point in a bad night for the Cowboys

If those claims are to come to fruition, particularly this season, then they will more than likely have to get past reigning domestic, and World, champions, Melbourne Storm at some point.

Craig Bellamy’s side, who defeated Leeds Rhinos in their own backyard a fortnight ago, before beating the Dragons in 35˚C heat last week, played to a standard that befitted their illustrious crown.

The instigator in this comprehensive dismantling was none other than Thurston’s Australian half-back partner Cooper Cronk, who, thanks to a couple of tries and assists, had a night to remember.

It took just three minutes for loose forward Ryan Hinchcliffe to touch down for the visitors after he showed a blistering turn of speed to run clear from 40 metres after Cronk’s beautiful inside ball.

A riposte was not so long in coming as Thurston, at the heart of every Cowboys attack, threw a long ball out wide to winger Aaron Winterstein before Kane Linnett, on the inside, neatly finished the move.

Though the Storm made a few errors, they went unpunished, before, first through a Cronk shimmy and then a Will Chambers jink, they raced in to a ten point lead before half time.

A Cronk punt to the corner was palmed back in his direction and he duly scurried over to take the game away from the hosts, who had prolonged pressure which failed to yield a breakthrough.

With ten minutes remaining and, after more ‘huffing and puffing’, Cowboys wing Ashley Graham was finally put over in the corner; his full length score halving the deficit.

Table-topping Storm, and in particular, Cronk, showed their undoubted class in possession though. His expert high kick was palmed back by the onrushing Billy Slater to Chambers who notched his second, prior to Ryan Hoffman crashing over in the dying moments to add gloss to a valuable win over a spirited, but defeated, outfit.