North Queensland Cowboys 20
Luke Burt's record-breaking converted late try sealed a 22-20 win for Parramatta over North Queensland in a pulsating NRL clash at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
Burt scurried over four minutes from time to break Brett Kenny's record of 110 tries in Eels colours, then coolly slotted home the sideline conversion to prevent his side from slipping to a third successive defeat.
Willie Tonga's 69th-minute try looked to have won the game for North Queensland in a bruising affair, but Burt sent the partisan home crowd wild with his 111th four-pointer for the club, putting the finishing touches to Jeff Robson's hopeful fifth-tackle bomb.
The Cowboys, who beat Melbourne 34-6 on Monday and were looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since round 13, 2009, took the lead after five minutes through Ashley Graham and extended their advantage when Kalifa Faifai-Loa scored his first try for the club.
The signs looked ominous for Parramatta in the early stages with Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen causing plenty of problems for Stephen Kearney's side.
However, the hosts fought back well and Burt equalled Kenny's long-standing record after 19 minutes following some good work from Daniel Mortimer.
The veteran winger was unable to add the extras, but his milestone appeared to galvanise his side, who went close to adding a second try on three occasions before young centre Ryan Morgan raced over just before the interval.
Faifai-Loa scored his second of the game early in the second period with a 60-metre run following a well-timed pass from Tonga, but Thurston's missed conversion ultimately proved to be costly.
Etu Uaisele's simple try midway through the second stanza hauled the Eels back into the game after Jarryd Hayne and Robson linked up well, with Burt converting.
But the Cowboys hit back furiously and were denied three tries thanks to some desperate defending from the home side, with Nathan Hindmarsh making the play of the night when he hauled down Glenn Hall centimetres from the line and somehow came up with the ball.
Tupou's try was just reward for his side's pressure, but the Queenslanders were unable to hold on as the Eels secured their second win of the season.
Parramatta Eels 22 (L Burt 2 R Morgan E Uaisele tries L Burt 3 goals) bt North Queensland Cowboys 20 (K Fai Fai Loa 2 A Graham W Tonga tries J Thurston 2 goals) at Parramatta Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, Phil Haines. Crowd: 11,226.
- AAP
