NRL: Cowboys thump Warriors in comeback win

The Cowboys celebrate the try of Kalifa Faifailoa. Photo / Getty Images

Cowboys 30
Warrios 10

The Warriors have been thrashed 26-10 by the Cowboys in their NRL Round 15 clash at Dairy Farmers Stadium in North Queensland.

Leading 10-8 at half-time, the New Zealanders failed to fire in the second half as the home team ran rampant.

The Cowboys opened the scoring in the tenth minute. Dallas Johnson's offload to Johnathan Thurston was then spread to Kalifa Faifai-Loa in the corner, who made no mistake.

But the Warriors hit back with a Feleti Mateo breakaway. Some fleet-footed stepping drew Bowen before passing to Maloney to score under the posts.

The score continued to see-saw when Graham touched down for the Cowboys.

Then with 32 minutes played, Shaun Johnson showed why he is the brightest league prospect in New Zealand. The lightning-fast half-back scored a sensational solo try, powering through the gap and leaving the Cowboys in his wake.

The Warriors couldn't carry that momentum through to the second half.

On 57 minutes Faifai-Loa showed his full range of skills by rounding Fisiiahi and then grubbering ahead for himself to regather. Faifai-Loa offloaded to Thurston, who added 4 points to the Cowboys' scoreboard.

The Cowboys continued to drive forward and put the pressure on the visitors. Inu's kicking error was severely punished by Sims, who burst through the Warriors' defence to score from close range.

Segeyaro got in on the action with a try on 65 minutes, while Faifai-Loa helped himself to a double six minutes later.

Ben Jones hammered home the final nail in the Warriors coffin after a slick Cowboys move. Faifai-Loa kept the ball infield by kicking it into the end-zone and Jones was first to pounce.

NQ COWBOYS 30 (Kalifa Faifai-Loa 2, Ashley Graham, Jonathan Thurston, Tariq Sims, James Segeyaro, Ben Jones tries; Gavin Cooper goal) NZ WARRIORS 10 (James Maloney, Shaun Johnson tries; Maloney goal) Halftime 8-10.

- Herald Online.