KEY POINTS:
TOWNSVILLE - A brutal lesson learned in faraway Townsville will steel the New Zealand Warriors for a National Rugby League (NRL) title charge in 2008, their coach insists.
Not that it was much comfort for a dejected side who sat in their Dairy Farmers Stadium dressing room looking
like they'd emerged from a haunted house yesterday.
Coach Ivan Cleary sat in a corner looking equally pale, struggling to explain how his side produced their worst in their biggest game of the season, losing 12-49 to the Cowboys to exit the competition.
It was a cruel end to a season when they plunged to awful lows with six straight losses, then hauled themselves up to finish fourth and loom as premiership contenders.
But they relinquished home advantage by losing to Parramatta, and among the top-eight sides the Warriors had the least playoff experience in terms of matches played, despite being superbly led by Steve Price.
Yesterday most went missing in action in the Townsville heat and errors crept in as the Cowboys raced in for eight tries.
"It was a good experience to go through in a weird sort of way. It highlighted some things ... we're obviously not ready but we're not far off," said Cleary, describing the second half as "a training run" for the hosts.
"It was really disappointing, I didn't see it coming and it's not indicative of what we've done over the last two years."
Cleary's stated three-year plan was to reach top-eight in 2006 - which they narrowly missed after the previous year's salary cap penalties - top-four in year two and the grand final in year three.
With similar personnel and an extra year for the likes of young forwards Sam Rapira, Epalahame Lauaki and Evarn Tuimavave, they will be tougher.
Said Price: "The Cowboys were really composed and played the game they wanted to play and we went away from our game."
Cowboys coach Graham Murray, now on a winning streak of seven, agreed.
"I guess they got a bit frustrated and tried to win the game a bit early. You think that when the game's getting away from you."
There was also star quality, which the Warriors lack but the Cowboys have in bucketloads.
Dally M player of the year Johnathan Thurston was outstanding and the try he set up for wing Ty Williams just before halftime, albeit with a forward pass, broke a 12-12 deadlock and the Warriors' hearts.
Warriors halfback Grant Rovelli, who had a mixed game, admitted he was stunned by the scoreline but hailed Thurston who he'd seen destroy teams in their junior days in Queensland.
"Everyone's pretty shocked about what happened and it's not a reflection on the year that's been, for sure.
"(Thurston) was great, once again he proved he was the best player in the game and he deserves that. He's going to be hard to stop for anyone."
The Warriors also insisted the 29degC heat wasn't a factor, despite looking out on their feet with 30 minutes left.
The ground announcer reminded them pre-match by playing AC/DC's `Back in Black', a friendly reminder of the Cowboys choosing to wear white and making the Warriors wear their black home strip in the hot sun.
"Both teams had to play in it, they just controlled the ball better and put the points on. Their dangermen proved they're the most dangerous players in the comp," Rovelli said.
"Good luck to them. I think they're going to be hard to beat."
- NZPA
