Round 8 (v Eels) Teams & Stories

[Granty]

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys (NYC) v Parramatta Eels

Round 8 Toyota Cup,
5.20pm Friday 1 May, Parramatta Stadium

Cowboys

1. Wayne Ulugia
2. Ben Henaway
3. Steven Eliott
4. Jared Huston
5. Chippie Korostchuk
6. Darren Tonihi
7. Michael Morgan
8. Ronnie Alovili
9. James Segeyaro
10. Dylan Smith
11. Troyden Watene
12. Chris Faust
13. Dane Hogan

Interchange:

14. Chris McLean
15. Tyson Martin
16. Mises Pangai
17. Aiden Day
18. Mitchell Zornig

Coach: Kristian Woolf


Eels

1. Nathan Gardner
2. Sam Kelso
3. Brad Graham
4. Taniela Lasalo
5. Domenic Nasso
6. Tk Amosa
7. Daniel Mortimer (c)
8. Mitchell Allgood
9. Daniel Galati
10. Mitchel Johnson
11. Pat O'Hanlon
12. Royce Hura
13. Jason Baitieri

Interchange:

14. Albert Kelly
15. Kene Te Whata
16. Lachlan Gowland
17. Boyd Brown
19. Daniel Cross
20. Rulon Nutira

[Granty]

Eels team has been added to the first post :)

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/01/51675_sport.html

Tyro handed key role for young Cowboys

JOSH ALSTON

May 1st, 2009

INJURIES, discipline and form have forced Cowboys under-20s coach Kristian Woolf to ring in a host of changes ahead of the club's clash with Parramatta tonight.

Five-eighth Ben Cronin will again be sidelined after aggravating his hip flexor injury against Manly last weekend with young tyro Darren Tonihi set to take on the playmaking role along with Michael Morgan. Tonihi was among the Cowboys' best last weekend at hooker in his second game this season and Woolf said he deserved the extra responsibility this week.

"He certainly deserved his opportunity," Woolf said.

"He got it a little bit later in the year with a run at hooker against Cronulla and he's a tough kid and a very good competitor."

James Segeyaro will return to the line-up at hooker after a run of strong performances to accommodate Tonihi's shift.

"(Tonihi) certainly deserved to stay in and with Ben out, James Segeyaro has been good in the past out of dummy-half," Woolf said.

"He offers different things around the ruck out of hooker and it gives Darren a crack at five-eighth."

First-grade signing Obe Geia has been stood down for the clash after missing Sunday's recovery session, opening the door for speedy Ben Henaway to play his first game of the season on the wing. Moses Pangai has been relegated to the bench with Henaway to start tonight.

"He's been doing good things in the Townsville competition and there's no doubt he's a kid who can score tries," Woolf said.

"He scored three tries for his local club Centrals a couple of weeks ago so we thought we would give him a go.

"We're confident he can do some good things on the win."

Parramatta have been disappointing this season, managing just two wins despite boasting a quality roster including future first grade halfback Daniel Mortimer.

Woolf said they were wary of a Friday night ambush at their home stadium and said they would need to be at their best to get the two points in Sydney.

"They haven't won as many games as they probably would have thought, going on their early form," he said.

"They're a very good side, a very big side with good halves in Daniel Mortimer and Mitchell Allgood and they will be a tough side to beat.

"They have lost a couple of games that they probably should have won and at Parramatta Stadium on a Friday night they'll put in a big performance."

Cowboys under-20s: Wayne Ulugia, Ben Henaway, Steven Eliott, Jared Huston, Chippie Korostchuk, Darren Tonihi, Michael Morgan, Ronnie Alovili, James Segeyaro, Dylan Smith, Troyden Watene, Chris Faust, Dane Hogan. Interchange: Chris McLean, Tyson Martin, Moses Pangai, Aiden Day, Mitchell Zornig.

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/02/51755_sport.html

Cowboys under-20s work hard for win

JOSH ALSTON

May 2nd, 2009

THE Cowboys under-20s have survived a scrappy second half to record a 24-20 win over Parramatta in Sydney last night.

The game was an arm-wrestle, with the Eels holding a slender lead for most of the night but unable to gain any dominance despite a wealth of field position.

They played an expansive brand of football and while the Cowboys gave them numerous shots at their line, the visitors' scrambling defence held and they were able to record the win.

Steve Eliot, Michael Morgan, Chris McClean and Ronnie Alovili all crossed for North Queensland with Troyden Watene enjoying a perfect night with the boot, striking four from four.

Halfback Morgan was penalised early in the contest for holding, giving the Eels good field position and first crack at the Cowboys' line.

Mortimer laid on a kick to debutant Ben Henaway's wing which he was unable to control, allowing Parramatta's Domenic Nasso to score, Mortimer's sideline conversion setting up an early 6-0 lead.

Pat O'Hanlon was penalised on his own 30m line in the 17th minute, giving the Cowboys a golden chance to retaliate.

And they did it with ease, Wayne Ulugia putting Eliot over in the right corner.

Neither team was able to establish a commanding advantage throughout the game but the Eels held the upperhand leading by two inside the final 10 minutes.

However, Alovili barged over in the 71st minute and Watene converted to seal the result.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 24 (Steve Eliot, Michael Morgan, Chris McClean, Ronnie Alovili tries; Troyden Watene 4 goals)
d PARRAMATTA EELS 20 (Domenic Nasso 2, Albert Kelly, Nathan Gardner tries; Daniel Mortimer 2 goals).

[kiwi]

gosh its a shame not many people use this site anyway every week from nz I get on the net and wait for the nyc game I follow right thru on live scorces only and no kidding I can feel the pressure always in the last 15 mins our under 20s cowboys fight back right to the end and guess what im flying over there to watch them play this weekend cant wait.

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/04/51991_sport.html

Under-20 Cowboys plough on

JOSH ALSTON

May 4th, 2009

INJURIES have ravaged their ranks yet remarkably the Cowboys under-20s sit just outside the Toyota Cup top eight – by for and against points alone.

After showing another gutsy display against Parramatta on Friday night, where they prevailed 24-20, the young Cowboys have improved their record to four wins and four losses.

These results have been ground out despite three halves being sidelined – Ray Thompson, Ben Cronin and Sam Bowie. Thompson has yet to play a game while Cronin and Bowie have had limited chances to shine.

Shaun Maloney is gone for the season, and Tyson Martin and Jack Cooper have battled injury as well.

But the remaining troops, some as young as 16, have shown they are willing to fight for each other and earn a berth in the NYC finals this year after finishing with the wooden spoon last year.

"Our effort, you can't knock them," coach Kristian Woolf said.

"They certainly showed a lot of guts and certainly showed they want to play for each other."

So strong was their effort, Woolf said there was no guarantee Cronin or Cooper could force their way back into the team this weekend.

"Some guys certainly stood up this week and there's no guarantees they will come straight into the side," he said.

"We've just got to see how they are."

Friday night's win was built on a strong team performance with every player putting in.

Young halfback Michael Morgan showed continued improvement in his new position and Ron Alovili was especially damaging up the middle of the park.

Woolf said there was no particular standout and heaped praise on all of his charges.