Round 25 (v Broncos) Teams, Match Officials, Stories & discussions

[Granty]

Round 25

Cowboys vs Broncos

Fri 28 Aug
7:35 PM AEST
Dairy Farmers Stadium

NYC Toyota Cup 5:20 PM AEST


Cowboys

1. Wayne Ulugia
2. Obe Geia
3. Sam Bowie
4. Michael Parker-Walshe
5. Chippie Korostchuck
6. Michael Morgan
7. Ray Thompson
8. Dylan Smith
9. James Segeyaro
10. Aidan Day
11. Troyden Watene
12. Chris McLean
13. Dane Hogan

INTERCHANGE

14. Ben Cronin
15. Tyson Martin
16. Sam Hoare
17. Moses Pangai
18. Chris Faust
19. Ben Morgan



Broncos

1. Todd Murphy
2. Jessie Mogg
3. Josh Williams
4. Dale Copley
5. Dane Gagai
6. Corey Norman
7. Ben Hun
t 8. David Hala
9. Kurt Baptise
10. Dunamis Lui
11. Brent Williams
12. Kurtis Lingwoodock
13. Guy Ford

Interchange
14. Tariq Sims
15. James Ackerman
16. Tyson Andrews
17. Jacob Samoa


Match Officials

Referee: Robert Gallacher
Sideline Officials: Chris Nitso & Shaun Isaacs

[Granty]

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2009/08/28/hoare-closer-to-goal-as-cowboy/

Hoare closer to Cowboys goal

28th August 2009

ROCKHAMPTON'S Sam Hoare is aiming to continue his dream start to life as a North Queensland Cowboy at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.

Hoare will saddle up for the Cowboys under-20s team in their must-win clash against the Brisbane Broncos in the Toyota Cup.

It will be the former Emmaus College schoolboy star's sixth game in the national under-20s competition after making his debut against Cronulla in Townsville in round 17.

Hoare, who only turned 18 just two weeks ago, has made his mark in North Queensland's front row since receiving an early birthday present.

“I didn't expect to play as many games this year, but a few injuries fell my way,” Hoare said from Townsville yesterday.

Hoare's performances for Charters Towers in the Townsville A-grade competition impressed Cowboys under-20s coach Kristian Woolf enough to give the Rockhampton teenager his shot.

The 105kg teenager, contracted to the NRL club until the end of next season, said making his NRL debut for the Cowboys remained his ultimate goal.

“It's good to be in the professional system and being around the club and the people there with their knowledge of the game,” he said.

All players in the national under-20s competition must be studying or undertaking an apprenticeship and Hoare is no different, currently enjoying his first year at James Cook University studying secondary school teaching.

Hoare's ninth-placed Cowboys must beat the Broncos tonight and the Roosters in the final round next week to have a chance of making the play-offs.

He will tonight come up against former Central Queensland junior stars in Broncos trio Ben Hunt, Brent Williams and Guy Ford.

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/08/28/75035_cowboys.html

Ulugia key weapon against Broncos

JOSH ALSTON
August 28th, 2009

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/08/27/Wayne-Ulugia.jpg
Wayne Ulugia

HE may only be 16 years old but Cowboys under-20s fullback Wayne Ulugia is shaping as a strike weapon for tonight's must-win clash with the Broncos.

The speedster has been a revelation at the back of the park for the young North Queensland outfit this season.

He has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks to limit his minutes and recharge his batteries after a long season combined with the rigours of his schooling at Kirwan High.

Now coach Kristian Woolf has reinstated him to the starting line-up as the club prepares for an all-out offensive to slip into the top eight.

''He was very good against the Knights, (resting him) was our whole intention,'' he said.

''It's not that he was out of form or anything like that, we gave him a bit of time on the bench just to give him a bit of a rest from the rigours of playing 80 minutes at this level week-in, week-out, it takes its toll.''

Boosting the under-20s' chances will the return of gun half Michael Morgan from a back injury.

Morgan is also one of the youngest players in the team at 17, but has stood up as one of the players of the future with a stellar season that culminated in selection in the Australian Schoolboys side.

''We're pretty confident he's right to play,'' Woolf said.

The Cowboys need to win their last two games to make the eight and are relying on Canberra to lose both of theirs or one by a big margin because of for-and-against points.

[ozyscott]

who won the U/20's?

[#CowboyDavid]

Cowboys won 27 - 24. They were up 27 - 12 but the Broncos scored 2 converted tries in the last few minutes.

[#CowboyDavid]

I think that puts us equal 8th on the ladder but we're are 67 points short of the Raiders on for & against plus the Raiders still have to play this weekend. We need to rely on the Raiders to lose their last 2 and we win next week to make the finals - or we have a huge win next week & the Raiders have a huge loss.

[Granty]

From the post-game presententations at the Cowboys Leagues Club

the Cowboys Under 20's Player of the Match went to Obe Geia

[Granty]

http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=19764

Thrilling finish in Toyota Cup

Friday, August 28, 2009

http://www.cowboys.com.au/site/_content/LeadImage/00003670-image.jpg

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys held off a desperate, strong finishing Broncos side to secure a thrilling 27-24 victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium in round 25 of the Toyota Cup.

Showing complete dominance and defying their ninth position on the ladder against the fourth-placed Broncos, the Cowboys raced away to a commanding 20-6 lead at the break.

A further try after the break took the lead out to 26-6 before the Broncos started a revival in the final 15 minutes.

Scoring two tries inside the last four minutes of play, the Broncos closed the gap to 26-24 before Cowboys half back Ray Thompson landed a field goal inside the last minute to bring up the final score.

Obe Geia had a brilliant night with three tries, all in the first half.

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys 27 (Obe Geia 3, Wayne Ulugia, Ben Cronin tries, Troyden Watene 3 goals, Ray Thompson 1 field goal)
d Brisbane Broncos 24 (Dunamis Lui 2, James Ackerman, David Hala tries, Corey Norman 4 goals)

[StinkyPete]

at least these boys kept their season alive. come home strong kids!

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/08/29/75345_cowboys.html

Young Cowboys win thriller

JOSH ALSTON
August 29th, 2009

AN Obe Geia hat-trick and steely defence has kept the Cowboys under-20s finals hopes alive in their 27-24 win over the fourth-placed Broncos last night.

The young Cowboys turned it on in attack in the first half, Geia grabbing three tries in the opening 23 minutes while Wayne Ulugia also jinked his way across the line to open up a 22-6 lead.

They were forced to defend their line grimly in the second half, though, as Brisbane lifted their intensity and launched wave after wave of attack at the Cowboys.

The Broncos closed to within two points with three minutes left on the clock, but a Ray Thompson field goal sealed the result.

The win means North Queensland need to win their remaining game against the Roosters and rely on the Raiders losing their last two games or losing one of them by a big margin.

Geia said the desperation in defence had won them the game and said the players were committed to reproducing it next week to give them every chance of earning a maiden finals appearance.

''Everyone's pretty excited, we've still got a chance to make it,'' he said.

''Hopefully we can take the positives out of this game and reproduce it down there (in Sydney) next week.

''It was desperation, hey. All the boys wanted to work for each other and that's what we did.

''I'm pretty happy (with the tries), pretty stoked. But there's another game to go so hopefully we can make the top eight.''

Moses Pangai was sin-binned in the 76th minute for knocking the ball out of Ben Hunt's hands after a penalty had been blown.

Canberra play Newcastle on Monday and then the Broncos next weekend.

COWBOYS UNDER-20s (Obe Geia 3, Wayne Ulugia, Ben Cronin tries; Troyden Watene 2, Cronin 1 goals; Ray Thompson field goal)
d BRONCOS UNDER-20s (Dunamis Lui 2, James Ackerman, David Hala tries; Corey Norman 4 goals)

[Spiral]

The Raiders beat the Knights earlier tonight so that effectively kills the Cows' finals hopes...Ah well, they can hold their heads high.