On Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the Warriors secured a comprehensive 26-12 victory over the Cowboys, breaking a record 13-match losing streak in Australia.
Despite falling behind early, the Warriors rallied behind their star halfback Shaun Johnson to score five tries to the Cowboys’ two, earning their first win outside of New Zealand since their victory over Canberra in Round 8 of last season at Redcliffe.
Johnson, who combined with five-eighth Te Maire Martin, had a hand in three of the Warriors’ tries, as the team capitalized on a dominant forward performance that was built on the back of a high completion rate.
Although rookie Cowboys fullback Tom Chester put the home side ahead with his first NRL try in the fourth minute, the Warriors responded immediately through hooker Wayde Egan. Chester then set up the next North Queensland try by tapping back a Chad Townsend kick into the arms of hooker Reece Robson, who scored in the 14th minute.
However, the game became one-sided from that point forward, with the Warriors producing a near faultless performance with the ball and boasting a 90 per cent completion rate until midway through the second half.
Fiji winger Marcelo Montoya scored the first of his two tries in the 28th minute, followed by Jazz Tevaga, who put the Warriors ahead for the first time in the match when he crossed six minutes before halftime.
Going into halftime with a 16-12 lead, the Warriors did not concede a point in the second half. Meanwhile, wingers Ed Kosi and Montoya scored in the 48th and 56th minutes, respectively, providing a comfortable buffer for Andrew Webster’s men.
