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Cowboys in NRL top four after 24-16 win over Bulldogs

The Cowboys' Ethan Lowe (second from right) crossed for two tries.

The Cowboys' Ethan Lowe (second from right) crossed for two tries. Photo: Getty

North Queensland have leapfrogged Canterbury into the NRL’s top four, with Jason Taumalolo and Johnathan Thurston leading the Cowboys to a 24-16 defeat of the Bulldogs.

Thurston’s sublime kicking game had the Dogs under pressure for much of the night at Belmore Sports Ground on Thursday as the Cowboys shored up their premiership defence.

Taumalolo was at his damaging best, running for more than 200 metres and scoring a 78th-minute try to seal a crucial win for the Cowboys, with Ethan Lowe crossing for two tries.

Michael Morgan put Lowe over in the 20th minute and Thurston created the back-rower’s second 10 minutes after halftime, as the Dogs’ late-season struggles continued.

The Cowboys’ title defence had looked shaky after dropping three successive matches earlier this month but they have recorded back-to-back wins – and a victory over Gold Coast in Townsville next week in the final round will ensure they finish in the top four.

With Sam Kasiano missing due to suspension, David Klemmer tore into the Cowboys’ pack all night, but the Dogs’ attack again lacked penetration.

After back-to-back losses, fifth-placed Canterbury need to beat South Sydney next week and hope other results go their way if they are to re-enter the top four.

The visitors looked slick with hooker Jake Granville returning from two weeks out with a hand injury.

They led 6-4 at the break and kept the home side at arm’s length for much of the second half.

Coen Hess also scored for the visitors in the second 40 minutes.

Tries for Curtis Rona and Greg Eastwood after the break were simply not enough for the Dogs.

Eastwood had Bulldogs fans on their feet early when he scored an intercept try from a loose Michael Morgan pass in the 10th minute.

That came after Thurston opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty goal.

The Cowboys’ first try came when Lowe burst through an Eastwood tackle close to the line.

The Bulldogs’ loss before a disappointing crowd of 10,144 means Canterbury have won one of four since returning last season to Belmore.

-AAP

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