ROUND-UP
THE Green Machine has hardly got whirring in 2022 so far and Canberra threw away a 12-0 half-time lead to suffer their fourth defeat in six games.
Things could hardly have started any better for the Raiders as they crossed for two tries in the opening 13 minutes.
Tom Starling got Canberra on the board in the second minute, going over untouched as Brad Schneider converted for a 6-0 lead.
Jordan Rapana extended that to 12 when he crossed after nice hands with Schneider again on target.
That’s how the scoreline stayed until the 45th minute, when Heilum Luki dotted down. Valentine Holmes’ conversion brought the Cowboys back to within six.
And with Holmes then scything through the Canberra line just after the hour, North Queensland were level.
The momentum was firmly with the Cowboys by now and they took the lead eleven minutes from the end when Jeremiah Nanai crashed through.
Holmes’ conversion made it 18-12 and the Cowboys held on for a stunning comeback win after a horror start.
Canberra, however, will be pondering what went wrong following such a commanding lead.
TOO many Cooks certainly didn’t spoil the broth as Damien ran in a hat-trick to help Souths win at a canter against a stubborn, yet lacking, Bulldogs side.