A double to favourite son Kyle Feldt helped the Cowboys to a 38-30 win over a gallant Storm outfit in Townsville on Thursday night.
Going into the match without 11 regular starters and losing star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen after 15 minutes, the Storm hung tough but were eventually outclassed by the playmaking skills of Tom Dearden and Reece Robson.
On the back of a pair of Cowboys errors it was the Storm striking first when Cameron Munster put powerhouse prop Lazarus Vaalepu over for the opening try and Tyran Wishart converted for a 6-0 lead.
Seven minutes later the Cowboys hit back when Scott Drinkwater delivered a superb pass for Feldt to cross in the right corner before Murray Taulagi scored on the left to make it 12-6 to the home side.
After losing Papenhuyzen and Marion Seve to injury, the Storm managed to steady and crossed in the 27th minute through Alec MacDonald and Wishart in the 35th minute to take a 16-12 lead.
Kyle Feldt 1st Try
With half-time approaching, Feldt made it a double with his 20th try of the season and Val Holmes added the extras to give the Cowboys an 18-16 lead at the break.
Four minutes into the second term the Cowboys went further ahead when Holmes finished off good lead-up work by Drinkwater and Taulagi to make it 24-16.
A penalty against Reuben Cotter for a high tackle in the 48th minute gave Wishart the chance to knock over two points and bring the Storm back within six.
Tyran Wishart Try
Come the 56th minute and the Storm struck back when the Cowboys went for a short dropout and Jake Clifford's tap back went through Griffin Neame's legs and Wishart pounced. The hooker added the extras for 24-24.
A line break by Dearden the Cowboys grabbed their fifth of the night through hooker Robson and the margin was back to six with Holmes' conversion.
Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford chipped over the top in the 69th minute and the Storm were unable to clean it up, with Jeremiah Nanai picking up the scraps for his 13th try of the season and a 36-24 lead.
A penalty against Vaalepu for a high tackle gave Holmes the chance to put the game out of reach with his seventh goal of the night before Ativalu Lisati charged 40 metres to score on debut as the Storm had the final word.
In his final regular season home game before joining St Helens, Feldt then savoured a lap of honour around Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the loyal fans no doubt hoping to see him again in a fortnight when the finals series kicks off.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Match Snapshot
- Storm hooker Tyran Wishart produced a 40-20 kick in the sixth minute.
- Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has scored nine tries in his past five games.
- The Storm lost fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to a cork to the lower leg and centre Marion Seve to a syndesmosis injury both in the 15th minute.
- Storm prop Christian Welch had 15 runs for 166 metres in 59 minutes of game time.
- Storm winger Sua Faalogo had 10 tackle breaks and ran for 175 metres.
Papenhuyzen leaves the field
- Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi ran for 149 metres and had two line breaks.
- Tyran Wishart bagged two tries and made three line breaks in a classy display for the Storm.
- Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes made his 200th NRL appearance.
- Griffin Neame and Reuben Cotter combined for 246 run metres for the Cowboys.
- The Storm had eight line breaks to the Cowboys' five.
Alec Macdonald Try
Play of the Game
Ativalu Lisati Try
What they Said
Cowboys: Round 26
Storm: Round 26