3 minute read

North Queensland have snapped a nine-game NRL losing streak with a field goal in golden point extra time enough seeing off St George Illawarra.

Interim coach Dean Young failed to pad out his application for the full-time role at St George Illawarra as North Queensland edged the Dragons 23-22 in an NRL golden point finish on Sunday evening.

Young remains in contention for the top job along with fellow interviewees David Furner and Anthony Griffin, with a decision expected by the club as soon as this week.

But any hopes of a final statement - or a finals statement by the Dragons - were quashed by a Valentine Holmes field goal four minutes into extra time.

It was fifth time lucky for the point as the sides traded shots before Holmes had his first attempt charged down, only to ice the game after the Cowboys were gifted a repeat set.

The win was North Queensland's first in their past 10 games, dating back to a June 27 victory over Newcastle.

Six points adrift of eighth-placed Cronulla, the Dragons can effectively start preparing for 2021.

A frustrated Young said his side had blown it again after seemingly also having the previous round's game against the Gold Coast in hand.

"Same s***, different day," Young said.

"It went wrong in blokes not getting their jobs done.

"Again, for the second week in a row, the game was there to be won in the last five minutes."

The Cowboy's interim coach Josh Hannay, who lost out to Todd Payten for the top job on a permanent basis, was relieved to register his first win since taking over from Paul Green.

"It's obviously been a hard slog, we've had some near misses and it could have easily went that way again," he said.

"When we get down to those situations there's almost that sense that it is going to go against us because it has gone against us so regularly, so it was nice to be on the right side."

Without key playmaker and captain Michael Morgan and destructive forward Jason Taumalolo (both calf), the Cowboys had to rely on enthusiasm more than class and appeared up for the contest early at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

A simple try to prop Francis Molo, who barged over one-off the ruck, helped the hosts to a 6-0 lead.

But then it was largely the Dragons for the rest of the first half.

Euan Aitken strolled over untouched before a spectacular four-pointer to winger Mikaele Ravalawa in the corner in the 30th minute.

The sides traded tries early in the second half before five-eighth Scott Drinkwater took charge for the Cowboys.

Drinkwater worked his magic to set up tries for Holmes and Kyle Feldt to give the Cowboys a 22-20 edge.

Zac Lomax levelled the scores with a 77th-minute penalty goal but he and Corey Norman failed with drop-goal attempts before the Cowboys capitalised.

The Dragons could be without Ben Hunt to face Canberra next week, the hooker put on report for a trip as Holmes scored his try.