North Queensland Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden ran almost the entire length of the field to pull off a try-saving tackle on Brisbane star Selwyn Cobbo in one of the highlights of the NRL season on Friday night.
Cobbo had made a beautiful intercept of a Scott Drinkwater pass inside 10 metres in front of his own team’s try line and looked all but certain to run the length of the field and score a try.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tom Dearden pulls off amazing try-saving tackle on Selwyn Cobbo.
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Enter Dearden.
The Cowboys leader came from the clouds to make a diving tackle and successfully drag Cobbo into touch, just inches before the line.
“Could he do it? Unbelievable — Tom Dearden!” an incredulous Dan Ginnane exclaimed on commentary.
“That goes into the annals of great try-saving tackles.”
The amazing effort brought back memories of Scott Sattler’s unforgettable tackle on Todd Byrne in the 2003 grand final.
Unfortunately for Deardon though, it wasn’t enough to lift the Cowboys back from the 20-12 scoreline at the time.
They eventually slumped to a 38-12 loss — their first of the season.
And it was on the back of a masterclass kicking exhibition by Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds, who had the ball on a string with his short and long kicking game in front of a crowd of 45,793 at Suncorp Stadium.
Reynolds terrorised the Cowboys’ back three in the first half to fire his side to that 20-12 lead at the break.
Fullback Drinkwater and wingers Kyle Feldt and Murray Taulagi dropped floating bombs by the Broncos skipper that led to points.
Reynolds was returning from a medial collateral ligament strain that led to him missing last week’s loss to Penrith.
His return gave the Broncos direction and belief in a vital second win for the season.
Drinkwater let one Reynolds floater bounce in the first half and the game looked up. The Broncos spun it wide for Jesse Arthars to make it 14-0 in as many minutes after hooker Billy Walters had scooted over early.
A pinpoint Reynolds grubber kick set up centre Kotoni Staggs for another try..
The Cowboys were ill-disciplined and kept themselves in the game through individual brilliance
Taulagi flew down the left touchline and kicked infield off the outside of his boot for the ball to land in centre Valentine Holmes’s lap for their first try.
Some Drinkwater genius to step Tristan Sailor and sprint away to score in the corner earned North Queensland their second.
The Cowboys went to sleep at marker in the 54th minute and bench hooker Tyson Smoothy darted over for a 26-12 lead.
Ezra Mam and veteran Corey Oates iced the win with late tries.
The Broncos had previously won only seven of 20 games without representative prop Payne Haas since 2019.
In Haas’s absence with a knee injury, lock Pat Carrigan had his best game of the season.
– With AAP
