North Queensland have commemorated club legend Jason Taumalolo’s 300th NRL game with an upset 26-12 victory over ladder-leading Penrith.
Two tries to back-rower Jeremiah Nanai, the latter coming from a flying kick retrieval effort over star Panthers Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards, proved the difference for the Cowboys who ended their three-game losing run.
But it would be Taumalolo who ended Saturday’s home game the toast of Townsville, swamped by teammates after the 14-point victory, his first milestone victory.
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With Tonga’s Queen and Prime Minister watching in the stands amid a big crowd, the blockbusting international turned back the clock with a massive 155 run metres, including one bruising run that resulted in a head injury assessment for Penrith counterpart Isaiah Papali’i.
The Cowboys have now recorded the most victories over Penrith since the Panthers’ historic run of form commenced in 2021.
The hosts set the tone early by forcing a Moses Leota error in the first play of the game.
A minute later, winger Murray Taulagi crossed for the game’s first four-pointer in an ominous glimpse into Penrith’s immediate future.
A week on from their shock 19-18 loss to the Gold Coast, Penrith looked bound for another defeat north of the border early in the first half after recording an uncharacteristic seven errors.
They turned the tide two minutes before the break, capitalising on a mistake from Taulagi when Panther Tom Jenkins scored his second try out wide following a magic cross-field kick from Jack Cogger.
Tied up at 10-apiece into the break, Penrith edged ahead with a Nathan Cleary penalty goal early in the second half.
But, with errors and ill-discipline creeping back in, only the Panthers’ superb goal-line defence kept them in the fight.
Two costly penalties gifted the Cowboys back the lead, before late tries to Nanai and halfback Jake Clifford confirmed a famous North Queensland victory.
