Jake Clifford has proven he has what it takes to step up for the Cowboys in the absence of Tom Dearden, with one league great left in awe of his skill while facing the Rabbitohs.
As the clock neared the final seconds in the first half of North Queensland’s 30-18 win on Sunday, Clifford looked for an opportunity to punch more points on the scoreboard.
It was clear a try would be an unrealistic play as the clock counted down, but Clifford was not afraid to take a shot at a two-point field goal.
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Just 10 points separated the two teams at the time, but Clifford’s remarkable strike from 45 metres out flew perfectly between the posts as the half-time siren sounded.
“What about the power in that kick?” Brad Fittler said in commentary on Nine.
“That was off one step. He barely moved … What a strike.”
Jake Clifford kicks a field goal. Nine
Andrew Johns said that moment could “affect the Bunnies psychologically” leading into the break, but Wayne Bennett’s men did not let that stop them from scoring again.
Talanoa Penitani – the younger brother of NRLW superstar Tiana – made the most of his debut in the South Sydney jumper, crossing for his second try in the 55th minute.
The try did not worry the hosts, though, with Helium Luki and Liam Sutton striding over.
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The club’s 30-18 win could have been 36-18 had Tom Chester claimed a double.
Chester looked set to claim a double in the early minutes of the second half but after powering 60 metres down the field he bombed what had appeared to be a certain try.
There was no opposition player near Chester for a large portion of his run, with teammates coming up alongside him in support just in case.
Laybutt had his arms open and was ready to race away with the ball as Dufty came running in to tackle Chester.
But the Cowboys gun refused to dish off the ball and instead waited until his feet had been swept up by Dufty to release the ball, resulting in a forward pass to Laybutt.
“Oh no. He has blown it,” Fittler said.
“How many times do you see outside backs go down field and they cannot find the last pass? It was a simple two-on-one situation,” Cameron Smith added.
Chester made up for his error later in the half, denying Alex Johnston for the second time in the match from scoring a try in the corner. The league’s all-time leading try-scorer did eventually get the ball down in the 76th minute.
Penitani’s debut did not end how he would have liked, suffering a hamstring injury while attempting to make a break down the sideline with 30 seconds left on the clock.
The Rabbitohs also lost Adam Elliott to injury earlier in the second half. Wayne Bennett confirmed post-match that he had suffered a syndesmosis injury.
Adam Elliott is assisted off the field by trainers. Nine
Earlier, a handful of set restarts and some beautiful passing down the line set up Laybutt to snatch the first points in Townsville.
South Sydney looked to reply via Penitani but his leap over Scott Drinkwater to claim the ball did not go to plan, dropping it cold metres out from the line.
“What a start that would’ve been to his career,” Fittler said.
A remarkable 40/20 kick by Reed Mahoney paved the way for the Cowboys to hunt down their second try and Luki was determined to be the man to score.
But despite powering over the line and seemingly holding off a tackle attempt by Dufty, the Bunker denied Luki from claiming the four points due to a double movement.
Johnston made a break down the sideline and found Cody Walker in support, but the playmaker was tackled 20 metres out.
A quick play of the ball followed by some beautiful passing down the line then found Penitani, who grabbed his first career try.
“Don’t underestimate him. Look at that athleticism,” Fittler said.
Mahoney and Chester powered over to bolster the hosts’ lead ahead of the half-time break, but Clifford was not willing to go to the sheds without more points.
Minutes after the Bunker denied South Sydney a try, Clifford took a shot at a two-point field goal to give his team a 18-6 lead at half-time.