Injury outs Johns again
April 16, 2006
Newcastle 16 Cowboys 18
NEWCASTLE captain Andrew Johns could be sidelined for up to two weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage in his side's thrilling loss to North Queensland at EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight.
Despite rolling his left ankle in the 32rd minute of game, Johns played through the pain after having his foot re-strapped at half-time. Knights doctor Neil Halpin said Johns was an "outside chance" of playing against Melbourne next Saturday night, but it's likely he'll be sidelined for one to two weeks.
Johns was too upset to speak after the match, only offering an "I'm shattered" when asked about the injury in the sheds.
The sellout match was dubbed a possible grand final preview due to the scintillating early-season showings of both teams, with halfbacks Johns and Thurston receiving plenty of media attention as the form players in the game.
Despite Johns' injury, the match lived up to the hype, with Thurston scoring a crucial try and the Newcastle playmaker calling the shots for the Knights in his club record 230th game.
While all eyes were on the halfbacks, it was excitement machine Matt Bowen who made the match-winning play, scoring a spectacular solo try six minutes from full-time to steal victory for the visitors.
With seemingly nothing on, Bowen chipped ahead from the opposition's 30-metre line and regathered before stepping past Knights fullback Milton Thaiday to score.
"It was just one of those top-of-my head things that come to me now and then," Bowen said.
Cowboys coach Graham Murray described it as "pretty special".
"There are few blokes that can do it at that point in time – he's one of them."
Both coaches agreed that Thurston had done enough to deserve Test selection.
"My philosophy is that with the Australian side you have to give them the best players in the competition in this point in time," Murray said.
"He is one the best players in this competition."
Newcastle coach Michael Hagan agreed.
"He's one of the form players of the competition ... I thought we handled him today probably as well as we could.
"I think he's certainly in the top 13 or 17 in the country.
"Whether or not he gets a start, he's in the top echelon of players at the moment."
With the attacking talents of Bowen, Johns, Thurston and Danny Buderus on show, a capacity crowd of 26,048 were expecting an avalanche of tries, but the defence of both sides was a hallmark of the game.
And in a dramatic twist, referee Paul Simpkins pulled his calf muscle in the 28th minute and was unable to continue, pitching little-known whistleblower Tony Des Las Heras into the fray.
In what was an unexpected first grade debut after earlier officiating in Jersey Flegg, Des Las Heras caned the home side, with the Cowboys winning the penalty count 12-6.
Despite injuries to Kirk Reynoldson (calf) and knocks to Brian Carney Johns, the Knights took command after scoring tries a minute either side of half-time.
But a try to Thurston in the 73rd minute kept them in the game and then Bowen's scorcher proved the difference.
NEWCASTLE 16 (D Buderus G Carmont M Gidley tries A Johns 2 goals)
NORTH QUEENSLAND 18 (M Bowen M Sargent J Thurston tries J Thurston 3 goals) at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Referee: Paul Simpkins (replaced by Tony Des Las Heras).
Crowd: 26,048.
AAP
