2007 Round 24 vs North Queensland Cowboys:
North Queensland 34 defeated Newcastle 18.
Newcastle put in a much improved effort against North Queensland, but couldn’t prevent their first loss in their final home game of the year since 1999. The Knights tried valiantly, but in the end the third placed Cowboys just had too much firepower – with Matt Bowen in particular having an exceptional attacking match.
Newcastle made a perfect start in the 7th minute though. Having forced a line drop-out, Cooper Vuna received the ball and charged right through Paul Bowman to score, in a 35 metre run.
Johnathan Thurston hit back for the Cowboys in the 18th minute when he dived over thanks to a mesmerising long Matt Bowen run. Then Ashley Graham forced his way over out wide in the 22nd, and Ty Williams did the same in the 33rd.
But unlike previous weeks, Newcastle did not throw in the towel when down at the break, and hit back to lead early in the second half. First Chris Bailey was the recipient of a crisp Danny Buderus pass to get over from close range in the 47th minute, then Cory Paterson pushed off several North Queensland defenders in the 50th, to hand Newcastle an 18-16 lead.
Unfortunately, the match swung in the 55th minute, when Newcastle, hot on attack, threw a wayward pass. Ashley Graham intercepted and ran 95 metres to score, nipping the Knights’ comeback in the bud. The Cowboys added two further tries to widen the margin, to former Knight Neil Sweeney in the 64th, and Matt Bowen in the 75th.
Newcastle can be proud of their effort, however. Obviously playing injured, Danny Buderus was outstanding for the Knights. It was also the home farewell to a multitude of players, with Adam Woolnough, Josh Perry and Brad Tighe heading off in 2008, and Daniel Abraham, George Carmont and Reegan Tanner unlikely to stay (amongst others).
What they said:
Adam Woolnough:
"I would have liked a win six weeks ago. It'd be nice to get one win and celebrate with the boys. It's been a long time coming. Who cares about the two points? I'm not even worried about the spoon. I just want to get a win."
Brian Smith:
[On Ashley Graham's vital intercept try] "If the ball goes to one of two or three of our players, we're likely to score, but it didn't. That was a great catch, a wonderful catch."
"Cooper Vuna had an intercept opportunity just before half-time. He probably saved a try, but so did Ash Graham, and he put it down at the other end."
"[They tried] particularly hard, from the beginning to the end. Everybody put a huge effort in. I think it meant a lot to everybody. We weren't quite good enough but we gave it everything."
[On next Friday against Wests] "We'd like to sing that song again, just like everybody else does. That'll top the season off, to be able to sing that song for one more time. That's what the boys were talking about in the dressing room."