Roosters hold off luckless Cowboys to stay in NRL title defence

19 September 2014 12:46

Defending National Rugby League champions Sydney Roosters survived a controversial referee's call to end North Queensland's season with a pulsating 31-30 semi-final win in Sydney on Friday.

A 76th-minute drop goal from stand-off James Maloney kept the Roosters' title hopes alive after the Cowboys threatened to pull off the biggest comeback in 106 years of premiership rugby league.

The Roosters appeared home and dry after producing a five-try, point-a-minute blitz to lead 30-0 after half an hour.

But inspired by mercurial scrum-half Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys roared back to 30-all with 23 minutes remaining.

Several controversial referee calls against the Cowboys led to their downfall, however.

With the match deadlocked at eight minutes left, Roosters New Zealand dual international Sonny Bill Williams appeared to drop the ball in a tackle.

The referees deemed otherwise, awarding the Roosters a penalty, with Maloney landing the match-winning drop goal three minutes later.

Thurston was over the try-line in the final minute but the video referee made a contentious knock-on call in the lead-up and the try was disallowed and with it went North Queensland's hopes.

The Roosters' gripping win sets up a blockbuster preliminary final with South Sydney next Friday with a place in the grand final on offer.

It was the third consecutive year the Cowboys have been on the receiving end of controversial referee decisions to bow out of the finals.

Source: AFP