The North Queensland Cowboys abandoned the Newcastle Knights at the bottom of the NRL ladder with a 28-2 demolition in Townsville on Monday night.
In a game between the league’s lowest-ranked teams, the Cowboys conceded first points by way of an early penalty goal from Newcastle half-back Tyrone Roberts but got their noses in front after that.
Sharks signing Matthew Wright got his first try Cowboys colours to open their account in the 19th minute before the ageless Brent Tate crossed for another four-pointer just three minutes later.
Full-back Michael Morgan crossed five minutes later after some nice lead-up work by Johnathan Thurston, but did it all himself in chasing his own grubber to double his tally 10 minutes after half-time.
Hooker Ray Thompson, who left the field with a shattered jaw the last time these two teams played, iced the game for the Cowboys when he took advantage of some tired forwards to dart 40 metres to score.
One negative from the game could be a charge to back rower Tariq Sims for a 78th-minute shot on Roberts.
Knights winger Akuila Uate had another game to forget with a number of errors costing his team possession and field position.
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