June 28, 2008

SOUTH Sydney scored the second biggest comeback victory in NRL history with a miraculous 29-28 win over North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Souths looked gone for all money with the lead blowing out to 28-4 in the 49th minute but put on four tries to level the scores in the 75th.

Rookie Chris Sandow then nailed a field goal in the last minute but the drama didn't end there.

Cowboys full-back Anthony Watts managed to squeeze in a field goal attempt of his own after the siren, only to have it charged down by a Souths defender.

The comeback win was second only in the NRL to the Cowboys' own effort in 1998 when they beat Penrith 36-28 after being down 26-0 at half-time.

Souths began well thanks to the return of star recruit Craig Wing however the visitors were unable to capitalise on the early attacking opportunities and the Cowboys were ahead 12-4 at half-time thanks to two converted tries.

In a nine minute blitz after half-time the Cowboys moved to 28-4 with Ash Graham scoring a double and centre partner Ben Harris bagging a four-pointer of his own.

Souths then launched their comeback with three tries in quick succession to Fetuli Talanoa, Beau Champion and Wing to bring the lead back to just six points in the 61st minute.

Luke Capewell crossed in the 74th minute and Issac Luke levelled with a sideline conversion before Sandow's clincher.

South Sydney coach Jason Taylor was pleased with the win but not with how his side came to be 24 points down in the first place.

“It was an amazing comeback and a great performance in the end but the last half an hour of what we did before that wasn't good enough,'' Taylor said.

“We won't dwell on that here, it was a great victory in the end but we have got to play from the start and we certainly didn't.

Despite the 24 point deficit Taylor never lost belief that his side could mount a comeback because of their recent penchant for putting on quick points.

“You never give up completely ... because what we have done the last few weeks,'' he said.

“We are showing that we can score some tries - earlier in the year we definitely would have been gone.''

North Queensland coach Ian Millward said his side, who are last on the ladder after nine straight defeats, were shattered.

“The boys are absolutely devastated; there is not much I can report on,'' he said.

“If you have been involved in sport you can imagine how they feel.

“They played really well there for long periods and controlled the game and the momentum swung and we had to do a lot of defending in the second half.''

The Cowboys' player crisis is set to worsen with representative forward Carl Webb taken to hospital for scans on a suspected broken right ankle sustained midway through the first half.