Tonga steps up to show youngster who's boss
AFTER reading that his opposite number may not just keep him out of Origin this year but was also the ''new Mal Meninga'', North Queensland's Willie Tonga last night ran rings around hapless youngster Joseph Tomane.
The 26-year-old Tonga led the NRL for line-breaks before taking the field for last night's Dairy Farmers Stadium clash with Gold Coast, but was still not rated a certainty to be Justin Hodges' replacement in the Queensland side should Israel Folau be fit.
Regardless of whether the former Australian international intended to prove a point against his 20-year-old rival, he certainly did in the Cowboys' 32-18 win.
But the score that completed the veteran's second career hat-trick underlined the result of the personal duel as he handed rugby union convert Tomane a forceful fend in the face before also disposing of Preston Campbell's challenge on the way to the line.
Without injured captain Scott Prince, the previously undefeated Titans managed to come back to 20-10 and 26-18 down in the second session but the Cowboys - and captain Johnathan Thurston in particular - always had their measure.
And it was Tomane that halfback Thurston beat when he strolled over for the clincher - approved by video referee Chris Ward - with seven minutes to go. The pair had collided early in the match, Thurston's ankle-tap preventing Tomane making it six tries in as many games.
Thurston also managed to keep his perfect goalkicking record for the year alive with another superlative six-from-six display.
The result leaves Melbourne alone at the top of the NRL as the only unbeaten side after four rounds.
Both sides had early scoring chances which they blew - which was characteristic of a North Queensland side which had failed to post a first-half try all season.
NORTH QUEENSLAND 32 (W Tonga 3 L O'Donnell J Thurston tries J Thurston 6 goals) bt GOLD COAST 18 (M Minichiello 2 S Tagataese tries M Rogers 3 goals) at Dairy Farmers Stadium. Referee: Steve Lyons, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 15,551.
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