A slugfest blossomed into an absolute thriller on Sunday evening at Accor Stadium as Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton went from zero to hero with a marvellous field goal in golden point to sink a flabbergasted Cowboys outfit.
Josh Reynolds’ return to Canterbury colours after six long years played out in the most spectacular fashion as the Cowboys failed to capitalise on an 8-0 lead in a remarkable 15-14 defeat.
With 20 minutes remaining and the game in the balance, Cowboys fullback Tom Chester rolled his way over the line to ultimately put his side ahead 14-6 after Valentine Holmes’ conversion.
However, Bulldogs fans roared to life when Reed Mahoney set up Jacob Preston for a 67th minute try to trail 14-10.
Double the decibels of those cheers when Josh Addo-Carr scored a wonderful try down the left wing to level scores with 45 seconds remaining.
Burton stepped up for the match-defining conversion. It looked good off the boot but his kick cannoned into the left upright, eight years on from Johnathan Thurston’s grand final heart-stopper at the same venue.
Matt Burton celebrates his match-winning field goal.Credit:Getty
Both teams struggled to get out of their own half in the first period of extra time before Addo-Carr motored his way down field to get the Bulldogs in striking distance with seconds remaining.
Burton, wanting to be the man of the moment, got the ball again and as cool as you like, iced a 30-metre field goal 10 metres in from touch.
Multiply those cheers by 10 as the Bulldogs celebrated their come-from-behind victory and a spot in the top eight.
Preston bagged two tries for the Bulldogs against a Cowboys outfit with some soul-searching to do before an all-Queensland clash against a wounded Dolphins outfit on Friday.
Josh Addo-Carr’s final-minute try tied things up at Accor Stadium.Credit:Getty
Both teams, with two wins each this season, chanced their arm with short kicks and entertaining play but couldn’t crack each other’s defence.
On a wet evening, Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden showed outstanding vision to bag the first try of the game with a chip-and-chase.
With no fullback cover, Dearden raced through to regather and get the visitors’ confidence running high.
Canterbury were reduced to 12 men when Jayden Okunbor was sin-binned and put on report for a hip drop on Jason Taumalolo in the 14th minute.
There were initial fears Taumalolo had suffered a serious injury but the Cowboys star ran it off and continued his bulldozing ways with 169 metres.
A penalty put North Queensland ahead 8-0 before Burton’s deft grubber kick sat up beautifully for fifth-gamer Preston.
Up 8-6, the Cowboys were denied two tries before half-time.
An uncomfortable eye injury to Max King looked like ending the Bulldogs forward’s night but after receiving medical treatment, he returned to the field much to the surprise of onlookers.
It was a memorable night for one of the club’s favourite sons in Reynolds.
No doubt itching to get into the action, Reynolds entered the game with 28 minutes remaining.
He was right in the thick of it at the end.
Another day, another NRL thriller.
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