Sixth win in a row for Cowboys

premiership but have now firmed into fourth favourites at 12-1.

They will travel to the Gold Coast next Sunday to meet the Titans before another Queenslandderby match against the Broncos. They have the bye in Round 24.

Round Up

BY ALF WILSON

The North Queensland Cowboys have charged into seventh spot on the NRL ladder after defeating last year’s grand finalists the Parramatta Eels 24-16 in front of a capacity crowd at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

Reuben Cotter, once again, was in good form.

Cowboys are now favoured to make the top four in the finals and earn a double chance.

Months ago they were rated 100-1 chances to win the

Gagai return for Knights win

Star centre Dane Gagai returned after a foot injury to play a big role in the Newcastle Knights upset 26-18 win over the Melbourne Storm at a full McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.

The Knights fought back from 12-nil down to win before a parochial local Newcastle crowd.

It was a great second half fightback by the Knights, who now sit just outside the top eight.

The Storm host the Eels at Marvel Stadium next Friday night, while the Knights travel to Canberra on Saturday.

Hammer gets a rest

After a rigorous

State of Origin Series campaign for the Queensland Maroons, quality Dolphins back Hamiso “Hammer”

Tabuai-Fidow (pictured right) got a well earned rest in round 21 when his side had a bye.

Now considered an NRL marquee player, Hammer will be back in action against the Bulldogs next week. AJ becomes third highest NRL try scorer.

The high rolling Brisbane Broncos, for whom five eighth Ezra Mam played a major role, defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-20 in front of a massive crowd at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday night.

For the Rabbitohs, Alex “AJ” Johnson scored a clever try at the fifth minute and became the third all-time NRL highest tryscorer with 181.

Elusive AJ opened the Rabbitohs account courtesy of some precision passes from teammates.

Rising star Ezra partnered number seven Adam Reynolds who was best on the ground in the Broncos halves.

Ezra left the field in the 66th minute with reported cramping and did not return.

Recording their third-straight victory, the Broncos moved to second on the leader board while the Rabbitohs have been left clinging just outside of the top eight.

In round 22, the Rabbitohs travel to Tamworth to meet the Wests Tigers whilst the Broncos host the Roosters at the Gabba. Long trip by Seb for narrow loss

Mabuiag Island is a long way from Auckland in New Zealand and Sebastian “Seb” Kris had a good game when his Canberra Raiders lost 21-20 to the home side the Warriors there in round 21 on Friday night.

The Raiders scored four tries to three and the game went into golden point extra time after scores were deadlocked at 20-20 after 80 minutes of entertaining football.

Fullback Seb was strong and will be a key player as the Raiders look certain to be one of the teams in the looming NRL finals series.

In one highlight just before halftime, Seb looked set to score a try but was the ball was knocked from his grasp by Warriors winger Watene-Zelezniak.

The Raiders will host the Knights at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon while the Warriors enjoy a bye before heading to the Gold Coast in Round 23. Titans in the loss to Roosters

Blockbusting forward David Fifita was part of the Titans side which lost 36-18 to an improved Sydney Roosters team on Saturday.

The Roosters had the game wrapped up at halftime when they led 30-nil.