Cowboys put Knights to the sword

The North Queensland Cowboys overcome the Newcastle Knights 28-2 in Townsville. Source: Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images

THE rugby league truism that North Queensland's fortunes are decided by Johanthan Thurston's form has become irrelevant.

This season, the Cowboys' win-loss record is dependant on halfback Robert Lui and fullback Michael Morgan.

In coach Paul Green's first win in four games last night, Lui and Morgan were sensational.

So was Thurston, but the champion five-eighth always is.

The Cowboys first 80-minute performance of the year resulted in a 28-2 victory over a distracted Newcastle side.

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James Tamou is tackled by Willie Mason. Source: Getty Images

Morgan bagged two tries while Lui had a better game than halves partner Thurston, creating line breaks, tries and busting tackles at will.

Lui and Morgan combined for 10 tackle busts, which was more than the Cowboys' entire forward pack.

Lui's form against Newcastle was vastly improved from limp performances in previous weeks, proving Green was right to stick with the under-siege half.

While Morgan's second try was a solo special as he chased his own grubber, tripped over but somehow power-crawled to score in front 11,189 fans in Townsville.

More importantly, Morgan was error free for the first time since round one.

The Cowboys receive excellence from Thurston each week but only win games when his co-stars perform like main attractions.

Ray Thompson scores for the Cowboys. Source: Getty Images

Lui and Morgan were central to two of the Cowboys' three first-half tries and their 16-2 lead at the break.

Paul Green told anyone who would listen that North QUeensland's woes would end if they cut their errors in half.

Last night they slashed their mistakes from 21 against the Titans the previous week to 11.

To be fair, the Knights played like a team exhausted from one of the most tragic incidents in rugby league history.

Their victory over Cronulla a week earlier was built on an emotional adrenalin dump in the wake of Alex McKinnon's awful injury.

Last night their performance was completely devoid of energy and they rarely looked like scoring.

Joel Riethmuller is tackled by Adam Clydsdale. Source: Getty Images

The Cowboys looked like scoring on most plays.

They used a simple structure with Thurston patrolling the left-side attack and Lui the right, until they got into the opposition's 20m line where Thurston roamed free.

North scored three tries in 10 minutes in the first half as Thurston, Lui and Morgan ran amok.

The Cowboys also dominated the early stages of the second half but they received a blow when gun second-rower Taumalolo was taken from the field nursing his shoulder after a spectacular but unsuccessful dive for a loose ball.

Taumalolo's early diagnosis is a minor AC joint injury.

Last night's win was crucial for the Cowboys.

Matthew Wright celebrates scoring on his Cowboys debut. Source: Getty Images

If they lost they would have been placed last on the ladder.

Now they are within striking distance of the top eight.

However, North Queensland face back to back games in Sydney against likely-finalists Wests Tigers and Manly.

They could be without Tariq Sims who was placed on report for a shoulder charge that appeared to collect Knights' half Tyrone Roberts high.

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