Jake Clifford made a stunning NRL return to lead North Queensland to a 42-4 defeat of Canberra that all but ensures the Cowboys a place in the finals.
Clifford was recalled for his first match in 11 weeks after North Queensland coach Todd Payten dropped veteran halfback Chad Townsend and made an immediate impact, scoring a try and laying on three others.
He also ran a team high 202m with the ball and combined seamlessly with star five-eighth Tom Dearden, hooker Reece Robson and fullback Scott Drinkwater.
Centre Val Holmes scored three tries and scored 26 points just days after telling team-mates he was leaving to join the Dragons, while veteran winger Kyle Feldt crossed for a brace.
Valentine Holmes 2nd Try
The Cowboys are in seventh place, two points of the Dolphins and Dragons, and have a bye next weekend before matches against the Storm and Bulldogs.
Clifford celebrated his return to the NRL by scoring the first try of the match after putting hooker Reece Robson through a gap and then backing up to receive the ball back and cross in the fifth minute.
Jake Clifford Try
Departing centre Val Holmes, who has signed with the Dragons for the next three seasons, put the Cowboys further ahead when he scored in the 18th minute,
A 30th minute Seb Kris try stemmed the tide for the Raiders but it was shortlived as Kyle Feldt scored five minutes later from a scrum before Tom Dearden crossed to put the home side ahead 24-4 at halftime.
Kyle Feldt 1st Try
Holmes scored his second try in the 44th minute and his third just three minutes later, while Feldt completed his double in the 59th minute.
Match: Cowboys v Raiders
Round 24 -
home Team
Cowboys
7th Position
away Team
Raiders
11th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Match snapshot
- Cowboys prop Reuben Cotter was placed on report for high contact on Morgan Smithies.
- Raiders prop Josh Papali'i was placed on report for dropping his knee onto Val Holmes.
- Raiders forward Emre Guller was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Jordan McLean
- The Cowboys have won their last six games against the Raiders.
- Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has scored seven tries in his past four games.
- Val Holmes now has the two highest pointscoring hauls in matches for North Queensland, with his 26 points against the Raiders being just short of the 30 points he scored last season against Wests Tigers.
- The Raiders have won only two of their past nine away games.
- Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden played his 100th NRL game.
Play of the game
Valentine Holmes 3rd Try
What they said
Cowboys: Round 24
Raiders: Round 24