Valentine Holmes kicks 45-metre field goal as Cowboys win EPIC 93-minute qualifying final in golden point against Cronulla
- North Queensland beat Cronulla 32-30 in qualifying final on Saturday
- Valentine Holmes kicked winning field goal in golden point for the Cowboys
- Holmes had levelled the score with less than a minute to play in regulation time
- Cowboys are through to the preliminary final and will have next week off
- Cronulla will play loser of Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney in the semi-final
Valentine Holmes was the hero as the Cowboys beat Cronulla 32-30 in a dramatic qualifying final on Saturday.
The North Queensland centre kicked the crucial conversion with less than a minute to go to level the score, before nailing a 45-metre field goal to win the game in golden point.
The win guarantees the Cowboys will host a preliminary final in Townsville for the first time.
Valentine Holmes (right) kicked a 45-metre field goal to win the qualifying final 32-30 in golden point for the Cowboys against the Sharks on Saturday
The winner of the semi-final between Parramatta and Canberra is the only hurdle remaining between them and a place in the Grand Final.
The defeat was just Cronulla’s second at home this season and they will now face the winner of Sunday’s clash between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney in a sudden-death game at Allianz Stadium next week.
After 10 minutes of extra-time when neither side was able to score, it was left to Sharks premiership winner Holmes to slot the two-pointer against his former team and give the Cowboys victory from 45 metres out.
Cronulla’s points tally was the highest for a losing side in a finals game since 2014 and the Sharks would be kicking themselves as with eight minutes to go in regular time they were firmly in control.
The Cowboys will host a preliminary final in Townsville for the first time in two weeks
Holmes had earlier drew North Queensland level with a 79th minute conversion
Jason Taumalolo (No13) scored the try that allowed North Queensland to draw level
They led by eight points until Connor Tracey was sinbinned for taking out Holmes as he attempted to dive on an in-goal grubber.
Holmes added the penalty goal before converting a late barge-over from Taumalolo sent the game into extra-time.
Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes had a field goal charged down in extra-time before Holmes notched his in golden point.
The Sharks let a six-point lead slip with just a minute left to play and lost in golden point
It was nip and tuck throughout the game with the scores tied 18-18 at half-time, and then 30-30 at the end of 80 minutes.
Chad Townsend was key to the Cowboys’ fortunes as he returned to play his former club for the first time since leaving for Townsville last year.
His kick set up Tom Gilbert for the opening try of the night with Peta Hiku and Tom Dearden also scoring to help the Cowboys get away to a fast start.
Connor Tracey was sinbinned for taking out Holmes as he attempted to dive on an in-goal grubber, with the Cowboys scoring a late try soon afterward
Hynes was faultless from the tee converting tries from Toby Rudolf, Siosifa Talakai and Will Kennedy.
Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi scored first try after the break with Holmes unable to add the extras from the touchline.
That gave the Sharks the upperhand after Cameron McInnes and Kennedy went in for tries late in the second half.
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