We’re counting down our final season at our inaugural home ground – with just nine regular season home games left at 1300SMILES Stadium, we take a look at the rivalry played out in North Queensland between the Toyota Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm.
History
Meetings – 20
Head to head – Cowboys 6 wins, Storm 14 wins
Biggest victories – Cowboys def. Storm 40-8 in Rd 3, 2006; Storm def Cowboys 58-12 in Rd 14, 2007
First meeting
1998 – Round 15: Storm def. Cowboys 10-8
Melbourne became an instant powerhouse upon entering the competition in 1998, while the Cowboys were still finding their feet in their fourth season. Both sides could only manage a try apiece during their first meeting in North Queensland, but the boot of Melbourne winger Craig Smith guided the Storm to a two-point victory. Winger Ray Mercy scored the only try for the Cowboys, while Josh Hannay kicked two goals from three attempts.
Highlight
2015 – Round 4: Cowboys def. Storm 18-17
After dropping the first three games of the season and trailing 16-4 to the Storm juggernaut in Round 4, the Cowboys 2015 season has started in disastrous fashion. A Cooper Cronk field goal extended the Storm’s lead to 17-10, but Cowboys winger Matt Wright scored in the 79th minute and Johnathan Thurston stepped up to nail the conversion from the right touchline to reduce the deficit to a point. A JT field goal from the ensuing set of six with just seconds remaining sent the game to golden point. Thurston and Cronk traded field goal attempts in extra time before the Cowboys legend split the uprights to hand the Cowboys a thrilling victory and send the 1300SMILES Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Last regular season game
2018 – Round 12: Storm def. Cowboys 7-6
A second one-point heartbreaker for the Cowboys in as many weeks after falling 20-19 to the Rabbitohs a week earlier. Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster kicked a field goal in the 72nd minute to give the Storm a 7-6 lead. Michael Morgan crossed for the Cowboys in the 75th minute for a seemingly match-winning try, but the video referee ruled no try due to an obstruction.
Preview
The Storm are flying high on top of the competition ladder after winning each of their first four matches, while the Cowboys sit 15th with one win through four outings.
