North Queensland have a lot to play for in the home clash with Melbourne but coach Todd Payten is not buying into their under-strength opponents being pushovers. The Storm have made 11 changes to the side that wrapped up the minor premiership last week, while keeping big guns Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster in the team for Thursday night's clash in Townsville. The Cowboys welcome back 2015 premiership-winning prop Jason Taumalolo from a fractured cheek and Queensland second-rower Jeremiah Nanai from concussion protocols.
Payten made it clear Melbourne were a great club, no matter the personnel in the side, ahead of a clash that has massive finals implications for the Cowboys. The Cowboys are in sixth position on 32 points, one ahead of Manly. A win over the Storm will go a long way towards securing a home final
"We spoke as a group that who is playing for them is irrelevant," Payten said.
"They are sitting three wins clear at the top of the competition after 26 rounds and have played the bulk of the season without Munster and Papenhuyzen.
"They are going to pay the physical toll to get a win, as they have for a number of years, so it doesn't matter who is playing.
"What the Storm have done over a long period of time is that when they are perceived to be on the back foot, their more senior players step up.
"It is about what we do and what we are playing for and making sure we are playing our type of footy moving into September."
The Storm have rested the bulk of their top squad for the match, mostly because they have secured top spot and the fixture was scheduled just five days after their 48-6 win over the Dolphins. Payten said he would have done the same thing if he was in the Storm's position.
Storm trio Keagan Russell-Smith, Tristan Powell and Ativalu Lisati are listed to make their NRL debuts from the bench.
Payten said Nanai was a key inclusion after missing a week with concussion and then enjoying a further week off to recover with last round's bye.
Taumalolo last played in the round-21 win over Cronulla when he fractured his cheek.
"Jase was able to run in all but one of those weeks he had out and hasn't lost a lot of condition," Payten said.
"Both of those guys make us a better team. Jase is great through the middle and a calming influence. Jeremiah is a steady body on that right edge and makes the guys feel safer and more comfortable with how they defend around him."
The Cowboys Secure Home Final With Scrappy Win Over Storm
Ryan Papenhuyzen was an early casualty as North Queensland's scrappy defeat of a patchwork Melbourne went closer to locking in a Townsville start to their NRL finals campaign.
The Storm made 11 changes to the side that wrapped up the minor premiership last week but kept big guns Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster in the line-up.
Papenhuyzen lasted just 14 minutes though, the injury-plagued fullback grabbing at his lower leg after returning a ball from the in-goal area.
He didn't return but the club waived away fears of another serious injury, stating he had suffered a lower leg cork as he cut a relaxed figure on the sideline.
Melbourne centre Marion Seve (ankle) also left the game early after his leg was caught in an unsuccessful attempt to stretch for a try.
The Key Moments of the Game
Fresh off a bye, the Cowboys missed 27 tackles to the Storm's four in the first half and were guilty of slack defence on all three tries conceded.
Two errors in as many minutes to begin the contest allowed Lazarus Vaalepu to barge over for his first NRL try.
Kyle Feldt and Murray Taulagi responded with four-pointers for the hosts before Alec MacDonald kept his elbow off the turf to avoid a double movement and register another soft Melbourne try.
Tyran Wishart then pulled the Cowboys' pants down from the scrum base, going himself to fool Jeremiah Nanai and score the Storm's third.
But Super League-bound Felt's second, and a third laser-like sideline conversion from Valentine Holmes, who kicked seven-of-seven, ensured the hosts went to the break with a lead despite completing just 12 first-half sets.
Holmes, in his 200th game, then scored himself after North Queensland opted to run at a disjointed defensive line on the last tackle to begin the second half.
The Storm slotted a penalty goal then a short Cowboys drop-out backfired when forward Griffin Neame wasn't able to clean up a loose ball, Wishart the first to dive on the loose ball and then level the scores.
North Queensland hit straight back though, Reece Robson diving on a loose ball after Tom Dearden's offload on the tryline was knocked down.
They then repelled a series of Melbourne attacks before Dean Ieremia's attempt to swipe a ball dead failed and Nanai scored the simplest of tries.
Ativalu Lisati scored a brilliant, late solo try on debut while Sualauvi Faalogo was electric at fullback after Papenhuyzen's exit.
A Nail-Biting Finish
Wishart goes short to Lisati, he punches through, sells Drinkwater a dummy and the debutant front-rower has scored an outstanding solo try! What a beauty!
Wishart converts and it's 38-30 Cows.
Back to back penalties puts the Cowboys on the attack and the chance for Holmes to put his side out to a 14-point lead and he makes no mistake. Cows lead 38-24.
Clifford pokes a kick to the corner, it takes two wicked bounces and falls perfectly for Nanai, who brings it around under the posts to score the game that should wrap this game up.
Holmes converts and it's 36-24 Cowboys.
Dearden takes them on, beats two defenders, looks for Robson on the inside but Lisati knocks the pass down only for Robson to get to the loose ball anyway and score. This game keeps going back and forth and once Holmes converts it's 30-24 Cowboys.
Wishart forces drop outs on back-to-back sets, the Cowboys go short, Clifford flies high to tap it back, it falls to Neame, he loses it and Wishart is there to score an easy try! Dominant stuff from the most improved player in the NRL - can he round it out by nailing the goal and levelling the scores?
You bet he can - we're locked up at 24-all.
Moeroa gets hit high by Taumalolo and Wishart takes the two from right in front and Melbourne pull it back to 24-18.
Dearden swings it back to the blind where he finds Drinkwater, he shoots a pass out to Holmes, on to Taulagi and back to Holmes for a very slick try.
Holmes nails the kick and it's 24-16 Cowboys.
Storm get us started for the second stanza!
The First Half
A woolly old half, that. Plenty of points, an early mark for Papenhuyzen....feels like it's right up for grabs right now.
Clifford pressures Fa'alogo into an error off a towering Drinkwater bomb and on the next play the Cowboys go left, Nanai gets it to Feldt and he's over for his second.
What a strange old half of footy - can Holmes put the Cowboys in front at the break? He's been in top form from the sideline lately....and he drills it! It's 18-16 Cowboys.
Wishart breaks down the left from the scrum, Nanai totally overreads it and Wishart sells him a huge dummy to go over! Geez that's poor from Nanai and very sharp from Wishart, he's one of the most improved players in the league, the Storm utility.
Wishart converts his own try and it's 16-12 Storm.
Munster goes short to Macdonald and he looks to reach out and score....it initially looks like a double movement but upon another viewing the ball just stays off the ground.
That's two tries in two weeks for the hard-working forward - not a bad return given he only had one in his whole career before that!
Wishart converts...no he doesn't, it smashes into the post! Storm narrow the gap to 12-10.
Dearden links with Drinkwater and Holmes and they put Taulagi over in the corner. Melbourne are still trying to form up after the injuries to Papenhuyzen and Seve and the Cowboys take advantage. Holmes converts from touch and it's 12-6 Cowboys.
Big news with the Storm fullback leaving the field. No word yet on what the injury may be. Fa'alogo has gone to fullback, Anderson has switched to the wing and Keegan Russell-Smith comes on at halfback.
A high tackle on Seve gives Melbourne a chance at reply. Munster angles a kick out to the wing, Anderson tips it back inside to Seve and he slams it down! But the video ref says he's knocked it on.
A crusher tackle on Luki puts the Cowboys on the attack, Drinkwater slides to the outside of Munster and flicks a beautiful back-hander pass that Feldt catches and scores!
Great pass from Drinkwater and a nice moment for Feldt, who announced earlier this week he'll be leaving the club at the end of the season for the Super League.
Holmes converts from touch and it's 6-all.
