The Wests Tigers have won ugly in Townsville, beating North Queensland 27-26 in extra time thanks to a 73rd-minute penalty try to Michael Chee-Kam and a field goal to the evergreen Benji Marshall.
Chee-Kam was in the process of scoring a try on Friday night when he was caught across the head by Cowboys fullback Jordan Kahu which knocked the ball free.
The incident was sent to the bunker as a no-try by the referees but, on closer inspection, the decision was reversed to give the Tigers the lead.
After a Cowboys penalty goal equalled the scores at 26-26, five-eighth Marshall won the match, slotting a field goal in golden point.
North Queensland had fought out of an 18-0 hole, unable to stop an avalanche of early Tigers tries. Second-rower Chee-Kam, Ryan Matterson and David Nofaluma all scored to make up for their scoreless night the week before against Canberra.
But a fortuitous run of events turned the match the way of the Cowboys when Kyle Feldt, Javid Bowen and Michael Morgan all scored off Tigers errors.
Their comeback took full flight in the 68th minute when Morgan threw a marvellous cut out ball for Feldt's second try to take the lead for the first time in the match.
But, after Chee-Kam's controversial second try and a frantic period of extra time, when the Tigers had three attempts at Marshall's winner, the home side were left with nothing.
It might get worse for North Queensland with representative forward Coen Hess unable to return to the field after being left clutching at his knee early in the second half.
Both sides have next weekend off. The Tigers will take on South Sydney on Thursday June 27, while the Cowboys will be away the following night to St George Illawarra.
