Jeremiah Nanai is potentially facing suspension before Origin II after being placed on report for a crusher tackle during North Queensland’s thrilling 32-28 victory over the Tigers. This tackle was reminiscent of one committed by Leo Thompson, who received a four-match ban for a similar infringement on Hamish Stewart, while Jacob Preston faced a similar fate recently.
Nanai’s tackle on Heath Mason, which occurred late in the first half when the Cowboys were ahead 14-6, has put him under scrutiny. The match saw multiple incidents requiring referee attention, including Api Koroisau being reported for a shoulder charge early on. Meanwhile, Jarome Luai was sin-binned for repeated infractions, which proved costly for the Tigers, allowing the Cowboys to score a penalty goal immediately thereafter.
Without Luai, the Tigers struggled, and during his absence, John Bateman and Jaxon Purdue capitalised by crossing for tries. Upon Luai’s return, Starford To’a managed to put points on the board for the Tigers, but the Cowboys responded with Scott Drinkwater scoring just before half-time, extending their lead to 18-6.
In the second half, Nanai contributed a try, helping to push the Cowboys’ advantage to 26-6, followed by Tom Dearden’s effort that seemingly sealed their success at 32-6. However, the Tigers rallied back impressively, with To’a, Mason, Charlie Staines, and Jahrema Bula each scoring, narrowing the gap to just four points within the last few minutes.
Despite the late surge from the Tigers, the Cowboys managed to hold on for the win, avoiding what would have been an extraordinary comeback. This tension-filled match highlighted both the aggressive play and the razor-thin margins typical in NRL contests.