They may have left it late but the Sea Eagles have come from behind to snatch a thrilling 26-21 victory from the Cowboys at Central Coast Stadium.
Five-eighth Kieran Foran starred late for the home side as he scored a try to level scores before providing the match-winner for Jamie Buhrer.
The Cowboys had a one-point lead courtesy of a Johnathan Thurston 75th minute field goal, but the Sea Eagles showed their class as Foran helped steer his side to a memorable win.
The Sea Eagles were dealt a double blow on the eve of kick off as they were forced to take the field without halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (leg) and forward Jason King (groin).
To add to Manly’s injury woes, Anthony Watmough played no part in the second half as the back rower yielded to an elbow injury in a tackle late in the first half.
In some doubt before the match with a broken nose, Steve Matai showed no sign of injury as he crossed for Manly’s first inside five minutes.
The ever-reliable Brett Stewart putting Matai through a gapping whole as the centre joined Parramatta’s Semi Radradra at the top of the NRL’s try-scoring list with nine tries.
However, it would be all the Cowboys up until half time as Thurston showed his worth, setting up all three of his side’s first half tries.
Kyle Feldt getting North Queensland on the scoreboard as he plucked the ball out of mid air courtesy of a flat cross-field kick from his No.6.
Thurston then put centre Brent Tate over twice before half time to have his side leading 14-6 at the break.
The Sea Eagles were starved of possession in the first half as they were forced to defend their line for the majority of the firs half.
However, after being awarded their first penalty 48 minutes into the match, winger Jorge Taufua crossed in the corner to have his side back within four points.
After gaining some momentum, the Sea Eagles let it slip as they conceded a try to debutant Curtis Rona.
But down by 10, the Sea Eagles produced a late surge to equal courtesy of tries to Taufua and Foran.
Thurston thought he had the match winner five minutes from full time with a field goal, but it took a piece of magic from Foran to steal the game, double pumping to put Buhrer over for the match-winner.
