Rugby League Coaching Manuals

But with state pride on the line the Cowboys suddenly awoke from their coma, skipper Johnathan Thurston masterminding a 20-minute blitz that saw the scores levelled with 10 minutes to play.

Dominating field-position and possession the Cowboys shunned the chance of a field goal and with just four minutes remaining the match turned again as winger Denan Kemp, playing his first game for the Broncos since returning from an unhappy year in New Zealand scorched down the right-hand touchline to seal a 30-24 win.

"It got a bit hairy there at the end but it would have been a tragedy if we had have lost that game," Broncos coach Ivan Henjak said.

"For 60 minutes we were great, controlled the game. We weathered an early storm and then got on top, but then we seemed to lose our way. We gave them (the Cowboys) some hope and they made the most of it.

"But I am very proud of them that they found a way to wrestle the momentum back and score again, because we were under the pump. It showed a lot of character."

While it will be a night best remembered for its drama it also marked the moment another potential superstar rolled off the Broncos production line.

Handed the daunting task of filling the void left by former fullback Karmichael Hunt's AFL defection, 19-year-old debutant Corey Norman didn't miss a beat, coming up with a series of try-saving tackles and linking into the backline like a seasoned pro.

Norman wasn't the only young star to shine for the Broncos with back rowers Matt Gillett and Mitchell Dodds also showing why their coach had been prepared to throw them into the derby cauldron, both producing powerful displays in front of a crowd of 48,516.

For the Cowboys it was another night of mixed emotions, but at least they salvaged something from their spirited second-half revival.

"It is disappointing, but it doesn't matter who you are you can't give any side 24-points headstart in this competition," Thurston  said. "But at least we showed some mental strength and character to get back into the game."