By Fraser Barton in Townsville

A CHAD Townsend field goal five minutes from full time has edged North Queensland past Canberra 19-18 in a see-sawing NRL round-one contest in Townsville.

With the clock ticking down, Harley Smith-Shields’ error on a short-side play gifted the Cowboys a scrum in midfield and on tackle four Townsend made no mistake from 20 metres to kick his side to a winning start in 2023.

Townsend’s kick salvaged a disastrous second half for the home side, who – after dominating the opening period – completely capitulated offensively and offered the resilient Raiders a way back into the contest.

North Queensland had dominated the opening proceedings, playing with patience, confidence and spark to gain territory and possession.

That swagger quickly disappeared in the second half with consecutive errors within five minutes. The Raiders wrangled momentum with hard, straight running and short passing from contact to wear the Cowboys down.

Tom Starling made the most of a deflected kick to score Canberra’s second try in the 53rd minute before Kyle Feldt’s spilled ball off a short drop-out gifted Jack Wighton their third.

That made it three unanswered tries from the visitors, Jamal Fogarty nailing a sideline conversion to tie the game at 18-18 with 20 minutes remaining.

The players were out on their feet in the sticky Townsville conditions but it was the Cowboys who coped best in a manic finish to end Canberra’s four-year round-one winning streak.

It took North Queensland 15 minutes to open their 2023 scoring account after constant and sustained pressure on the Raiders’ try-line.

The Cowboys had 73 per cent possession through 15 minutes and 17 tackles inside the Raiders’ 20m zone.

Murray Taulagi grabbed North Queensland’s opener with a left-hand diving finish, before Scott Drinkwater added a second after a deft inside grubber kick by Townsend.

The fullback bagged his second, and the Cowboys’ third, when Reece Robson grubbered by the posts for a somersault put-down.

Robson registered just one kick in 2022 and had a try-assist with his first attempt in 2023.

Emre Guler responded just prior to halftime in Canberra’s first and only opportunity in North Queensland’s red zone after they were blown away in the early stages.

The visitors were forced to defend like mad for set after set, having just 30 per cent possession and a mere 18 per cent territory through 40 minutes.

Ricky Stuart’s side made 97 more tackles than their opponents and only completed seven sets to the Cowboys’ 21 from 22.

The Raiders’ Jordan Rapana was not cited by referee Adam Gee for a shoulder charge on Drinkwater but is likely to face the match-review panel over the 27th-minute incident.