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Jamie Lyon

Sea Eagles

Sea Eagles
 
Sea Eagles

Johnathan Thurston

Cowboys

Now in his sixth season with Manly and 11th in the NRL since debuting with Parramatta in 2000, Jamie Lyon has developed into one of the most complete attacking players in the Telstra Premiership. The Sea Eagles co-captain has been inspirational in 2012 with his dynamic running game – combined with his playmaking abilities – helping Manly re-establish their standing as one of the competition’s powerhouses.
Jamie Lyon
 
Johnathan Thurston
The true value of Johnathan Thurston in attack is his ability to weigh up the options in front of him – and his favourite play ball comes left with runners in motion. This is where Thurston employs two main options. The first is to run a second-man play with Matt Bowen sweeping around the back in the hope of creating an overlap. However, should the defence over-read the play in an identical situation, Thurston will dummy and run himself.
GalleryPlayer StatsVideo
GalleryPlayer StatsVideo
 
Jamie Lyon Sea Eagles
 
Cowboys Johnathan Thurston
 
Is there a team to match Manly on the right side of the field when the Stewart brothers hit top gear? Manly boasted one of the best left-side attacks last year but they shifted their focus to the right in 2012, crossing for 35 tries.
Arguably Jamie Lyon's best season in the NRL: in particular his contribution assisting team-mates to the try line. Lyon ranks No.1 among centres for try assists (15) and line-break assist (13).
No sign of second-year syndrome as he performed solidly. Made more tackle busts than any No.7 (81). Proven ability to provide the match-winning play " evidenced by his two tries at the death against the Warriors in Round 21.
The Sea Eagles centre wins the race against the Roosters.
Came from behind to defeat Broncos in last minute in Round 10. Reeled in an 18-point-deficit to defeat the Warriors 24-22 in Round 21 courtesy of two late tries to Daly-Cherry Evans inside the final eight minutes. These two games pivotal should they finish in the top four.
A flurry of hands sees the Sea Eagles score a great team try.
The Sea Eagles string together a series of solid passes to score.
Second to the Bulldogs for scoring tries from over halfway, with 13 to date. None better than Daly Cherry-Evans' in the 10th minute of their season-opening victory in the 2011 GF with the Warriors.
Thurston sets up another Cowboys try for Bowen.
North Queensland's right edge has been their go-to zone with the ball in hand, with centre Brent Tate and winger Ashley Graham striking up a lethal combination. Graham has been among the NRL's top try-scorers all year with 21 tries from 22 games.
Bowen's speed and playmaking skills have terrorised opponents all season. He ranks sixth in the NRL for tackle-breaks with 109 as well as producing 24 try assists, 18 line-breaks and scoring 12 tries.
Tamou has averaged 150 metres per game this season " outpointing fellow North Queensland bookend and Queensland Origin prop Matthew Scott (137 metres per game) in the process.
A favourite play of North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston is to attack down the blind side so it's no surprise that the Cowboys have produced far more short-side plays than any other side in the NRL.
If premierships were won on statistics alone, you could just about post the NRL trophy to Townsville already. The Cowboys rank in the two top sides in the NRL for everything from points scored, tries scored, metres gained, line-breaks and tackle-breaks to decoy runners and support plays.
Bowen bounces onto a Thurston banana kick.
Never rush up on a superstar like Thurston.
From a demoralising low to an exhilarating high, North Queensland put the pain of their opening-round shocker behind them to score a thrilling win over rivals Brisbane in the dying minutes at Suncorp Stadium.
 

Fringe King

Friday 10th August

Second-man play

Friday 4th May

Fringe King
Second-man play

A graceful carrier of the football on the right edge, Lyon can beat his opposite number with a classic in-and-away, or send his winger or fullback through with a brilliant piece of improvised skill (as he did against the Broncos in Round 25, scoring a try himself and also setting up Brett Stewart). Lyon has scored nine tries this season and has added six line-breaks and 51 tackle-breaks; however it is his value as a ‘third half’ in the centres that sets him apart.

A favourite play of North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston is to attack down the blind side (he does exactly the same while playing for both Queensland and Australia) so it’s no surprise that the Cowboys have produced far more short-side plays than any other side in the NRL. Thurston and co. have attacked down the left on 189 occasions this season and 142 on the right for a total of 331 short-side plays – in total 50 more than any other side.

 
Round 22 Cowboys v Sea Eagles

Round 22 Cowboys v Sea Eagles

Saturday 4th August

The Sea Eagles emerged 8-6 winners over the Cowboys following a gritty one-try-apiece encounter at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Round 22. Despite missing 57 tackles throughout the 80 minutes the visitors proved a shade too good, sealing the win courtesy of a Jamie Lyon penalty goal. Manly were also aided by the Cowboys’ clumsy 15 errors that released the pressure valve on their opponents at key moments.

 
 
Sea EaglesJamie Lyon
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CowboysJohnathan Thurston
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