
When Valentine Holmes kicked the golden-point field goal to secure North Queensland a first-ever home NRL preliminary final, it was worth its weight in gold on multiple fronts.
The 32-20 qualifying final win over Cronulla on Saturday night, iced by Holmes in the 92nd minute, will enable the Cowboys to prepare for the home grand final qualifier on Friday week without being disadvantaged by what CEO Jeff Reibel calls the "tyranny of distance".