Bulldogs Josh Morris makes a break. Photo / Getty Images
It shaped as the battle of the Bs - Barba vs Bowen for the title of best broken-play runners in the NRL. Call it a big benefit for Bulldog Ben Barba.
Barba scored his 15th try of the season for the Bulldogs in the first half with a flashing, pink-booted run after a fine break by five-eighths Josh Reynolds. The promising No6 went on a twisting, turning run through much of the Cowboy's midfield defence. When he was eventually halted, Reynolds found Barba showing his uncanny knack of supporting the play at the right place, right time.
He galloped though the gap and his extreme pace did the rest, outstripping the clutching, grasping efforts of the Cowboys defenders. It was not only the latest in a series of spectacular Barba tries, it was his eighth from beyond the 20m line.
Followed closely by his ninth try from beyond 20m, his 16th overall and, after he scored a hat-trick try at the end, his 13th try in 10 matches. This time, prop James Graham put second rower Josh Jackson for a rampaging run from his own 20m zone. In an action replay, once Jackson was stalled, Barba ghosted up to take the pass and head off like a greyhound again for a 50m try.
It's not hard to feel that, if the Bulldogs lose Barba to injury, they will also lose their premiership hopes - so big is his contribution to this side.
Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen, himself in fine form lately, struck back. It might not have been broken play running; in fact, it was cleverly structured play - a delightful grubber ushering centre Kane Linnett over for a slick try.
Barba's second try took some of the stuffing out of the Cowboys and, when Krisnan Inu scored from a last-tackle, pinpoint kick from Reynolds, they were down 18-6 at the break and looking unable to match the brilliance of the Bulldogs, even with the return of the highly skilled Johnathan Thurston and Bowen.
You could only hope the Warriors weren't watching when Inu scored.
The Bulldogs centre must go down as one of the daftest pieces of business in the NRL this season - shunned by the Warriors who were so desperate to get rid of him that they chucked some money the Bulldogs' way to sweeten the deal. He has repaid the Dogs by playing rather well. He is the favoured option when Reynolds kicks to the right - and his aerial skills have never been in question.
His temperament and judgement have been questioned but he seems settled in all ways at the Dogs and is running well, defending staunchly and his goalkicking is more than useful (100 per cent and 16 points last night). When you cast a critical eye over the Warriors, particularly in their injury-ravaged state - short on centres and wings of impact - you can only wonder why they gave up on the talent that is clearly Inu. His mistake in kicking out on the full gave the Cowboys' the field position that led to Thurston's dummying try which locked the scores at 18-18 - and that could be the Warriors' response.
The Cowboys forwards battled away and consistently made inroads into the taut Bulldogs defence. James Tamou (in particular), Matthew Scott and Gavin Cooper all crunched away effectively, underlining the Cowboys' own premiership credentials. but the Bulldogs had that something extra that makes the premiership a real possibility. Frank Pritchard, Graham and Jackson all had strong games.
The Cowboys had to score first after the break - and they did; a Thurston probe kick should have been safely held by Barba but the fullback, as if to prove he is human, overran the ball and winger Antonio Winterstein had a simple touchdown.
If Bowen came second in the attacking stakes to Barba, he made up for it on defence. Bulldogs centre Josh Morris hared off on a 75m dash after a pass from Barba, embarrassing Kalifai Faifai Loa and Brent Tate - only to be knocked into touch in goal by a flying Bowen tackle. It could have been a match-turning moment but Inu's 70th minute goal, Sam Perrett's 76th minute try plus Barba's hat-trick at the death finished matters off. Both sides have claims this year - but perhaps the Bulldogs have that little bit extra. Oh, and Barba.
Bulldogs 32 (B. Barba 3, K. Inu tries; Inu 5 goals), Cowboys 18 (K. Linnett, A. Winterstein, J. Thurston tries; Thurston 3 goals). Halftime: 18-6.