KIRRA Dibb might have been overlooked for State of Origin this year but she got the upper hand on her former club Newcastle on Sunday to help North Queensland to their first NRLW victory.
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The Knights' premiership-winning five-eighth last year, Dibb was immense in her new side's 31-20 triumph at Belmore Sports Ground.
The Knights had led 20-12 midway through the second half, but Dibb set up the try that helped level the scores at 20-all before kicking a field goal five minutes before full-time to put her side in front.
The Central Coast product then kicked a pinpoint grubber for winger Vitalina Naikore to bag her second try a minute before the final siren.
"One thing with Kirra, whether she is playing well or not, as in makes a mistake, she just gets on with her job," Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries said.
"Good players want the ball in their hands all the time, and she never dies wondering.
"She's willing to learn, be better and that's why we love her up in North Queensland."
Dibb was one of the few players Newcastle didn't retain from last year's title-winning team.
The 26-year-old got a terrific opportunity to play a key role in the Cowboys' maiden season.
A two-time NSW representative, including last year, she missed selection in this year's side that lost a two-game series on points aggregate.
But Jeffries made her the Cowboys' inaugural captain and she certainly came back to haunt the Knights.
The Cowboys led 12-10 at half-time, but the Knights scored twice in the space of three minutes early in the second stanza to take what looked like a decent 20-12 lead.
But it wasn't to be with the spirited Cowboys stunning the reigning premiers.
"I thought 20-12, we probably didn't see the ball too much after that," Knights coach Ronald Griffiths said.
"Once they scored a try on the back of that, we didn't see the ball. We gave away a penalty coming out of our own end, and made some errors ...
"But I reckon they turned up and played with plenty of enthusiasm and want.
"Full credit to the Cowboys, they've done a tremendous job up there. They've put together a great roster and for them, it's a fantastic moment - a time in history they'll never forget."
Griffiths said his side were "probably outworked" and he liked "very little" about their performance.
The Knights made a brilliant start when former Young Matildas captain Sheridan Gallagher scored the opening try and the first of her NRLW career a minute in.
Seven minutes later, centre Shanice Parker crossed her first NRLW try as well despite having made 13 appearances.
Gallagher later bagged a second.
"I thought our middles worked extremely hard ... there was some nice individual touches from players, but I don't think there was enough team-first actions," Griffiths said.
Knights skipper Hannah Southwell didn't play despite suggestions she would, but Griffiths said she would definitely face the Eels at Parramatta on Sunday.
"She will start next week," he said.
After two rounds, the Knights sit fifth, equal on points with the side's placed third to eighth.
