Central Queensland Capras overturned a 12-point half-time deficit to defeat Norths Devils 26-18 at Premiers’ Park in Round 5 of the Hostplus Cup on Saturday.

Norths controlled the scoreboard through the first half. Matthew Milson opened the scoring in the sixth minute, Tyreece Tait added the Devils’ second in the 25th, and Milson crossed again four minutes later to send the home side to the break with a 12-0 lead.

The Capras were under pressure early and had to deal with a Trey Brown sin bin in the fourth minute, leaving them chasing the contest for much of the opening half.

Their response after the break changed the game.

Rodrick Tai scored in the 41st minute to put Central Queensland on the board, and Malachi Dumas followed in the 48th to cut the margin to four. Norths hit back through James Flack in the 52nd minute, with Jack Miers converting for an 18-8 lead, but it was the Devils’ final scoring play of the afternoon.

From there, the Capras took control of the result.

Valentine Richard crossed in the 60th minute to reduce the gap, Dumas grabbed his second six minutes later to level the scores at 18-all, and John Fineanganofo finished in the 72nd minute to put Central Queensland in front. Brown converted all three second-half tries in that closing run as the Capras turned an 18-8 deficit into an eight-point win.

Dumas finished with two tries, while Richard and Fineanganofo both struck at critical stages of the second half. Brown recovered from his early sin bin to kick three conversions and lead the Capras with 35 tackles, while Richard topped the side for run metres with 122.

The Capras finished with five tries and 266 tackles, producing a decisive second half after a difficult opening 40 minutes. After trailing 12-0 at half-time and 18-8 early in the second half, Central Queensland closed with three straight tries to secure a 26-18 win.