North Queensland Cowboys: Difference between revisions
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| ceo = {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Peter Parr]] |
| ceo = {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Peter Parr]] |
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| mgrtitle = Coach |
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| manager = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Graham Murray]] |
| manager = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Graham Murray]]Assistant Expert Coaches Via Email to Graham Murray Chicka Furgason and Fabian Gatfield |
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| URL = [http://www.cowboys.com.au/ cowboys.com.au] |
| URL = [http://www.cowboys.com.au/ cowboys.com.au] |
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| league = [[National Rugby League]] |
| league = [[National Rugby League]] |
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Revision as of 15:28, 15 September 2007
| File:Nqcowboys.png | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League Club |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
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| CEO |  Peter Parr |
| Coach |  Graham MurrayAssistant Expert Coaches Via Email to Graham Murray Chicka Furgason and Fabian Gatfield |
| Competition | National Rugby League |
| 2006 | National Rugby League, 9th |
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australiasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership.
The Cowboys were admitted to the Australian Rugby League competition in 1995 and subsequently played in the Super League competition in 1997 and have featured in the current National Rugby League competition from 1998 to the present day. The Cowboys play their home games at Dairy Farmers Stadium in the City of Thuringowa in North Queensland. The club have never won a premiership, however, finished as runners-up in 2005. On 28 August 2007 it was announced that after 6 years of ownership, News Limited had sold the team to the Cowboys League Club.
History
1995, 1996: Origins
The Cowboys name and team colours were decided by public competition in 1994. Their initial jersey was navy blue and white, with grey stripes and yellow trim.
One of the major difficulties that faced the club in their early years was attracting followers from the more established Queensland Rugby League side, the Brisbane Broncos. This was exacerbated by an initial lack of onfield success and stability. In their first two seasons, the Cowboys had seven different captains: Laurie Spina, Adrian Vowles, Dean Schifilliti, Jason Martin, Jonathan Davies, Bruce Sinclair, and Paul Galea.
1997: Super League
After much court action in 1995 and 1996, a ten team Super League competition was held in 1997. The Cowboys competed in this competition, and their squad was bolstered by a number of new signings including Ian Roberts and Steve Walters. However, they were unable to improve on the club's results in previous years, and for the second time in three seasons they were to finish the season in last place.
1998, 1999: National Rugby League
In 1998 the Super League and Australian Rugby League competitions merged to form the National Rugby League (NRL). The Cowboys began their first season in this competition strongly, and after six rounds they were in equal first place. Although they fell away later in the season, they were to record the largest come-back to date in an Australian first grade rugby league match, defeating the Penrith Panthers 36-28 after trailing 26-0 at half-time. 1998 also saw the Cowboys record their largest loss to date, being defeated 62-0 by the North Sydney Bears in the last round of the home and away season.
The Cowboys signed their eleventh captain in 1999, Noel Goldthorpe. Paul Bowman was also to serve in that role during the season. Although their on-field performances were not spectacular, continuing high attendance figures saw aggregate attendances exceed one million spectators.
2000-2004: Wooden spoon to finalists
In the years 2000 through to 2002 the Cowboys continued to struggle with off-field dramas and poor on-field performances. After finishing last in 2000 and second last the following year, four losses at the start of the 2002 season saw coach Tim Sheens sacked and replaced by his assistant Murray Hurst. Although they finished in their highest position to date, coach Hurst was also sacked at early in the 2003 season, and replaced by Graham Murray. The Cowboys spent much of the 2003 season in the top eight with much improved performances from a host of players, including local talents Matt Bowen and Josh Hannay. The 2003 season ended with the Cowboys four points adrift of a top eight play-off position.
More signings were made for 2004, including Travis Norton, Paul Rauhihi and Glenn Morrison. The club's tenth anniversary season began in much the same fashion as in earlier years, and after seven rounds the team had posted only one victory. However, in a remarkable turnaround of form, the Cowboys were able to win 12 of their remaining games and finish in seventh position at the end of the home and away season. For the first time, the Cowboys were part of final eight, and in the mix at business end of the season: the 2004 NRL finals series. Remarkably, the Cowboys' new status in the game afforded them their first free-to-air televised game in their history. Whilst Channel Nine had all but ignored the Townsville-based team, a place in the finals had the public beating the drum for coverage. This provided Channel Nine with a last minute opportuntity to jump on the Cowboys bandwagon, with Nine Commentator Ray "Rabbits" Warren branding the Cowboys as "2004's fairytale team". But for many fans throughout Queensland and in other states, such accolades were all to late from the NRL's chief free-to-air television provider who had failed to deliever coverage of the national competition.
In their first finals match they played a Qualifying Final against the eventual premiers Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium. Against expectation the Cowboys defeated the Bulldogs 30-22. A week later at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville they defeated the Brisbane Broncos 10-0 in a Semi-Final. This was the first time that they had ever defeated the Broncos. The road to the grand final ended for the Cowboys when they were controversially defeated by the Sydney Roosters 19-16. Many fans and media alike were disgruntled at the handling of the final minutes of the elimination game by referee Paul Simpkins, and his refusal to allow the Cowboys to pack a scrum with seconds left on the clock. Suggestions of a Sydney-bias by referee Simpkins have continued to overshadow both his career and what many fans regarded as a classic finals match. Clearly, the NRL was also unhappy with Simpkin's performance as he was not considered for the grand final refereeing duties.
2005: Grand finalists
The Cowboys followed their success in 2004 by opening their season with 5 straight victories. They finished the 2005 season in fifth place, after 14 wins and 10 losses. The team's performance led to six Cowboys being represented in the Queensland State of Origin team: Paul Bowman, Matt Bowen, Ty Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Sing and Carl Webb. Thurston was also rewarded by winning the NRL's best and fairest player award: the Dally M Medal.
In the first week of the finals the Cowboys travelled to Telstra Stadium where they were defeated by Wests Tigers 50-6. They were more successful in their second and third weeks of the finals, in which they defeated the Melbourne Storm 24-16 and Parramatta Eels 29-0 and qualified for the NRL Grand Final for the first time.
The grand final saw them once more facing the Tigers. Although Matthew Bowen scored the first try of the match, the Tigers were too strong for the Cowboys and won the match 30-16.
2006/2007
The Cowboys started off the year by winning 6 straight games. One of the teams they defeated were to become the premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. They then fell into a hole, winning only 5 of the last 19 games, making them finish 9th on the ladder, just missing out of the finals. Much criticism has been directed at coach Murray for not sticking with a stable scrumbase pairing throughout 2006, with a number of players such as Brett Firman and Brent McConnell seen as unable to support the talents of playmaker Johnathan Thurston.
The Cowboys finished the final round of regular season with a convincing win over the Parramatta Eels to give their fans some hope for 2007. Particularly impressive were hooker Aaron Payne and fullback Matthew Bowen, who recaptured some of his magic and regained some much needed form heading into the off season.
Other players who have impressed throughout 2006 include Australian representative player Luke O'Donnell, as well as Carl Webb who struggled for much of the year with injuries. The ever reliable Paul Bowman continued to show the hard fought spirit of the team despite a neck injury that struck him down at the close of the season.
Aaron Payne also capped off a strong year for the club to be named Cowboy of the Year for 2006.
2006 also saw the departure of several key personal, including legendary strength and conditioner Billy Johnstone - to the Gold Coast Titans - and assistant coach Neil Henry accepted a head coaching position with the Canberra Raiders.
The Cowboys announced that tough talking former English Super League coach Ian Millward would replace Henry as Graham Murray's assistant, with Glen Murphy taking over from Johnstone.
The 2007 season turned out to be a great one for the Cowboys. Finishing 3rd overall on the premiership ladder, their highest finish to date, they ensured a home preliminary final. Despite season ending injuries to Luke O'Donnell, Shane Tronc and Steve Southern and the 7 week suspension of Sione Faumuina, the Cowboys managed to win their last 5 games of the season without the majority of their experienced forward pack. Most notably Ray Cashmere has assumedly secured his spot in the starting 17 for the 2007 final series and into 2008. 2007 also saw 20 year old Ben Farrar make his stamp on the Cowboys scoring 4 tries in 2 games, 2 in round 21 and 2 in round 25, having missed 4 weeks due to injury. Ashley Graham was an excellent asset to the team, scoring 17 tries in 19 games. Cowboys stars Matt Bowen and captain Johnathan Thurston displayed excellent form through the year with Bowen leading the top try scorer count with 21. Despite some injury concerns in the last half of the season, Thurston has maintained his key-player status by setting up match winning plays and scoring 164 points.
In September Thurston won the Dally M Player of the Year Award and the Halfback of the Year Award, both for the second time in three years. Bowen also claimed two awards with Fullback of the Year and leading try scorer of the year, the later tied with Melbourne Storm rookie, Israel Falou.
Current Squad
Although other players may play for the North Queensland Cowboys during the year, all NRL clubs are required to select a top 25 First Grade squad at the beginning of the season. Below is a list of those 25 players listed alphabetically at the North Queensland Cowboys.
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Notable players
In 2004, the North Queensland Cowboys conducted a poll asking fans to vote on the best players who ever wore Cowboy colours. After polling had finished the club released the overall best team to celebrate the team's 10th anniversary.
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Coaches
| Years | Coach |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Grant Bell |
| 1996 | Graham Lowe |
| 1997 - 2001 | Tim Sheens |
| 2001 - 2002 | Murray Hurst |
| 2002 - current | Graham Murray |
References
- The Official NRL 2003 Season Guide
- The Official NRL 2004 Season Guide
- The Official NRL 2005 Season Guide
- 2004 Official Rugby League Annual Big League Special Edition
- 2005 Official Rugby League Annual Big League Special Edition
- History of Rugby League Clubs in Australia (Book)Author: Sean Fagan
- Super League The Magazine Volume 1 - 20
See also
- List of North Queensland Cowboys Records
- List of North Queensland Cowboys Honours
- List of North Queensland Cowboys seasons