MISSION 2018
AFTER OVERCOMING THE ODDS TO MAKE THE 2017 NRL GRAND FINAL, THE NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS GOING INTO THE 2018 SEASON. LEAGUE WRITER JON TUXWORTH LOOKS BACK AT THEIR 2017 SEASON AND ASSESSES THEIR CHANCES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.
2017 REVIEW
NO Johnathan Thurston? No Matt Scott? No worries.
If the Cowboys could make last year’s grand final with their co- captains headlining the NRL’s longest injury list, then what are they capable of in 2018?
That’s the external pressure the star- studded North Queenslanders will have to deal with as they look to go one better next season.
The Cowboys resembled a scene from MASH when September arrived, and only squeezed into the finals in eighth place when the Bulldogs upset the Dragons in the final round. A stay of execution? Hardly. Like a prisoner taken off death row the Cowboys played every finals game like it was a bonus, disposing of the Sharks, Eels and Roosters before the Storm became too big a hill to climb.
No other team, save Newcastle in Andrew Johns’ heyday, had previously relied on one player as much as the Cowboys did on Thurston.
Enter Michael Morgan. More adept at relying on his running game, the five- eighth stepped up big time in his shift to Thurston’s famous No. 7 jersey.
He controlled the team beautifully and along with Jason Taumalolo, who became the first forward to break the 5000m barrier in a season, spearheaded the Cowboys’ unlikely charge.
The resilience they showed lost them few admirers and had they upset the Storm in the decider, it would surely have gone down in the books as the most unlikely premiership win in modern NRL history.
The big moments
Scott injury begins casualty ward nightmare When word filtered through the press area that Scott was done for the year with a knee injury suffered in round two against Brisbane, it was a sign of things to come.
Thurston went down just a few weeks later, while several other key players either spent a few weeks on the sidelines, or soldiered on when they could have. It ended in perhaps the worst injury of all, when Shaun Fensom’s grand final was cut short by a gruesome broken leg.
“Some of the things that the guys have played through, particularly around injury, has been nothing short of remarkable,” proud coach Paul Green said after the decider.
“There were four guys that came back in that Tigers game ( round 25) that probably shouldn’t have come back. If I single anyone out it probably doesn’t do the whole squad justice.” Thurston’s Origin career ends one game early This was not how it was supposed to end. But ironically, in a way it was almost the perfect send- off. The season- ending shoulder injury Thurston suffered in Queensland’s series- saving Origin II win meant he missed the decider at Suncorp, which the Maroons won easily. But the resilience he showed in bowing out was fitting. With his arm hanging limply beside him, Thurston refused to leave the field. His courage was rewarded when he clinched a Maroons fightback by nailing the winning sideline conversion to stun a deathly quiet Sydney crowd.
Bulldogs fans for a day After losing to the Broncos in round 26, the Cowboys required the Bulldogs to beat the Dragons to squeeze into the finals. It looked unlikely when the Dragons led on the hour mark, but the blue and whites finished strongly to clinch an upset, and extend North Queensland’s season. Players were strewn around Townsville glued to the TV barracking for Des Hasler’s boys. Others couldn’t bear to watch at all. They certainly made the most of their second chance. Taumalolo signs monster contract Signing a forward to a 10year deal seemed inconceivable and many jaws dropped when Jason Taumalolo effectively became a Cowboy for life with the longest contract in NRL history. However, given the way he played last year after winning the Dally M medal the year before, it could end up being a bargain.
The club is obviously taking a big punt the lock does not suffer any long- term injuries, but even if they get seven or eight years out of him it will be money well spent. Only super-
star Sydney Swans forward Lance Franklin ( nine years) has signed a deal even remotely close to Taumalolo’s. Morgo steps up when it counts He delivered all year, but Morgan showed he can handle the pressure Thurston usually laps up against Cronulla in the first week of finals. After the match went to extra time, Morgan slotted the first field goal of his career to get his team home. The five- eighth also set up the early secondhalf try to Kyle Feldt which got the Cowboys back into the game.
2018 PREVIEW
Forwards set to shine Scott and Thurston are effectively new signings for the Cowboys after playing just nine games between them this year. Add in Kangaroos prop Jordan McLean from the Storm, and former North Queensland prop James Tamou is right when he recently described the pack in the Bulletin as “scary”. Even Scott himself admits the forwards “will probably have a target on their heads”, with Queensland Origin stars Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess also featuring. Prop Scott Bolton had a career- best season stepping up for Scott, while backrower Ethan Lowe wouldn’t look out of place in a Maroons jersey. Throw in the fact they have Thurston, Morgan and Jake Granville running amok behind the destruction they create, and it’s hard to see many teams going with a fully fit Cowboys. If the pack adds some finesse to their unrivalled power game, as hinted at by Scott this pre- season, they could go to the next level. Thurston’s swan song will either be an inspiration or distraction It’s a narrative Thurston’s teammates have to get accustomed to quick smart — Thurston’s final year in the NRL will be a constant circus. The champion playmaker will be lauded e v e r y w h e r e he goes when he plays his final game in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and so forth. It will begin immediately when he plays his 300th game against Cronulla in Townsville in round one, a milestone which will attract huge hype in the lead- up. The squad can either embrace it and use it as motivation to send him out a winner, or the pressure it brings could prove a hindrance. Either way, the Cowboys will certainly benefit from the fact Thurston will be available for every game after his retirement from rep football. If Morgan is as assertive as he was this year without JT, they could be unstoppable.
Depth The Cowboys are likely to boast Hess, Bolton and either Fensom or John Asiata on their bench this year.
They would all be starting in most other teams and it means rivals can’t expect any respite when the starting big boppers leave the field for a breather. Without several big names the support cast were forced to take on more responsibility and grew as players as a result. It’s up to them to ensure they don’t take a back seat and expect the household names to pick up the slack.
The draw The Cowboys face a tough opening five weeks against Cronulla ( home), Brisbane ( away), Melbourne ( away), Penrith ( home) and the Warriors ( away). Four of those teams played in finals last year, while the long trip to New Zealand is never a picnic.
If the Cowboys can win most of those fixtures before they lose a few players to Origin, they will be nicely set up for an assault on the top four.
To be frank, anything less would be a gross underachievement given their squad on paper rivals as the strongest in the NRL. They play fellow big guns the Broncos, Sharks and Storm twice, but only face the Roosters once.
Marquee games
Sharks at 1300SMILES Stadium, round one Thurston’s 300th game is massive enough. But this will also be the first meeting since Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan’s infamous blow- up after his side lost to the Cowboys in the first week of last season’s finals. Flanagan used the postmedia conference to unleash an epic rant at multiple refereeing decisions he felt went against his team in the extra time loss.
It should ensure there’s no love lost here, and the Sharks will be keen to get revenge by spoiling Thurston’s party. Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, round two Who can forget the epic round two clash against Brisbane this year, where the casualties from both teams mounted up in yet another golden point classic?
The Cowboys’ win, secured by a Thurston field goal, was soured by the season- ending knee injury to Scott. These two teams have a deserved reputation for delivering the best contests in the game. Storm at 1300SMILES
Stadium, round 12 Unless they meet in the finals, this could be the last time good mates Thurston and Cameron Smith go head- tohead before the former calls it quits. Enough said. Roosters at Allianz Stadium, round 21 Two premiership heavyweights likely to be at the pointy end of the ladder by the time this contest rolls around. Thurston versus Cooper Cronk is the clear highlight, but there will be big name match- ups across the park as the two sides jostle for a top four spot.
Prediction: Premiers Losing a grand final is always huge motivation and if the Cowboys manage to keep their squad even reasonably fit compared to this year, then they’re clearly one of the main contenders. The Storm, Roosters and Sharks look toughest to beat but a Cowboys premiership would cap off Thurston’s stellar career in deserving style.