Premiership win the highlight

WHEN it comes to a favourite moment from his career, Gavin Cooper cannot go past the Cowboys’ maiden premiership glory in 2015.

But it wasn’t just that historic golden point win against the Broncos, but everything leading up to it.

“The whole ride that 2015 was. That grand final was the culmination of a special year,” he said.

part of the world in the Gold Coast and then Penrith,” he said.

“If I was still in Townsville, I was probably still the kid with the rat’s tail out at the Bank and the Mad Cow partying every third night. It gave me a chance to grow up, and grow into the person I am now.”

While it had been hard to let him go in the first place, Scott could see the maturity in his mate when he returned to North Queensland.

“He came back a better

“It was a special year for a lot of reasons; the team we had, the winning period we went through. The win down in Melbourne against them in the finals, that was pretty special.

“To be an all-queensland grand final for the first time was pretty cool. There were so many stories around it, the fact they sold out of XXXX. It was a proud moment for all of Queensland.”

player because of it, I am not going to say he was completely different though,” Scott said.

“You could see the change in him, he was still a good guy to be around and a lot of fun. But he was definitely taking his career a little bit more seriously.

“He has gone from strength to strength and played State of Origin footy, won a premiership, captained our team to a grand final. It was great to see him grow into the man he has become.”

But it is not his accomplishments on the field that Parr and Scott are most proud of, but more his work off the field.

Cooper has become a leader at the Cowboys. He is the conduit between the next generation and the established stars.

While the rat’s tail might be gone, according to the club legend it remains in a jar at Cooper’s house – just like a part of that young rogue will always remain in the seasoned veteran.