THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
THE GOOD The Hammer drops
Through all the struggles the Cowboys faced in 2021, arguably their most exciting talent found a way to take his game to new levels.
Hamiso Tabuai-fidow burst on to the scene at last year’s Perth Nines, showcasing the breathtaking speed he possesses that has rugby league pundits tantalised by what he can bring to the table.
Still just 19, Tabuai-fidow began his campaign in the centres with coach Todd Payten determined to find ways to get the Steeden in his hands more frequently.
Eight games in the three-quarter line would yield four tries, eight linebreaks and 17 tackle busts, while his one-on-one defence also showed maturity in his decision making beyond what his experience may suggest.
Tabuai-fidow’s performances were enough to earn him a maiden State of Origin call-up, scoring for the Maroons in his Game III appearance and showing off his hammerhead shark celebration.
Eventually, his form became too difficult for Payten to ignore, and he unseated Valentine Holmes in the fullback jersey to close out the season.
‘The Hammer’ excelled in his four appearances in his preferred position, scoring three tries while averaging 156 running metres and 4.75 tackle busts a game.
An emergency appendectomy after his star performance against the Sydney Roosters hindered his momentum, but he showed enough to cause Payten to say the race for the number one jumper would be open between himself and Holmes right throughout the pre-season.
The kids are all right
Season 2021 proved to be one which pointed to the future of North Queensland.
While the young guns of the club were forced to fight through a trying period, they are lessons that could be their making in 2022 and beyond.
Payten handed NRL debuts to Griffin Neame, Jeremiah Nanai, Heilum Luki, Kane Bradley and Latia Moceidreke, while the likes of Murray Taulagi, Ben Condon and Connelly Lemuelu earnt their longest stints in first grade.
In Neame, Nanai and Luki the direction of the Cowboys’ forward pack became clearer, with all three showing impressive signs. Luki was recognised as the club’s rookie of the year, eventually forcing his way into the starting backrow.
His try on debut in front of 50 family members sent Queensland Country Bank Stadium into raptures, while his chase on New Zealand’s livewire fullback Reece Walsh the following week garnered significant praise.
Only last year Nanai was claiming the Michael Morgan Medal for the Aaron Payne Cup’s player of the year. To go from Kirwan High graduate to starting Cowboy in less than a year has been a meteoric achievement.
Neame’s story has been one of resilience, having moved from New Zealand to Townsville in 2019 in pursuit of his NRL dreams.
The Covid-19 pandemic has meant he has been unable to see his family, while also being trapped within the NRL’S bubble restrictions.
Not once did he complain and he soon cemented himself in Payten’s starting 17 by the end of the campaign.
The Cowboys’ debut class of 2021 have proved they are up to the challenge of guiding the club out of their finals slumber, they simply need the leaders around them to help achieve it.
Resilient crew
Throughout the year, the Cowboys’ ability to overcome adversity and setbacks on the field was called into question.
But among the disappointing losses there were several players who demonstrated their pride in the jersey.
The likes of Ben Hampton, Reuben Cotter and Lemuelu sustained serious injuries in the throes of a contest, but each continued to play on.
Hampton, despite suffering a torn pectoral that sidelined him for three months, fought on bravely in a tense loss to the Warriors, while Lemuelu’s efforts after fracturing his thumb against Newcastle typified his desire to compete.
Cotter’s exploits were arguably the most impressive.
In North Queensland’s first win of 2021 – a 34-30 triumph against Wests Tigers — Cotter picked up a foot injury that required surgery and 16 weeks in the casualty ward.
But even in such pain the 22-yearold found a way to thrive, finishing the contest with more run metres (141) and tackles (45) than any player on the field. Throw in Jake Granville’s n e w l y d i s c o v - ered ability to cover a host of backline positions, and Javid Bowen’s injury comeback to earn a contract extension, and evidence of desire within the squad comes to the fore.
THE BAD The (mis) use of Taumalolo
Ever since he became a Cowboy, Jason Taumalolo has been the club’s go to man.
Few forwards strike as much fear into a rival outfit as the North Queensland skipper, having established himself as the most lethal ball carrier in rugby league.
But between injuries and questions over how to best use the superstar middle, he failed to reach the lofty standards he has set himself.
Taumalolo was never poor in the season, still averaging 139 running metres a game. However not since 2015 has he run for less than 150m a match (144m), and in that year he averaged just 49 minutes a game.
At the start of the year, Payten sounded his intentions to reduce Taumalolo’s time on the field, hoping for more quality over quantity in a bid to prolong his career.
It led to frequent criticism from commentators, but the coach remained steadfast he needed to hold his star man to account.
It included a name and shame after the Cowboys’ season-opening loss to the Panthers.
When Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary put up a bomb for the final try, Taumalolo’s inability to pressure him from the ruck was called out by Payten, who declared no one in his side could be seen taking short cuts – with or without the ball.
As commendable as it is that Payten wants each of his players to be held to the same standards, regardless of their pay packet or status in the NRL, there is no denying the Cowboys are a more daunting presence with Taumalolo on the field.
The Dally M Medal winner underwent experiments playing at prop and on the edge to no avail. It only added to the inconsistency of the 28-yearold’s campaign, given three separate hand fractures limited him to just 15 appearances.
Injury carnage
While it will not serve as an excuse for poor performances under Payten’s coaching philosophies, there is no denying the Cowboys endured a torrid time on the injury front.
It began as early as the pre-season, with highly touted forward Tom Gilbert felled by a fractured fibula on season’s eve.
Then was the news that gripped all Queensland rugby league fans, with captain and premiership hero Michael Morgan forced into medical retirement. Shoulder concerns had plagued the 29-year-old’s later years in the NRL, and despite coming through most of the pre-season unscathed it took only two games to confirm the worst; his body had failed him. Without their leader, North Queensland also had to contend with a sizeable portion of their salary cap being out of their first choice side, and it soon only got worse. Morgan’s premiership-winning teammate Justin O’neill mustered just six games before his chronic knee issues at last became his undoing.
Long-term injuries to the likes of Taumalolo, Hampton, Tabuai-fidow, Holmes, Cotter and Bowen heaped more pressure on to Payten to field a strong 17 each week.
Halfback swap
Cowboys junior Jake Clifford had already been locked in for a 2022 move to the Newcastle Knights, but his early release ended up coinciding with North Queensland’s slide.
Clifford featured in his side’s three opening losses, before making way for Hampton. When the veteran utility was injured, the young halfback was back in the mix and helped orchestrate a season revival alongside Scott Drinkwater.
A successful period of six wins from eight appearances took the Cowboys into the top eight heading into the bye, but that is where Clifford’s time in the North came to an end.
Having signed Broncos youngster Tom Dearden to a three-year deal from 2022, a mid-season switch was arranged and Clifford returned from
the bye week as a Knight. From there, the 23-year-old became a key figure in Newcastle’s charge to the finals, while the Cowboys suffered a 10game losing streak and continued their stint in the finals wilderness.
Where Clifford had found his feet at the North Queensland scrumbase, Dearden was required to fit into a whole new team dynamic in the blink of an eye.
The 20-year-old showed some signs of promise, particularly running the ball, but ultimately he and Drinkwater were unable to strike up the same combination as Clifford did alongside the five-eighth.
Whether Clifford’s departure played a factor is now just a guessing game, but the absence of his at times threatening kicking game was desperately missed.
THE UGLY Errors run rampant
Payten spent a significant portion of the pre-season driving the fundamentals into his side.
Simple components of the game like passing under pressure or maintaining composure while under fatigue were stressed into his squad.
But it failed to translate to the field on game day.
According to the Fox
Sports Stats Lab, two Cowboys finished in the top 10 for errors across the NRL with marquee man Valentine Holmes atop the list.
Holmes finished 2021 with 34 errors, while Kyle Feldt finished ninth with 27.
Those mistakes, not just limited to the two Origin stars, often led to points against them, with the timing of the missteps as concerning as the error itself.
But it was the way in which mistakes were followed up that caused Payten the most frustration.
When an error was committed, Cowboy heads would drop and they failed to cast the disappointment to the side and dig deep on their own line.
“In a lot of games we have wrestled momentum back in our direction and we have gifted it back with a fundamental error or not kicking a penalty out on the full, ruck infringements and stuff like that,” the coach said.
“It has hurt us and we haven’t got the resilience in the side to handle those things going against us.”
Leaky defence laid bare
No team conceded more points this year than the Cowboys (748 at 31.17 points a game). No team made as many ineffective tackles (431) and only Cronulla had more missed tackles (910 to 882).
The likes of the Panthers, Storm and Roosters regularly showcase their attacking flair, but every point they have scored is built on the back of the defence.
From there, confidence grows with each attacking onslaught they withstand, and entertaining rugby league typically follows.
But that concept just never clicked for the Cowboys this year.
Drinwkater’s strengths attacking a defensive line were brought undone in the second half of the campaign, topping the competition for missed tackles (89).
After every loss Payten was left to lament the Cowboys’ inability to handle pressure and defend their errors.
The coach believed it was a mental lapse, a lack of resilience in his troops.
Their shortcomings were laid bare in the final-round loss to Manly as they conceded four tries in the final 10 minutes to be blown off the park.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The recruits
Reinforcements are limited for next year, meaning Payten will largely be relying on the young guns of the Cowboys once again. Premiership-winning Cronulla Sharks halfback Chad Townsend has been signed to a three-year deal, with his acquisition as much for his offfield persona as what he brings to the pitch.
Experienced, level-headed and competitive, Townsend will serve as a mentor to their developing halves such as Dearden and Ignatius Park graduates Jake Bourke and Tom Duffy.
Ideally, he will also announce himself as the North Queensland general on the field who can marshall the side and allow Drinkwater to play his natural, enigmatic style.
Kiwi centre Peta Hiku will also add to the depth in the side’s outside backs, bringing with him international and grand final experience.
With O’neill calling time on his career, and Esan Marsters released by the Cowboys midseason to join the Titans, Hiku’s versatility and class could prove a valuable asset.
The Cowboys still have one slot open for an off-season recruit, and Payten has made clear his intentions of securing an experienced forward who can lead the pack.
As it stands the incoming players leave a little to be desired for a team determined to claw its way off the bottom of the NRL pile.
Pre-season changes
Payten has flagged the Cowboys are in for a world of hurt this summer while the club has employed a psychologist to work with them in the pre-season.
It is all part of the coach’s plan to better prepare his players for the mental fatigue of NRL, and equip them with the resilience they have lacked.
It is part of a sweeping review into the way they operate in pre-season, which came after their horror finish in 2021.
“There will be a bigger focus around our mental skills along with our physical capabilities,” Payten said.
“The last pre-season we probably put too much focus on our game model and what we want to do in attack and defence. That is not the way we are going to attack it this year.
“You have got to make them uncomfortable every day until they get to a point where we are comfortable being uncomfortable.”