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Two Dally M Medals, one NRL premiership, the 2011 Golden Boot and enough Origin highlights for Queensland to further depress any long suffering NSW fan.
Yes, Test halfback Johnathan Thurston has just about done it all.
But his North Queensland Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott reckons we ain’t seen nothing yet.
Scott believes Thurston’s switch to five-eighth this season has given him added inspiration for the 2012 season.
“I don’t know how much more dangerous he can get,” said Scott.
“But in saying that I think he is primed for a really big year. The glint in his eye is definitely there.
“He is ready to go.
“If you put either number (six or seven) on his back he will be the best player in the world.”
Scott was not sure what prospect was more exciting – Thurston at pivot or the healthy competition his switch has created for the vacant halfback role.
Former Wests Tigers No.7 Robert Lui appears the front-runner once he overcomes a knee injury but will not have it all his own way against Ray Thompson and Michael Morgan.
“JT is a natural five-eighth,” Scott said.
“And the fact that we have a bit of depth in the halves will take a lot of pressure off him. That is definitely an exciting factor.”
Despite being quiet on the recruitment front, Cowboys coach Neil Henry still faces plenty of selection headaches.
“There’s a lot of positions up for grabs from the outside backs right into the forwards,” Henry said.
The arrival of Kane Linnett from the Sydney Roosters has kept many guessing over the Cowboys backline.
Nailing down the wing positions and finding Brent Tate’s centres partner after Willie Tonga’s departure is enough to keep Henry pondering.
Then there’s the forwards.
Scott will be first picked but the jury is out on the pack’s make-up with Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson, 2010 Australian Schoolboys lock Chris Grevsmuhl, Cory Paterson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper and Scott Bolton all at Henry’s disposal.
“Competition for spots will put pressure on players to perform and that is only going to help us this year,” Scott said.
Not that the Cowboys lack motivation after their 2011 season ended abruptly in a rare finals campaign.
Top four for most of last season, the Cowboys limped into their first finals assault since 2007 after stumbling to seventh.
They still backed themselves against Manly in the finals’ first round, especially after walking off SFS leading 8-0 at halftime.
Which made their 42-8 loss to the eventual premiers all the more devastating.
But Scott said the Cowboys must learn from that game if they are to at least match their historic 2005 NRL grand final debut this season.
“It is good to actually bring that loss up,” he said.
“It shows what is needed to go all the way in this comp.
“We worked hard last year and we went far but we now realise it wasn’t far enough.
“The club wants to win its first premiership. We now know what it takes to do that.”
North Queensland Cowboys NRL 2012
Premierships: Nil.
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2011 – seventh, 2010 – 15th, 2009 – 12th.
Coach: Neil Henry
Captain: Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott
Gains: Kane Linnett (Roosters), Luke Harlen (Northern Pride), Robert Lui (Wests Tigers)
Losses: Willie Tonga (Eels), Leeson Ah Mau (Dragons), Will Tupou (rugby union), Clint Amos (retirement)
Player they really needed: Robert Lui. Indeed any half of note would have sufficed but now that they have got Lui the ex-Wests Tigers livewire can provide a perfect foil for Johnathan Thurston in the halves.
Headline fans dread to read: “Lui in trouble again”
Headline fans would love to read: “No injury dramas for Cowboys coach Henry”
Money Man: Johnathan Thurston. Always the heart and soul of the team, he is expected to cause even more damage after switching from halfback to five-eighth this year.
One to watch: Tariq Sims. The punishing backrower will hope to avoid second year syndrome after returning from a broken leg that cut short his impressive 2011 season just two weeks before the finals.
Best team: Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Antonio Winterstein, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Robert Lui, Matthew Scott (capt), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Scott Bolton, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, Cory Paterson.
Predicted finish: 4th
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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The Crowd Says (3) | Page 1 of Comments
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February 21st 2012 @ 8:43am
Paul said | February 21st 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
I think if you drop Graham, put Linnet in the centres and Winterstein on the wing they will go very close. Im not a cowboys fan either just like the look of their squad and i really think Kane Linnet is headed for big things.
February 22nd 2012 @ 10:31am
Mankind said | February 22nd 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
On Paper, this is the strongest Cowboys side I have ever seen! Surely they’ll go close this year? If not, I’d be expecting Henry to get punted. If he can’t win a comp with this team, then he probably should give it away.
February 22nd 2012 @ 10:37pm
Queensland's game is rugby league said | February 22nd 2012 @ 10:37pm | Report comment
Cowboys will win it this year if they don’t suffer too many injuries and aren’t stuffed around by biased referees. They have the most talented teamlist in the competition.