We are past the halfway mark for this season’s NRL competition, and the biggest disappointment has been the performance of the North Queensland Cowboys.
They may be above the Parramatta Eels on the ladder, but the Eels were not considered premiership contenders at the start of the season. So where has it all gone wrong for the Cowboys this year?
The key reason the North Queensland club has struggled this season is down to the failed attempt of replacing the recently retired Aaron Payne.
One of the most important positions in a rugby league team is the dummy-half role. Every attack starts with the ball in the hands of the dummy-half, so it is vitally important for every NRL club to have an experienced and highly skilled hooker.
The current top four of the NRL consists of clubs which all have a quality dummy-half.
You have both the Australian and New Zealand international hookers, Cameron Smith and Issac Luke, for Melbourne and South Sydney respectively.
There’s Matt Ballin from the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, who has also played one State of Origin match for Queensland, and would have featured in more if not for the previously mentioned Smith ahead of him in the pecking order.
Last of all, we have Roosters dummy-half Jake Friend. An underrated player in my view, who has played over 100 matches for the club in five years, meaning he has a good relationship with his fellow teammates.
When news of Payne’s retirement was announced, it was important that the club replaced him with a quality hooker to fill his boots. Unfortunately the player every Cowboys fan felt would be a worthy successor, James Segeyaro, had already signed for the Penrith Panthers for next season.
So North Queensland recruited two possible replacements for the dummy half position, Englishman Scott Moore and Rory Kostjasyn from the Melbourne Storm.
They joined Anthony Mitchell, a mid-season recruit from last season, and Ray Thompson as the four candidates to fight for the hooking role.
Moore and Kostjasyn featured early in the year as the starting hooker, but unfortunately for both players they did not seem to have what it takes to cement the position.
The Englishman seemed to struggle with the intensity of the NRL compared to the Super League back in England. As for Kostjayn, defensively he was very strong but in attack there seemed to be no spark.
Anthony Mitchell had an error-riddled start to the season, so it is hard to tell whether he is up to the task of becoming the regular dummy-half at the Cowboys.
Then we are left with Ray Thompson, a player who for most of his league career has featured in the halves, but has now been thrown into the hot seat of being the number nine.
His great link-up work with Robert Lui and Johnathan Thurston in the previous Cowboys match shows he may be the one to make the dummy-half role his own. Hopefully for Cowboys fans he can build on from this previous performance, and continue to impress.
However, if this unfortunately does not happen there a few players available on the market for next season that the Cowboys may want to look at – Kevin Kingston, Joel Romelo and Matt Keating just to name a few.
But a player from left field and someone who has grabbed my attention is New Zealand Warriors’ Under 20 player, Siliva Havili.
A powerful hooker and quick off the mark, he has represented Tonga as well as winning the National Youth Competition (NYC) with the Warriors back in 2011.
Whichever way the Cowboys go with – either sticking with Thompson and giving him the remainder of the season to get used to the role or recruiting in the off-season – the improvement of the dummy-half position has to be the main priority for the Cowboys next season in getting back to winning ways.
Obbig
Guest
As a PNGean I thought Segeyaro was the better hooker. It was out of respect for experience that Payne was kept in the spot. Maybe (and I say maybe) Segeyaro's was due to the fact that the coach could not see his worth. Forget he wants to live in Sydney. That is how polite a PNGean be to show his frustration. He is an impact player and an inspiration. Which other hooker had fearlessly went one-on-one with a prop and came out on top? Segeyaro (on Kendrick of Panthers)! If anything thing is to go for the Cowboys (in terms of the hooking role), just put up a counter offer and bring the boy from Bena to Cowboy Town. Do not lie to yourselves with makeshift hookers.
Bulldog
Guest
Segeyaro leaving was not a mistake by the Cowboys, he wanted to move to Sydney and they let him go rather than force him to stay.
Fra-Dog
Roar Rookie
Havilli recently signed an upgraded 1 year deal to join the Warriors first grade squad from the 2014 season. It will be interesting to see how he handles the intensity of first grade, certainly one player to keep an eye on.
therookie
Roar Pro
Another Cowboys fan here. Letting go of Segeyaro was a big mistake for the club. When he came onto the field he sped up the the play the balls which suited to Thurston and Bowen's game. Payne wasn't that good, and that was the reason why the Cowboys struggled to score points in the opening 20 minutes of matches. But no doubt he was a great hooker, and when he was at his best he was playing a similar style to that of Cam Smith back in the 2005 season. In the years to come after that, his service slowed down and it came to point where he knew he had to hang up the boots. However I don't think recruiting another hooker is where the Cowboys need to look. They got four already, which is a lot. Kostjasyn is too inconsistent for my liking, but he is improving in every game. Ray Thompson gets his chance this week to show what he is capable of. He is a great defender and has excellent footwork for a little man. He is not quite as built as Segeyaro, but he is still good. I believe the Cowboys are lacking in attack this year, if anything. Which starts with the hooker, getting quick ball to the halves or whoever is at first receiver. I also think that Matty Bowen has had his quietest season yet. He hasn't done much and especially at a crucial time as his contract is up at season's end. But it's not all Bowen's fault, Thurston has been at bit down on his game but hopefully he can carry his brilliant Origin performance to club level against the Sharkies this weekend. But I do agree with you, on that Sivila Havilli is a player of the future. Watched him in the NSW Cup match between Wests and Auckland and the 20 year old was a stand-out amongst the much older men. He is strongly built and also quick and versatile around the ruck. When is he off-contract????? The Cowboys should definitely be interested in him; but I don't think we need a new hooker for another year yet
Elijah Weightman
Roar Guru
Not too sure about that Darth, perhaps it's just because they have personal demons when it comes to playing in Sydney. Plus the refs never really help them. Good article Dog, I hope the Cowboys can recruit either Kingston or Romelo, preferably Kingston due to his experience but Romelo seems like an enthusiastic young player. I really thought Moore would play well at the beginning of the season but I still think Mitchell should be given a crack. He played pretty darn well for us last year. I gave up on our chances this year after we lost to the Tigers, so I'm really just going one game at a time now and supporting the wins when the come.
darth vader
Guest
The reason they are struggling is due to two years in a row of manly ending there season
Fra-Dog
Roar Rookie
Just my luck haha We'll probably get Friend now, might not be a bad thing though :)
Ian M
Guest
As a Warriors fan, I'm hoping Havili will get a go in 1st grade with the Warriors next year now they've announced that they aren't taking up the 3rd year option on Nathan Friend.
Fra-Dog
Roar Rookie
Cheers peeko, yeah I would not be surprised if the Cowboys went for Kingston I think he would click right in. However, I am hearing he is looking to stay in the Sydney area with his family. So will have to wait and see :)
peeeko
Roar Guru
Good article, I like your suggestions romelo and Kingston . Would ave been better if they held onto segeyaro
Ask
Guest
As a Cowboys fan, Payne's retirement was met with equal parts of good and bad. Good as I felt there were times when him hobbling around on one leg was holding us back (having Segeyaro come off the bench masked how poorly we were positioned to cover his loss) and bad because whilst he had lost his pace out of dummy half he still had a great pass and vision/connection with his halves and fullback (unlike Danny Buderus who has become a sluggish shoveller since coming back from Super League - maybe I am looking back at him through rose coloured glasses how the mighty have fallen). Kostjasyn has performed admirably but is still a lock playing hooker. Thompson has done well and could be the future but the coach needs to decide is he a halfback or is he a hooker and stick with it.