The North Queensland Cowboys supporters got it completely wrong last Saturday night. They should have booed, heckled and jeered their team from the field after the demolition of South Sydney at 1300 Smiles Stadium.
Thurston, Scott, Tate, Tamou and Co have done close to zip for the team all season and suddenly we see a command performance – almost flawless in attack and defence – a few days after coach Neil Henry’s contract was terminated.
“We did it for ourselves and our supporters,” Thurston told the TV audience moments after completing a 30-12 win over the competition heavyweight.
JT, I think I get that, you put on quite a show because you were, aaah, in the mood. Got out of bed the right side. The planets were aligned. You just felt like it.
The entire Cowboys scenario has been an embarrassment this year. The club has a very talented roster and was widely tipped to finish in the top four, or better.
It has served up rubbish more often than not and the players, and the club’s administrators, have not been held to account.
But the coach has been given the heave-ho. The non-performance has been pretty much all his fault.
The Cowboys players? If you’ll excuse an intended pun, they’re going to get off, Scott-free.
Many of these players were picked in the State of Origin and hardly missed a beat.
Where were the missed tackles in that arena? How come the game plans were carried out with near perfection?
Coach Henry should correctly cop some criticism for not dropping his non-performers from the NRL but my barbs are aimed mainly at the well-paid professionals at North Queensland who have not aimed up until the season was gone.
What I’d like to know is why the Cowboys have been missing tackles, dropping passes and generally ignoring their coach’s instructions all season?
Are we going to see the real North Queensland talent shine through now that there’s an incoming coach to impress?
I honestly thought there would be considerable sorrow and remorse for the axed coach who had done the job for five seasons.
Test prop Scott was interviewed pre-game. He was asked if the players were guilty about Henry’s dumping on the Monday leading up to the Souths game.
Scott said: “I don’t think so. It is one of those things, it works both ways. If a player is not playing well he gets dropped or his contract doesn’t get extended.”
Scott conceded that it was disappointing the coach’s tenure ended in this fashion.
“He has been around this club for a long time and I have had him as an assistant in the Origin arena as well – he’s a good mate of mine.”
Well, Matt, with friends like you . . .
I read recently where the Cowboys don’t like having their nickname shortened to the ‘Cows.’
Tough titty lads. I think the unwanted monicker will stick around for a hell of a lot longer with so much bulldust coming out of tropical Townsville.
db swannie
Guest
When henry leaves a young wrecking ball out most weeks(tomololo) then yes ,questions should be asked of the coach.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Hmmm, could the Henry firing be another case of the players (namely Thurston) thinking they are top dog and not respecting the coach. I mean Thurston is the highest paid Cowboy, inc coaching staff and maybe even all the admins/board/CEO! Something is rotten in NQld...would love to know the full deal.
Felix
Guest
I knew there had to be another one of us out there in The Roar land AlanKC - I'm a devout Cowboys fan as well and cannot agree more with your post. To be fair, our season was really punctuated with the Origin series this year, we had a lot of players representing for once. It's long been a bit of a pasture for players seeing out the final years of their NRL careers, which is a shame. I find it really interesting that young players aren't lining up to get into the cowboys set up to play alongside Thurston, which leads me to believe that perhaps it's an attitude thing holding them back. I'm a big Thurston fan, but maybe he is a bit toxic at the club in his own right? To extend on what' you've said, perhaps having one marquee player who runs the show might make it seem like it is 'his team' and not a genuine club atmosphere. Henry said in the media that there were a few people 'swimming against the tide' at the club which made life difficult for him. Now there aren't too many people who would get away with going against the wish of the coach or the captain and not get dropped, which leads me to think it may have been the captain himself.
Sam
Guest
+1 spell check. ; ) Tital!!!
turbodewd
Guest
Possibly, Ive never had enuff of a close look at who lets in the tries for the Cowboys.
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Someone needs to ask Thurston if playing the last nine origin series is enough, he's won 8 of em! Golden Boot, 2 Dally M's..... The only things missing are a World Cup Winners medal and a Premiership, or two, with the Cowboys, his best chance is to retire from rep footy. Times running out Johnno.
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Supposedly they were all good enough to play for Australia. "Bowen (crap defense)" Let me guess, in the mould of Barba/Sandow/Kelly?
maximillian
Guest
100% agree. The Cowboys had 2 good hookers last year with Payne & Segeyaro & now they have no one?! They knew early on that Payne was retiring so should've done more to keep Segeyaro IMO. Kostjasyn is an honest toiler at best & that Pommie guy is horrible so the attack is spluttering.
maximillian
Guest
+1 BB. Oikee I don't mind the ranting & every now & then you come up with an absolute pearl of wisdom but dude, put the spell check on man!
turbodewd
Guest
Mate, Henry should have dropped any fat players. It's his job to run the squad. He has to motivate with a combo of carrot and stick.
turbodewd
Guest
Good point on Thurston retiring from Origin.
Terry Kidd
Guest
No doubt the Cowboys have been disappointing but I don't blame JT, Scott or Tate. They at least look fit and enthused. Watching them against Souths I was struck by how many of the players were carrying a few kilos around the middle .... Bowen, Thompson, Linnet to name a few. This lead me to consider their attitude. Something is not right at that club but I seriously doubt that it is all Henry's fault.
Ray Charles
Guest
I agree Tim, however the Cows wont become a force until they get a settled 1, 6, 7 and 9. They also need to work on the wrestle more, which irks me as I hate that part of the game but they are pretty ordinary in that regard. Walters may be the man to help fix that after his work under Bellamy, but I would like them to try Andrew Dunneman. This is the guy that most good judges had huge wraps on as a youngster yet he didn't receive the plaudits as he was plying his trade up in NQ when the Cows were the GWS of the League. He has played and coached under some quality men and I think his new fresh approach will bring some much needed spark back. On another note I have been informed that Robert Lui knocked back a massive offer from the Warriors over 3 years to stay with the Cows on a 1 year $180,000 contract. If this is true we must as a league give the guy credit where it's due. I was the first to bag NQ for taking him on after his Mad Monday Madness but if this is true then it looks as if he at least is trying to right the wrongs of his past...
planko
Guest
Timbo I was bored a couple of nights ago watching the ashes so I flicked over to the races on sky ... Watched the 5 bounce out at $30 to win by 3 lengths turned it back to the cricket in disgust.
planko
Guest
Alan could not agree with you more having a large percentage of your cap in one player does turns each season into a craps shoot. Just IMO I would have asked him to consider retirement from rep football before before I dusted off such a large amount of money for him that is just my opinion.
bangbang
Guest
Mate, I'm sorry to be a grammar/spelling nazi but I just can't stand it every time I see you write it. It's spelt 'title'. Not tital. Apart from that, I do enjoy reading your rants. :)
Thurman Merman
Guest
The under performers such as Tate, Hall, Ashton Sims, Kostjayson, Linnett etc and the coach for continually selecting them when fringe players are doing a great job in reserve grade.
AlanKC
Guest
I'm a Cowboys supporter (much to my regular disappointment), although no longer in Townsville, and I often wonder about the wisdom of having one marquee player (okay, okay several now) taking up such a large chunk of the salary cap. Don't get me wrong I love to watch Thursto play (especially at Origin time...) and this year I (and many others) expected big things from the team which haven't eventuated. Over the years they've picked up a few players who were living on reputation (Carl Webb as a notable) and didn't put in regularly but this year they have an excellent pack (comments about hooker noted) that should have given Thurston the platform for the backs but it just hasn't come about. We can have a whinge about some rough decisions but they should have been good enough to overcome them, so something is indeed wrong somewhere. Hopefully the new coach can develop more of what they showed last weekend?
Wayne Heming
Guest
The problem is Tim, if YOU could see all those things what were going wrong, all the missed tackles, dropped balls and garbage the players were serving up, why couldn't Henry make some tough calls?. You're right though, Scott's comments about his coach didn't actually reflect too much sadness he was getting kicked out the door when he'd been loyal to the end to some under-performing stars. Letting Segeyaro go was a bad mistake, having a halfback revolving door and the old expectation curse all kicked in and in the end Mr Nice Guy Henry took the fall. The new coach will need to be someone who can assume control and perhaps make the changes that have to be made to turn things around for the Cows, sorry Cowboys. Cheers.
turbodewd
Guest
Well who do u blame?! Im no Cowboys guru but their record seems terrible. Thurston is the best halfback in the NRL and his teammates, on paper, are decent. Someone is to blame up there.