The North Queensland Cowboys are next up in our preview series for the 2015 NRL season after narrowly missing out on a top four birth in 2014 and finishing the year in fifth position.
The Cowboys’ main struggle area last season was winning away from home, and more specifically winning games in Sydney. Had they been able to do this for the first three quarters of the season they would have most certainly been inside the final top four.
With players like Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, James Tamou, youngster Michael Morgan and the returning from injury Lachlan Coote there is no question about the obvious talent level at the Cowboys. However, the question for them is whether they can gel early enough in the season.
Another key problem for the Cowboys is the State of Origin period as they lose a number of very good players. Coach Paul Green’s greatest problem for this season will be winning games during that period. Green is a very good coach, taking over the reins in Townsville from the beginning of last season and taking the Cowboys to within a breath of the top four in 2014.
Pre-season fixtures
Jan 30 – Feb 1: Auckland Nines versus Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm
Feb 7: versus Brisbane Broncos @ Mackay Stadium
Feb 21: versus Gold Coast Titans @ Barlow Park
The Cowboys have two games in their 2015 pre-season besides the Auckland Nines. One of these is against the Brisbane Broncos and the other against the Gold Coast Titans. That means they won’t travel outside of Queensland for their pre-season.
This can be taken in two ways. Firstly, it means they will be fresher for the rugby league season. But secondly, it also means their biggest problem from last season – not winning in Sydney – is not being addressed.
Looking at the opposition, the Broncos are a revamped side under the coaching of Wayne Bennett and will be a tough game for the Cowboys, while the Cowboys will want to give a few of their younger and fringe players minutes against the Titans.
Ins and outs
2015 gains
Jake Granville (Brisbane Broncos, 2016), Ben Hannant (Brisbane Broncos, 2015), Kyle McConnell (2016), Tautau Moga (mid-season: Sydney Roosters, 2016), Justin O’Neill (Melbourne Storm, 2016) and Kelepi Tanginoa (Parramatta Eels, 2016).
2015 losses
Anthony Mitchell (QueenslandCup), Curtis Rona (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ashton Sims (Warrington Wolves), Tariq Sims (Newcastle Knights), Brent Tate (retired) and Ricky Thorby (QueenslandCup)
While the Cowboys’ losses don’t look like many from a numbers point of view, looking at the actual quality of players is a bit of a worry. Firstly, their biggest loss has to be Brent Tate. The veteran centre and winger has finally decided to step down from the top grade of NRL and retire.
The Cowboys have also lost two of the Sims brothers in Ashton and Tariq. Both of these players were essential in the Cowboys line-up in 2014 and therefore could be major losses for the Cowboys. Curtis Rona is the other big loss as he was snapped up by the Bulldogs.
The Cowboys have recruited well to replace these players, although there is a possibility that more depth was needed in their signings. Ben Hannant will be their biggest signing if he can manage to recapture the form he was holding a few years ago and there was no question that he needed a move away from the Broncos.
Jake Granville has also been signed in the forward department and could be an interesting one for Cowboys fans to follow. Justin O’Neill is their other major off-season signing and he should slot straight into the starting line-up. Overall the Cowboys haven’t recruited quite as well as fans would have hoped, but there is still some promising prospects.
Draw analysis
The Cowboys start their season with a tough Saturday night encounter against the Sydney Roosters in the heat of Townsville. They then take on the Newcastle Knights at home before they travel south to Brisbane to take on the Broncos. In Round 4 the Cowboys take on the Melbourne Storm in Townsville, before they finally have to travel to Sydney in Round 5 to take on Penrith.
While they play some very good quality footy sides in the first four rounds, it is essential for the Cowboys to build some momentum so that they can go to Sydney for the first time on the back of some victories. After the Panthers they also take on the Rabbitohs in Sydney, meaning having some momentum will be essential.
The Cowboys’ run home on paper looks to be one where they certainly can’t rely on being able to win all of their games. In the last seven rounds they play four games at home with five of the teams finishing in the bottom eight last season. However, one of the games is a trip across the Tasman to play the Warriors and another is against the Sharks, who are expected to be much improved in 2015.
The teams the Cowboys will play twice in the 2015 NRL season are Newcastle, Brisbane, Manly, Cronulla, South Sydney, Canberra, Parramatta, New Zealand and the Melbourne Storm. While it’s certainly not the easiest list of teams to play twice in the 2015 draw, it’s not the hardest either. However, the one point the Cowboys can take out of this is that there are only four Sydney-based teams out of the nine sides they have to play twice this season.
Predicted impact of State of Origin
Huge, to put it flatly. The Cowboys are always impacted by State of Origin in one way or another. They will lose their main man in Thurston as well as front rower Matt Scott, who is one of the game’s elite front rowers. James Tamou could also be selected for the Blues, along with Michael Morgan and Justin O’Neill, depending on form and injury.
Predicted finish and final word
The Cowboys, a club who will be looking to build upon their performance of last season, have one key area to overcome – trips to Sydney. If they can improve in that area expect the Cowboys to be a deadly force in 2015. I’m tipping them to finish in the top four in 2015.
Next up in this series will be the Penrith Panthers.
Season fixtures
R1 Sat 07 Mar 2015, 9:00pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Roosters
R2 Sat 14 Mar 2015, 9:00pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Knights
R3 Fri 20 Mar 2015, 8:35pm, Suncorp Stadium Broncos V Cowboys
R4 Mon 30 Mar 2015, 7:00pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Storm
R5 Mon 06 Apr 2015, 7:00pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Cowboys
R6 Mon 13 Apr 2015, 7:00pm, ANZ Stadium Rabbitohs V Cowboys
R7 Sat 18 Apr 2015, 5:30pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Warriors
R8 Sat 25 Apr 2015, 2:00pm, Hunter Stadium Knights V Cowboys
R9 Sat 09 May 2015, 7:30pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Bulldogs
R10 Fri 15 May 2015, 7:35pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Broncos
R11 Sat 23 May 2015, 7:30pm, Campbelltown Stadium Wests Tigers V Cowboys
R12 Sat 30 May 2015, 7:30pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Sea Eagles
R13 Mon 08 Jun 2015, 7:00pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Cowboys
R15 Sat 20 Jun 2015, 3:00pm, GIO Stadium Raiders V Cowboys
R16 Sat 27 Jun 2015, 5:30pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Sharks
R17 Sat 04 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Cowboys
R19 Mon 20 Jul 2015, 7:00pm, Brookvale Oval Sea Eagles V Cowboys
R20 Mon 27 Jul 2015, 7:00pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Eels
R21 TBC, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Raiders
R22 TBC, Remondis Stadium Sharks V Cowboys
R23 TBC, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Rabbitohs
R24 TBC, Mt Smart Stadium Warriors V Cowboys
R25 TBC, AAMI Park Storm V Cowboys
R26 TBC, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Titans
Josh P
Guest
I don't think our record in Sydney is anywhere near as bad as it is made out to be, but it not as good as some of our fans think it is either. It took us a long-time to get the monkey off the back in 2014, and we were also not helped when going to Sydney without representative players for a couple of games. But as Greeny says, there can be no more excuses. We can no longer argue that so-and-so did not play because of origin (though it does not help) or injuries. We just have to shut people up by overcoming the odds. Luckily, we beat the Sharks, Dogs and Souths in Sydney at the back end of the year. We also had to 1 point losses to Penrith and the Roosters. In that period, we beat everybody, including Manly, at home. So in a nutshell, our overall form in Sydney does not look that good, but in the last couple of months of the season, we improved it heaps, so there is some optimism it might be better now.
Josh P
Guest
Tariq Sims and Brent Tate are big losses; however, the Cowboys had already got a bit used to life after them. Tatey missed the end of the season last year, so we had already moved on. Tariq Sims was usually injured or suspended, and although I am reluctant to say a bad word about him as he always played with great passion for us, we might be better off having somebody consistently on the paddock. Hannant will hopefully be a replacement for Ashton Sims. Between Taumololo, Cooper, Bolton and Lowe, our backrow should be fine. Matt Wright back from suspension plus Justin O'Neil should add some extra depth to the backrow.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Actually half thier side and coach are ex roosters
Muzz
Guest
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys-backrower-jason-taumalolo-wants-to-become-nrls-next-paul-gallen/story-fnp0lyn6-1227215104247
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
Why would Taumalolo go to the Peptides? He'll have a chance of winning a premiership if he stays at the cowboys.
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
They beat the Dogs in Sydney as well, so technically speaking they beat the two best teams at their own home grounds, and not only just either, they touched them up quite a bit.
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
Lol, the Broncos were missing all of their best forwards as well (Except for Blair).
The eye
Guest
History says they'll start slow,fly home late and lose in a photo..they are the classic get on me next start super suck in..Taumololo to the Sharks would be great,though..
pjm
Roar Rookie
Excited to see how Granville goes, all the hookers were useless last year.
The Barry
Roar Guru
They tick plenty of boxes on the field. They always seem to have a couple of ex bulldogs in their side so it's always been between them and the knights for my second favourite side. Gavin Cooper is one of my favourite players at the moment. They can win in Sydney but can they consistently win in Sydney? If they make the semis and have a call go against them will they be thinking conspiracy? Lots of ticks and a few question marks!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The Cowboys probably need to beat at least 2 of last years top 8 away from home to make the top 2 (which is where they can win a premiership from). They also need to avoid the potential banana skins around the origin period with the Raiders (after Origin 2) and the Dragons (before Origin 3) being problematic.
Gobbler
Guest
I doubt Lui AND Morgan can both play together. They are pretty set on Coote in the 13, so he will play 1 or 6, depending on who starts out of the first 2 players.
Muzz
Guest
There's just that one more step they need to take and are so close. That aura that premiers have before winning the comp and other teams fear. That "this is our year" attitude.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Scott we were missing four of our best forwards on the night. Also we had no JT. I think the broncos were a lot closer to full strength then we were. Honestly the Broncos never really looked like scoring on us but that may have been due to the slippery conditions. Very impressed with Lui's game the other night. I still think the young man is carrying an extra kilo or two. I think he is the key for 2015. If he and Morgan can build on 2014, this team could be near on unstoppable. If we play close to our capabilities, no team can stop us.
Kingcowboy
Guest
The cows did win in Sydney last year when we touched up the Rabbits. We were a finger tip away from beating the Roosters as well in the semi. I have zero concerns about us winning down there. Other teams supporters have that impression but it is far from reality. Getting off to a good and staying injury free is what we need. I think it is our P'ship to lose. No excuses!!!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Broncos held the Cowboys to 6 all for quite a long period of time... Then the Cowboys put 2 tries on when Bennett took a lot of the better players off. Regardless I have the Cowboys with a very high finish in 2015.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cowboys are certainly right up there. It's all going to come down to how they play in Sydney, especially come finals time.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I am sure the cowboys are up there but not sure of the Broncos who got whacked in the trial.
Muzz
Guest
The Cows should go very close to winning it this year, Scott. I'm enjoying your previews.Cheers.