The North Queensland Cowboys have the greatest player I’ve seen in their backline, and one the best props in the NRL.
Jason Taumalolo is a damaging forward, while Gavin Cooper and Ethan Lowe give their all but are on the small side.
Every team needs at least one hot-head who’s out to whack the opposition’s tough guys. This puts a target on his head and allows others to play their game. James Tamou could be providing the aggression needed to balance the Cowboys’ pack, but I don’t see that as his style of play.
Matt Scott is the Cowboys’ Shane Webcke, a genuinely hard man and consistent yard gainer. Scott will ensure the Cowboys get movement up field, but he needs an enforcer getting inside the other opposition’s head. So does Johnathan Thurston.
Tariq Sims was a terrific player for the Cowboys but it’s Ashton Sims the Cowboys need. He’s a leader and he took it upon himself to aggressively go after other forwards and rattle their confidence. Ashton would have gone after Beau Scott from the kick off, and had Scott thinking more about himself than doing his job of shutting down JT.
Paul Green should look to Sam Burgess or the Super League to bring an Ashton-type menace into the pack who allows the others stand tall. It would be worth losing Tamou and Ben Hannant, but I hope they prove me totally wrong.
JT is the best I’ve seen, with Andrew Johns, Wally Lewis, Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer right behind. These guys all played in sides that complemented their talent. It’s a shame JT may not get the status he deserves because he played in a lesser side.
I’ve always liked Matty Johns, and his views on the game are usually fresh and honest, but his inflating of the value of the Cowboys’ cattle seems to me to have an agenda. He sporadically talks JT up before asking what he needs to do to surpass Andrew as the greatest. The inevitable answer being win a premiership.
Comparing players from different eras is always opinion based but the Newcastle Knights 2001 premiership side had almost all run on players having played origin or international footy. A case could be made for why more weren’t won.
Mind games are part of competition however and the Cowboys have folded. Their forwards will struggle to match the better packs this year. North Queensland need to regroup for the sake of their faithful fans.
Dav
Guest
Yep NQ, you got that right
NQ Cowboy
Guest
The problem is JT, Morgan and Coote will find it difficult to be creative in attack if their forward pack continues to get dominated.
NQ Cowboy
Guest
Imagine if they had Segeyaro.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that, I realise that Jake Friend is a hooker, I also realise he plays for Easts. My point is that the Cowbies rely way too much on JT. They need two or three options when they've got the ball on the money plays. Their issue isn't a lack of an enforcer in the forwards, it's a lack of quality options in attack.
Dav
Guest
Jake Friend is a hooker? and Thurston is the HalfBack ... it was Morgan first ever run at 5/8 Have faith, they will click into gear ...
Dav
Guest
Who are all these wingers you talking about Parra? name a winger taller than 196cm & heavier than 105kg?
up in the north
Roar Rookie
What they lack is another playmaker. Coote will come along nicely after having a run and Morgan was fine in patches, at least preferable to Lui. But they desperately need a dummyhalf that has a bit of smarts and a big kicking game. Yes Jake Friend I'm talking to you.(if only) The thing about JT being the everywhere man is that he stifles creativity in the players around him, they need another alpha dog in the pack.
Dav
Guest
For sure Barry, would rather Kostjasyn drop his work rate in defence to last the whole game and have another second rower/prop on the bench.
Fight fair.
Guest
Also Joey could tackle.
Dav
Guest
2 pre season mistakes, Lui in the starting side and letting Ashton Simms go. I think the Sims brothers would stand side by side, conjecture in the departure of Tariq may reason the inability to keep Ashton. Tariq was the early talent but 2 broken legs suffered in his game maybe reasoning his departure. Ashton was the sleeping giant and was just awakening to his role last year, though his heartfelt loyalty to his talented younger brother could not see him stay and the Cows lost their enforcers. These enforces have not been replaced and balance needs to be restored for the cows. These enforces were by no means the best in the business, but good enough to let the rest of a talented pack do their job effectively. Maybe the balance can be restored from a united collective effort from the pack though I think there needs to be an ignition switch to fire them up. As the pack had the enforces firing again late last year and the engine was purring it allowed Lui to hide. No where to hide, Lui was found out again and dropped causing Green to reshuffle the spine. 1 week to prepare, a shot winger, teething at hooker and the result is the Broncos. Their pre season direction was wrong. Coote (Javid Bowen/Hezron), Winterstein/O'Neil, Moga, Wright, Feldt, Morgan, JT, Scott, Granville (Chudleigh, King), JT2, JT3 , Lowe, Cooper Hoare, Bolton, Tanginoa, (Would drop Hannant and be looking for spark plug to ignite the team) News is that Chudleigh has been ripping it up for the Cutters this season.
Wildman From Borneo
Guest
IMHO the Cowboys have a few issues to work through which, I'm sure they will. They still have a potentially awesome NRL team even without a hothead forward. My major concern with the Cowboys (once they sort out their issues) is, that so much of their play revolves around JT. Shut down JT and you go a long way to nullifying the Cowboys. I cannot believe successive Coaches have not addressed this problem. As good as JT is, when most of their attack is centered around him, as it is, the Cowboys are, should I use the word?? predictable!
Jimmmy
Guest
Not with us he didnt
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don't agree that they should continue with two hookers just because it's worked in the past. It might have with Payne and Segeyaro but these guys aren't them. If King is fit - then fine. But if Kostjasyn is in the hooker rotation then better off with one. Maybe giving Cooper and Taumalolo a spell would work.
Parrafan
Guest
Given we have wingers in the game bigger than that I can sort of see his point.
Parrafan
Guest
Lol 'the enforcer' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ole1A50waKk
Joe
Roar Rookie
O'Neil was hopeless under the kicks on Friday, how in the world did he go from being a safe pair of hands at the Storm to that nervous wreck on Friday I don't know. What about Ray Thompson for bench? Is there something wrong with him? He went all right last year and at least provides another kicking option from hooker if required and his running/passing game is pretty good.
Dav
Guest
These guys are big lads, Coops is 6 foot 4 .... Gobbler, you must be an 8 foot monster?
Dav
Guest
I know your being sarcastic Squid, very funny, but don't even go there ...
Dav
Guest
Lowe has a bit of mongrel about him we are yet to see ... he is young, though you can see it in his eyes.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
JT already won a sodding premiership.