North Queensland Cowboys 2016 NRL season preview

I think Kev (assuming he goes with a utility) will elect to go with either Morgan or (an outside chance) Milford. Having 3 halfbacks in the team probably isn't the best idea but by instead bringing in Milf or Morgan you have a six who can play outside a halfback while also capable of filling in multiple positions from 1-6 plus 9. Morg could even fill in at second row if the maroons were being devastated by injuries. Wouldn't be surprised if it was DCE again though tbh. I think he would've been there for game 3 last year if he hadn't been struggling with an injury. The whole "fell out of favour with QLD for turning his back on the Titans" scenario was just media beat up. Seriously he got booed for like 2 minutes at Suncorp when some AFL land expats mistook him for Adam Goodes and that was it. Nobody cared.

I think the Cowboys have shown they can redesign a couple of established patterns. Th Broncos had never lost a Grand Final. Wayne Bennett had never lost a Grand Final. (Did Uncle Wayne think the pattern of the Final was the same as their Semi and tried to defend that same score for 20 mins?) A team had never won a Premiership in golden point. (Although that may never happen again!) Crikey even the pattern of years of dodgy referee calls going against the Cowboys in the semis was changed!!! Although I agree that the NRL comp is really tough, especially for the defending Premiers, and any team can beat another on their day, however I do expect the Boys to win more than they lose. Whatever happens, eventually there will always be a bottom 4 and the top teams should, more often than not, defeat whoever the under-performing, very lowest ranked teams are. For mine, it doesn't matter if the Cowboys qualify for the semis in first, fourth, fifth or eighth because they know what it takes to lift during big games and they also know how to win a Grand Final. Having said that, I predict a couple more established patterns to be redesigned by the Cowboys. The will win back-to-back titles, from the bottom half of the eight with EXACTLY the same 17!!!! Improbable? A definite yes. Impossible? Maybe not.......

Have to agree with EJ here. Not saying the Cowboys can't do it, can't rule anything out at this stage but it will be highly unlikely. For the fifteen other teams versing the premiers is a big deal. It's a game which can instil some self-belief and confidence, it's a game which teams want to win more than any other throughout the regular season. Determination cannot be underestimated either. Throughout history and not just in sport we have seen time and time again an unlikely opponent come out on top against all odds through sheer determination. Again not saying the Cowboys won't be able to go back to back as they have a great team and fantastic coach, but it will take a massive effort, bigger than this year's, to lift the trophy once again come October.

An enjoyable article, and a welcome break from the cricket atm, but I agree that assuming a "same-same" approach and a lack of desire will lead to the Cowboys bowing out early seems a little suspect. Previously defending premiers have had to deal with pretty substantial changes to the team, something the Cowboys get to avoid. The article also seems to ignore the impact of the interchange rule, which when combined with injuries, is likely to have the most impact on next years race. Given the Cowboy's desire and ability to play a fast game, this may work in their favour.

Taking a look at the Rabbits' season, I could think of a few reasons why 2015 was not the year they went back to back Loss of forwards like Burgess, the Rabbitohs tried to replace the forwards they lost but never quite got it done The injury to Adam Reynolds is also a huge factor. Take out the star half of any team and they are going to struggle. The frequent suspensions of Issac Luke didn't help either, especially towards the tail end of the season where every game counts. Souths were an entirely different (and easily beaten) team without him. Add to it the more broader issues of Maguire seemingly pushing his players too hard, his insufficient changes to tactics and strategies in the face of the changes in the off season and the fact that as premiers, every team brought their A game when up against them and you can see the factors that brought them down. It was not because they weren't bloody hungry enough.

They will be just as hungry, atleast they say they will be and will think they are. But you only have to be a percent off mentally to not win the comp. As I said above this isn't the AFL or Super Rugby where the premiers will have easy games along the way the following year. The NRL is tough. 16 teams compete at the highest level each and every week. Finals-like footy intensity for an entire year for the premiers, plus returning from England (which you have never done before) where Cam Smith has said you don't get over the effects til round 5. But best of luck to you UITN. Your side will definitely play finals footy, but I think they will be exhausted by the time Sept rolls around. Just my opinion of course. But it's proven true for years now.

You may well be one of a handful of people who considered that "brilliant reading".

So basically you are saying that because they've won one they are less hungry leading into next year. I dispute that. I believe that they have found their "zone" for want of a better word. North Queensland are finally getting out from behind the apron strings of Brisbane and the commentrati don't like it. You see what makes NQ click is their ability to get reasonable talent together take them to the next level while still living in the tropics. It took a long time for that penny to drop. Remember Tim Roberts.okay on his day . But didn't travel. Bit like a shiraz.

everyone should read the article recently by Beardan that says that the NRL sides not repeating is weak, an excses culture and a poor mentality. brilliant reading

I don't think you have had to have been from "down south" to notice the pretty obvious pattern that has emerged over the past 2 decades. Each and every year supporters of the premiers tell us why their team will go back-to-back. And they usually come up with pretty valid reasons. I thought the Roosters after 2013 could be the first because the WCC was held in Oz. They got the minor premiership. Then failed to make the big dance. The Storm with the best club side on paper I've seen in years also got close in 2008. It will happen one day. But the Cowboys won't be that team. It is nothing to do with complacency. The team will work just as hard. But that few percent the team gave to win the close ones, or comeback in multiple games after giving up big leads in 2015, will be gone. Despite what the players and coaching staff will tell the media. Don't underestimate the significance of the relief felt to finally win one. That driving force isn't quite there anymore. You think it is, and you tell yourself it is, but it's not. Souths endured it last year, came out of the blocks well and people were talking about an undefeated season. They then faded. The NRL is a very tough comp.

It's a tough draw for the Cowboys this season, they've got to play the Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Broncos twice while they only get the Titans and Knights once (although they get the Eels twice). Couple that with basically no new signings and I think the 5th place prediction is basically spot on. Also If there are any key injuries (to Thurston etc) then I think they'll probably miss the 8 in that circumstance. A repeat has to be very long odds but if they can avoid injuries come finals time I might be tempted to put a pineapple on them.

And that may well be the case. We're not sure which way Kevvie will be leaning. However, that doesn't diminish from the fact that the Round 4 match will be a great game with the added bonus that 2 of the halves could potentially be competing for a Maroons spot.

Newsense you make the most sense. Are you a plant... To think that coach Greene is going to be complacent in the upcoming season is dribble. The biggest unknown will be the trip to the UK. Bad idea in my opinion but it does get a few extra dollars into the club. I fully expect JT to be spelled at strategic times next year.....limit his exposure. That means there's a successor already being groomed. I just love how you blokes down south think that because your team haven't done it that we can't.

Who would it be if the new Maroons coach wanted an extra forward on the bench because of the new interchange rules? Or what if Milford beat everyone to the bench spot?

To predict the Boycows will do everything the same again in 2016 is real lazy thinking and a very cheap shot. Does Mr Pettigrew really believe that every Premiership winning team/club since '98 has either rested on their laurels or every one of those clubs never changed anything when defending the title!!!! WOW!!!! Or is it just an opinion reserved for the Cowboys of 2016, because they do not have any professional athletes, coaches or support staff or they are not capable of thinking about, planning, or even caring about what the team produces in every game throughout an NRL season. "Sticking with the same .... game plan as 2015" will be the last thing the Cowboys will do, especially considering the changes to the interchange rules over the next couple of years or are we still viewed as being that backwards up here that fitness levels, skills sets and using bench players will be exactly the same?!?!?!? To tar this team with the same brush as previous premiership defenders does not account for the changes in personnel in those team the following year. Sam Burgess, Sonny Bill Williams, et al were big losses and coupled with injuries to other key players during a season, then things have come undone very easily. It would be like taking Thurston out of the team for 2016, then losing Scott, Toumalololololo and Tamou for extended periods and although players will try their best, it is actually the loss of a high quality, experienced players that cause 'a sub-conscious loss of motivation' that will derail the season. And besides that, Green has changed his approach to coaching to continuously improve every one of his teams in the past and it would be VERY narrow minded to think Green believes Mr Pettigrew's mantra: "it ain't broke, so don't fix it!!!!" The BIG reason why Green did not want the Maroons job was because he was putting MORE time into his day job. I have no doubt Green would be looking forensically at improving their starts in games and when they do, they will win a lot more games, more easily..... Also when your whole squad (with only a couple of minor changes) knows how to win from any position, as opposed to expecting to lose, THAT will be the most valuable experience a player can use in high pressure games (ie: the 2015 Grand Final). I expect the same never-say-die attitude to be there again next year and each and every player will take personal responsibility for improving their games, driven by two of the game's best examples, Thurston and Scott.... Considering what North Queensland produced last year in the Q-Cup, NYC, under 19's, 16's, High School and Primary School footy teams, then the future looks very bright indeed!!!! THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR THURSTON TO CARVE HIS LEGACY IN STONE (they may carve his image into the rock face of Castle Hill, a-la Mount Rushmore, when he leads them to victory again), SO I PREDICT THE COWBOYS WILL DEFEAT THE BRONCOS AGAIN, COME OCTOBER 2016.

I wouldn't put it past North Qld to go back to back, the Warriors are shaping up to be a force as well with speed and strength across the park, I hope the eels can finally manage to get into the top half of the table, getting close to near a decade since they last did.

"....what shapes as the closest season ever." I think that line has been used every year since 1908.

I also agree with you db about the warriors being up there, yeah yeah we all know what they are like, but I think they'll be having a good season next year, looks a fast powerful side across the park.

Never say never db, I reckon the cowboys are a real shot of going back to back.

How so . Morgan is already part of the team . They won't change a winning formula except for injuries/ suspension or retirement As was shown in the GF . Morgan performed under pressure . Hunt cracked