NRL 2017 season preview: North Queensland Cowboys

I can't believe Ponga wasn't mentioned in the strengths for this seasons. The Cowboys are in fact ageing across the paddock and the backline is devoid of speed. If Green continues with Linnett, Winterstien, and Coote they will struggle for points. 1 or 2 of them have to make way for Ponga and Bowen. Coote was fantastic for the Cowboys in 2015 but ordinary in 2016. He made 30 errors at the back last year which is simply not good enough. Being a left foot kicker he certainly helps JT on last tackle kicks but Ponga is sensational player. He's not a talent he is a player well beyond his years between the ears. He is incredibly safe and super skilful with ball in hand. He makes the difficult look easy and his decision making under pressure is second to none. Add this to his ability to beat the first defender at will and accelerate at blinding pace. He has game awareness that only the elite players possess. I think Fensom could be a good addition with his high defensive work rate in the middle. Scott and Taumalolo are not great lateral defenders and Cooper and Lowe lock down the edges. Hess is big unit and can defiantly fill the role of Hannant.

Definitely...it's all guesswork at this stage of the season. Bring it on...!

I think Bowen and Ponga already demonstrated that last year. Gela-Mosby is the one who needs some time.

Gotta agree with Jimmy especially re O'Neil and that Broncos final where he pretty much won it for them. He has also won two grand finals and if he were available would be starting centre for the Storm without a doubt. Bowen, Ponga and Mosby need to be given game time to see whether they can provide that point of difference spark for the team.

You're right, but the comparison, at least from my end, is more in terms of overall quality rather than specifics. And what you say about too many back-rowers and not enough props is (unfortunately!) something I have thought about in relation to Hess. He's a stud, but when I have seem him playing at prop, even in the Nines, his natural assets, above all his speed, did not really seem to come out. So, yes, there is definitely a bit of wait and see. But, as they say, that's what they play the games for!

Agree about O'Neill Jimmmy. Maybe a couple of years ago he dipped in form a bit but since moving to the centres he's been outstanding.

Fensom for Hannant is another not like-for-like replacement. Fensom will play middle third and tackle all day but he's not a metre eater like Hannant. Cowboys are one of my favourite non-Bulldogs teams but I'm still not sold on the balance of their roster in the forwards. Too many backrowers not enough props.

Well, you can't sit Feldt, so a new starter on the wing (Ponga?) would have to be in Winterstein's spot. As for getting Bowen in the regular squad, that might be a little trickier. O'Neill is solid and while Linnett does not offer what Bowen does in attack, he is generally very solid defensively and, as we all know, Greeny tends to pick his 17 based largely on defense. But they are both talents that I would like to see on the field. And after Gids has a year playing against bigger boys in the Q-Cup, he should be ready to come in and start DOMINATING in 2018.

Excellent points, KingCowboy. Hess is a beast, for sure. And we probably don't lose anything with going from Hannant to Fensom, much as Hannant was huge for us over the last two years. Would have to think that Hess and Fensom would provide some pretty mean pop coming off the bench as Bolts and Hannant used to do. And if Hess and Fensom actually end up being an upgrade from Tamou and Hannant (which does not sound entirely unrealistic), then we could well be just fine in the middle third. And if we're good there, well, we're already more or less set elsewhere. All of that translates into a potentially VERY successful season. What also would help would be if Granville were to re-find his 2015 form. Even just a few more darts out of dummy half per game would work WONDERS to keep the opposition off-balance around the ruck area. Just that split-second of uncertainty that that creates is enough time for someone like JT to exploit them or for Granville himself to exploit if he's running. Again, as much as anyone else, Granville was the X-Factor in our championship season. Was it against St. George or Newcastle that he scored two literally last-minute tries to help us win the game back in 2015? That was EPIC! Bring back THAT level of play and watch what happens in attack! Anyway, greetings to all from the self-styled biggest American Cowboys fan! And, of course, go, Cowboys! Here's to a great 2017!

Can't wait for the season to begin! I think the cows have a pretty good draw - no short turnarounds and I don't think they play in Sydney till round 7? Also I think Scott Bolton was in terrific form towards the end of last season. I am really hoping he can make that starting prop position his own and have a great season. I am salivating at the prospect of watching Coen Hess' development. I thought Coote had a reasonable four nations tournament with Scotland - I think they could have used him even more in kicking/attack re his role at the cows. I'm interested to see whether/how their style of play changes/develops through the season

Cheers mate. Good luck for the season...

Jimmmy my man, I am feeling pumped. Agree with almost everything you say. I thought Hannant was at the end. He has been a warrior through his whole playing days, so it might have been a bit harsh for me to right him off. Another young player I like is young Jensen on the wing. I think he is going to put on some weight and could push Winto in the centers with him coming on the wing. Though shall not speak of someone else who might get into our team.

I understand the point you are trying to make. Hess is going to be as good as Taumalolo which is better then what JImmy at his best ever offered us IMO. I know Jimmy was an Aussie rep but Hess will be that good this year. He can play in both the middle and the edge but we need him in the middle. I start Hess and have Bolton coming off the bench. I thought the only way we resign Hannant last year was on a reduced contract. He resigned late in the piece and Fensom is an upgrade. He reminds me a lot of Dallas Johnson but with extra size. Upgrade IMO. Lowe will take an extra step forward and over take Cooper as our number one edge player. Coops will still do his job. Matty Scott was playing busted last year. If we rest him more, he will be more effective. We have Lolo, Hess and the other young boys to help carry the load during the year and have Matty firing when we need him most.

Ah that's what I I like to see KC. At this stage of the season all I want to hear is why we can take out the comp. Negative thinking, put downs and laments can come later on. I love your thinking on Hess. With him , Matty and LoLo we still have a very good pack. It's funny but I reckon Hannant will be missed as much as Jimmy, he was sensational in our premiership year and very good last year. He and Bolton kept us going forward when the ' big three' were rested. Hopefully Hess does even better. 'Justin O'Neill is a bog standard centre'. No he is a Kangaroo , QLD Origin centre. Have a look at the Broncos final last year if you want to see how good he is. I guess I don't need to tell you this KC. I think we need to get Bowen and Ponga involved in the backline at some stage but Green knows his stuff. COWBOYs, 'The Premiership Flies North Once More'. That's my sports headline of the year.

You have mentioned that and I'm happy to bow to your superior knowledge of the Cowboys. I don't disagree with any of your points but I still can't see how the pack is better in 2017 than 16. Hess is a gun. But he's been used as a part time edge player. Is he a like for like swap for Tamou? Will he play middle third? Then there's Hannants loss. Kaufusi looks like filling that spot - he's not as good as Hannant. On top of that you're saying Scott needs to be rested more. So your best prop needs to be rested more. You don't really have a like for like replacement for your second best prop and your third prop is being replaced by someone not as good as him.

I have said it before and I will say this again, our forward pack will be better this year then last. Jimmy is a massive loss but if I had to choose one player out of our pack to go, it would have been him. I don't think fans know how good Hess will be this year. He is going to be a wrecking ball. Being young, he will also be able to play big minutes for us. Jt and Matty Scott must be rested this year. They can't be playing every game. If we are up big in games, both also should come off. I have full confidence in Coach Green being smart with the boys. The comp is going to be so close this year, so we need to get things right so we can get our trophy back. Bring on Saturday night!!!

Probably about right, I am just very keen to see if Greeny comes out with a new game plan. The Cowboys are a bit unque where their strength is in their forward pack and their weakness is also in their forward pack. Expect a bit of a rotation between Fensom, Hess and Asiata is the Forward pack. Lowe and Cooper are 80 minute players which is an absolute bonus, I would expect JT2 o play more minutes this year as well. With regards to the 3/4 line strength I would expect Ponga and GGM to both get a run this year which may result in them getting a starting 13 position and Bowen is a very good player, yet to have a consistent run but he's good.

I think it's a fair preview but it's going to raise a few hackles. In losing Tamou and Hannant, the prop rotation also relies more and more on Matt Scott. He's still a legend but it's been a long career with plenty of hard yards. While he still puts his hand up every time, he battles injuries more every season. Maybe they'll unearth some of exciting young props. I doubt they'll be as good as Tamou and Hannant straight away. Maybe Hess or Lowe will spend more time in the middle. Having said all that they made a mighty defence last year. They probably had the toughest semi run. A brutally tough game against the Storm. A brutally fast game against the Broncos and they looked like they had little left in the tank when they ran into a red hot Sharks team in the GFQ.