The 2017 season may end up as a testament to what could have been for North Queensland.
After two dramatic golden point victories to start the year, injuries have since cruelled the team’s chances of playing deep into September. If the Cowboys’ injury run was more akin to their 2015 or 2016 campaigns, it is very likely they would be pushing for a top-two finish given the erratic form of every team bar Melbourne.
The Cowboys have performed admirably given their torrid luck, and they have had chances to beat most of the top sides this season: they led the Sharks 14-0 in Round 11 before being run in the second half to lose 18-14, they led the Roosters 16-4 in Round 21 but went down 22-16, they led the Panthers 16-6 last weekend but capitulated to lose 24-16 and they drew level with Melbourne Storm 22-22 in Round 15 but went down to a Brodie Croft drop goal in golden point.
Injured trio Johnathan Thurston, Ben Hannant and Matthew Scott would have provided the leadership, tactical management and up-front firepower to ensure these teams would not have been able to mount such second-half resurgences but, alas, they are on the sidelines along with their combined 777 games of first-grade experience.
There is a deficiency of match experience in the forward pack. Scott Bolton boasts the most games of any forward to run out against the Sharks this Saturday with 199 matches. The next best is 24-year-old Jason Taumalolo with 132. Third is Ethan Lowe with 86. The next highest is John Asiata with 71. Then it’s Coen Hess with 29 games.
Paul Green has attempted to remedy this issue by playing Granville for 80 minutes along with four interchange forwards. The effectiveness of this plan remains to be seen given additional injuries disrupted the game plan in Rounds 22 and 23.
(Image: AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
However, there is a silver lining to every dark cloud. The injuries have given opportunities to fringe first-grade players to make their mark on the team.
In recent weeks young bucks Patrick Mago and Corey Jensen have been particularly impressive. Jensen cracked the 100-metre barrier for the first time in his NRL career last weekend and appears to be improving every week. Mago bent the line in his debut against the Panthers and impressed the coach enough to earn another appearance against the Sharks.
Additionally, the season-ending injury to Johnathan Thurston has forced Michael Morgan to step up into the role of being the team’s chief organiser. The half-back is in great form, boasting 13 try assists (ranked sixth in the league), nine linebreaks, 69 tackle busts (equal with Billy Slater) and eight tries (second most by a halfback).
But what differentiates 2017 Morgan from 2015 Morgan is that he now knows how to control a game. His tactical kicking, which was the weakest component of his game, has developed immensely since midseason.
Jake Granville is also in career-best form. While the wily rake does not make as many clean linebreaks as he did in his breakout season, his defence, decision-making and service have remained top shelf.
He also keeps the opposition markers interested, which in turn creates opportunities out wide for Morgan – or if the markers drop off in concentration, he is not afraid to go for a scoot. He has currently scored four tries and set up nine, the second most assists in the team, just one behind Cameron Smith.
Lachlan Coote has displayed mixed form this year but appears to be hampered by a niggling calf injury. The fullback has still been dependable, and his talk in defence has been a major factor in the Cowboys improved defence since Round 9.
Kyle Feldt has been strong despite being given limited attacking opportunities by his centre partner Justin O’Neil, who has struggled for consistency this year. Scott Bolton, despite some questionable moments in defence, has produced career-best performances in terms of run metres. Jason
(Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Taumalolo has been sensational, averaging a staggering 205 metres, with a season-best performance of 300 run meters against the Storm in Round 15. Ethan Lowe’s defence has improved in recent times, and he is returning to best form since a nasty neck injury. Shaun Fensom has also proved to be a shrewd addition, providing solid defence and leadership for an inexperienced forward pack.
Kane Linnett has been sensational despite not getting the accolades of the fancier centres of the competition, and he has done plenty of the hard yards for the team. He has also cut down on his error rate, making only seven this season, down from 14 in 2016 and 20 in 2015.
With the return of co-captains Scott and Thurston next season along with the arrival of Melbourne enforcer Jordan McClean, the Cowboys will boast the firepower in the forward pack as well as the experience and control in the halves to be one of the heavyweights of next year’s premiership.
There have been rumours of Bulldog Brenko Lee wanting to join the side. If true, he could certainly add a new dimension to the team’s attack. One would imagine the squad to run out for Round 1 next season would look like this:
- Lachlan Coote
- Kyle Feldt
- Justin O’Neil
- Kane Linnett
- Antonio Winterstein
- Michael Morgan
- Johnathan Thurston
- Matthew Scott
- Jake Granville
- Jordan McClean
- Gavin Cooper
- Ethan Lowe
- Jason Taumalolo
- John Asiata/Josh Chudleigh
- Scott Bolton
- Shaun Fensom
- Coen Hess
Look out, because the Cowboys will be demolishing all before them in 2018.
george
Guest
Sorry mate kaufusi gone to the storm unfortunately
realist
Guest
Just like last year & this year eh? Please tell us all what is so great about the forwards compared to other teams?? Like I said a little premature to be so certain without knowing the structure of other forward packs for next year! Demolish everyone before them lolol.
Rob
Guest
Surely next year will be better on the injury front for a start. With amount of injures in the forward pack happening directly on the back of Tamou leaving this season the Cowboys have preformed admirably. Mago. Hess, Lowe and Jensen will be much better come 2018.Taumalolo and Hess charging off the back of a fit Scott and McClean up front is exciting. I'm happy to see Morgan stepping up now and have always been confident the retirement of Thurston wouldn't overly effect the Cowboys results. You might be surprised at the youth coming in from the 20's also. Enari Tuala and Mosby could put a lot of pressure on ageing blokes in the outside backs.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Exactly FNQ, it will make the team much stronger overall heading into next year.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Hey Griggso, cheers mate. We need to increase the Cowboys representation on this site I think! Yes, they have been overpowered late in some matches against the bigger packs, but that experience will make them better in the long run. They can hold their heads high though with the effort they have been putting in. I can't see Morgan going anywhere else, Townsville boy. He'll be a Cowboy for life.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
With the forward pack they will be boasting, I think it will be quite the opposite Mr Realist. I can't see many teams matching it with the Cowboys up front.
realist
Guest
Demolishing all before them?? I did need a good laugh today! Somehow doubt that very much. Good team but not a team that would instill fear into any of the other sides. All teams will improve next year so to make a comment like that is a little premature. Will struggle to make the 8 again..............
FNQ Boy
Guest
I think we may have been a bit light on up front this year regardless of Scott's injury. JT will be fired up and freshened up as will Scott. Maclean will give us the extra big body we need up front. All these injuries I reckon are a bit of a blessing as guys like Morgan, Coote and Bolton have had to to become leaders and all the young guys have just been thrown in, and as far as I can see are handling it well. All good omens for a premiership tilt next year as well as life post JT
Griggso
Guest
Thanks Judge, there's not nearly enough North Queensland articles on The Roar - good on you. I had real concerns about the middle forward depth for 2017 even before the loss of Matt Scott for the year. While I have not seen every single Cowboys game this year, I'm not aware of the forward pack getting bullied by any other team. Out-played certainly, but not bullied up the middle. The way they have hung-in and kept fighting even when the game has been lost is very impressive. Scott Bolton has been huge. I believe this is the season that Michael Morgan has really come of age, but there's still improvement and growth to come. Hopefully he's a one-club man.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
It depends on how Croft goes, they will have a lot of promising juniors coming through but I agree, they won't be the same.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Wow that's unfortunate. Apparently Gubb is on the way up here though. I can see why the Sharks chased Uele, he reminds me a lot of Fafita. Yes hopefully Mago stays on, he was impressive last week. Regardless, there should be plenty of forward depth next season.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Hey mate word on the street is Pat Kaufusi is gone to Melbourne (he is guaranteed not to be a Cowboys in 2018) and Sharks have snapped up young Braden Uele unfortunately. Hopefully we can afford to keep Mago.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Maybe so, but it wont be as much disappointment as your mother shows for you.
Agent11
Guest
At full strength they are close to the best team in the comp on paper, combine that with an astute coach and they are major contenders in 2018. The Storm will win the premiership in 2017 and I think that will be it for their golden era, i can't see them coming back again to challenge...
rakshop
Roar Rookie
If the NRL had a ‘most improved’ player award Asiata surely would have to come close to winning it this year. Considering that he hasn’t had the structure of playing in the same position week to week, and at the fact that for the last few weeks he has been playing with a dodgy knee, he has been outstanding, no matter what role he had to play. Front row, second row, lock, halves, centre. It will be interesting to see how Paul Green uses him going forward, because I have tended to think he plays better up the middle using his footwork and offloading ability at the line, rather than as a ‘forward’ ball handler or playing a little wider. The try he set up last week for JT was a really good example of why he works better up in the line – ala like a Wade Graham, only more central. When Greenie has used him in the past, its been much more wider and its noticeable that he doesn’t seem to get the ball in a position that he can create because defence is moving more sideways on his inside shoulder. He works much better when the defence is front-on allowing to use his size and footwork a little more. Just on Wade Graham ---- I wouldn’t be surprised if Asiata continues his 2017 form into 2018 that he might be a bolter for NSW selection to replace Wade Graham next year.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Absolutely mate. You can see that every player has improved this year, barring O'Neil and perhaps Coote. The commitment and effort is there though, which bodes well for next season. Despite a couple of losses, the team is in good form. I hope the team manages to make the 8, win a final and carry some momentum into next season. It will be the year of the Cow(boy).
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Hi Rakshop, thanks for the comment. I agree, this season was always going to be a test considering we didn't quite have the depth of previous years. I thought it was going to be a rebuilding year for us, and predicted a 5th place finish. However barring the injuries, I really think the team could have given the top four a shake this year. Yes those other guys, Asiata (his ball playing has been sublime, and is getting more work done in attack and defence) as well as Spina was playing really well prior to his injury. I like Spina a lot, he is a meat and potatoes prop but plays tough, and good things seem to happen when he is in the time. Next year our depth will be insane, and I will be really expecting us to finish in the top 2. Minor premiers perhaps?
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Agreed Nat, his defence has been questionable at points this season, but he also boasts 10 try assists in a Bulldogs outfit where tries have been at a premium. He is a quality attacking centre, defensive issues can be worked on in the pre-season.
Jimmmy
Guest
I am also looking forward to next year Judge. What a way to send off JT a title would be. I think Matty Scott will have a boomer of a year . The time off will have done him the world of good. Asiata has been a revelation as a ball playing forward and Lolo is developing a bit of passing in his game as well. Add to that the natural improvement of Hess and it is an exciting time for Cows fans. I still think we can win a finals game this year but my hope of us making a prelim is quickly vanishing . Wherever we end up , you could not be more proud of the way these guys play for each other. I am so glad they are my team
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm not sure what Brenko Lee brings to the team. His first stint at Canberra turned some heads but with the dogs I've seen little but poor defensive reads. I appreciate he is part of a larger team problem there. I'm happy to be proven wrong.