After their 27-10 loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday night, North Queensland’s season is in trouble and I don’t know what they need to do to fix it.
That makes it five consecutive losses for the Cowboys – only the Parramatta Eels have been as disappointing on the field.
The Cowboys began the season as premiership favourites and for good reason. Last year they made the grand final despite being without Matt Scott for most of the season, Johnathan Thurston for half of it, and injuries to players like Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote throughout.
Not only did they have Thurston and Scott returning, but they also bolstered their forward pack with the signing of Jordan McLean and were tipped to be stronger in attack because of what Morgan learnt when he took control of the team in JT’s absence.
But what was working last year doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
The most obvious thing that has happened is that everyone is a year older. I know that is stating the obvious, but for the first time, they look, slow, old and off the pace.
There’s no getting around that some members are nearing the end of their careers. Thurston is 34 years old – an age where many players have retired. I don’t think many realised how much impact his last injury would have on him. While he will never be the player he was ten years ago, he is no longer the man they just throw the ball to and expect to create magic.
But even Morgan, who is not old and slow, looks it at the moment.
AAP Image/ Action Photoraphics, Robb Cox
Before his performance against the Bulldogs, I was a proponent of giving Morgan control of this team. In the past, the Cowboys have depended on Thurston playing on both sides of the ruck. I thought it was time for Morgan to take more control in attack.
But against the Dogs he also looked off the pace and made a couple of crucial errors, including kicking a ball out on the full and passing the ball to no one.
The other fundamental problem is that the pack is not having the impact it used to.
Part of this is down to Jason Taumololo having less impact. Taumololo was the best forward in the game in 2017, finishing with 4469 metres at an average of 203 – up from 2016, when he made 4002 metres at an average of 167.
I wonder whether this dip in form can be put down to teams working out how to contain him – a good example of which was shown when they played the Broncos and Tevita Pangai Junior shut Taumololo down – whether he has taken a lesser role because of the return of Matt Scott or if he is tired following his impact in 2016, 2017 and during the World Cup.
This year, Taumololo is averaging about 150 metres per game. As a Parramatta fan, I am desperate for these sorts of numbers, but it is not the impact we are used to.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
The lack of impact from the forwards is also problematic because North Queensland depend on their big men to put their spine in a position to run structured attacking plays.
At its core, footy is a simple game. It is the role of the forwards to make metres and get their team into the attacking zone. Once the forwards have laid the platform, the backline can put pressure on the defence and hopefully score points.
North Queensland have adhered to this formula for several years.
On the back of a successful forward pack and an exceptional spine, other deficiencies – most notably their backline – have not been highlighted.
A good example is the difficulty they have scoring long-range tries. In the year the Cowboys won the competition, they only scored two tries from over halfway. This year, they are having trouble getting down the field, are not able to play inside their proven structures and, as a result, are struggling.
Coach Paul Green is a big believer in playing his way out of trouble. He is loyal and I do not expect him to make too many changes ahead of their next game, against the Titans.
But how much longer can we say ‘it’s early in the season, give them time’?
The Cowboys may only be two wins outside the top eight, but how much longer do we have before we declare their season to be on life support?
farqueue
Guest
How does a team finishing 8 out of 16 even deserve to make a finals series...it's all about money....it should be top 6 max... most people would say top 5....only win 50% of your games then win three in a row and you make grand final....that's a crap finals system.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
As do rugby league fans...
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I'll take any reason to hold onto hope that I can, Thomas!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I felt this way before the game on the weekend but oh my stars, Morgan had a shocker.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I think there are three teams that have been stand outs - the Tigers, the Warriors and the Dragons. You could also throw the Panthers in there! There are two abysmal teams - the Eels and the Cowboys. Everyone else is in between!
Bunney
Roar Rookie
They lost 5 of their last 6 regular season matches, which was awful. But prior to that they won 4 in a row without JT & Scott and were sitting pretty in 5th place on the ladder with a 12-6 record. That clearly refutes your statement that "...the rest of their 2017 was pretty ordinary"
Rob
Guest
Spot on Barry, Scott should have worked his way back of the bench. Having Scott and Bolton on the field together is half the reason they look slow especial early. Lowe is an 80 min player and better defender. Hess would be fantastic coming on after JT13, around the 30min mark IMO. The lack of ball movement makes them easy to defend and is a big reason why they aren't getting over the advantage line. They aren't noted off loaders so the opposition can just put numbers into the tackles and kill any momentum. It's actually the lack of attacking ball skill around the middle killling them also.
Rob
Guest
Linnett plays the other side to Morgan? Linnett who's a bigger body and solid defender helps out JT in the defensive line. His early, strong carriers are something the Cowboys are missing also. JT is a defesive liability at the best of times but the thing that he use to do was position himself and stick in the tackle. At the moment he is getting bumped and can't cover up because his legs are to slow. He's struggling.
BigJ
Roar Guru
If Minto still work for Coldwell Banker and Richard Vanhoff in Yeppoon then the statement that he only sells the best real estate makes perfect sense. But why would Minto what Yeppoon nothing but the smell of fish guts and sand flies on offer. Emu Park is a much better place. Also book us a ticket at the awards night I want to see Minto get his awards, no bugger that I'll be the MC. I wonder if Minto ever reads these comments.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
Pffttt Scott Minto does not do ‘real estate’. The regulations in Queensland require that all real estate in Yeppoon is given the opportunity to be automatically transferred to Scott Minto. Therefore “real estate”…. does Scott Minto. Only when properties do not meet his exceptionally high standard, then other real estate agents are given the opportunity sell to potential buyers. In fact, in my privileged position as chairman of the “Scott Minto Fan Appreciation” club I have recently heard that the REIQ are considering cancelling their “Awards of Excellence” as they intend to award Scott the “Greatest Realtor of All Time” in perpetuity.
Matt H
Roar Guru
It doesn't appear to have helped the players, so maybe they should skip that part of the warm up next week.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I agree with you there Dirk! I don't think the Origin period will have the same impact so there is still time for the Cowboys to turn it around but they need to do it quick smart!
JN
Guest
I disagree. Roosters have been hot and cold Cowboys have been cold Even in the Cowboys win they didn't look promising Therefore, Roosters have been quite a bit better than the Cowboys
Nat
Roar Guru
Only 6 teams won more games. Equal games won with (7th) Panthers. Saints, had they won that last game, only gets through on differential. They finish was representative of their season, they beat the teams they should have and lost to those above them. The story is the achievement without their best players. Take the two best from every team above them and last year's ladder probably looks like it does now.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Jimmy he is not wrong about the JT to retire part, he is looking like he is one his last legs. But the solution is to get back to the form of the finals, last year, whatever they did then they need to do now.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Mate, if I ever do a top ten comments article (hint, hint editors) that is certainly going to be on the list, that comment has literally turned my day from dull and boring to a laugh a minute, thanks mate. Great comment. Quick question though, is Minto still doing real estate in Yeppoon??? Last I heard he was.
thomas c
Guest
they had injured players returning and a couple games where key players were moved around to cover injuries. Maybe Morgan was overachieving last year. There are benign explanations where a little more game time would maybe help. However, if they win one, maybe they win two and start to remember how things work. However, there are darker possibilities and it's difficult to argue with a sense that they simply look shot. The concern is that they've played themselves out of form, or that there's something horribly wrong in the dressing room. The hazards are if training is dour, the dressing room is funereal in aspect, or there are internal divisions, then they risk something that doesn't respond to simple fixes. And the problem is more profound if the game has changed or what used to gel doesn't anymore. I don't believe in the ladder. There's a big part of me that thinks that the dragons, tigers and warriors will remember they're mediocre and fall away. I like these teams, but i wonder if whatever plagued them (some seed of doubt?) before will resurface. If teams are likely to fall away, that would be cause for hope for the Eels and cowboys.
jimmmy
Guest
Very helpful. Cows supporters thank you for your insight.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
There are some answers - but its an article to itself and I dont think some ideas will be popular. In short *Cowboys forwards need to be more mobile especially in the first 20. When Fensom returns, I would drop both Scott and Hess back to the bench. I would go undersized and give more meters but have more solid defensive structure. Starting pack Fensom, Granville, Bolton, Lowe, Cooper, JT13. At very least one has to go back to starting on the bench with either Fensom or Lowe in the starting 13 ala the 2015 Broncos. * Thus there would need to be a change in substitutions structure. Green will have to work out whether he wants to go small or large in the last 20 minutes of the match. Fensom may have to play larger minutes up front. * I would get Morgan a proper 80 minute defender on the inside – Fensom cant play 80 so it has to be Lowe. Hess’s defensive liabilities are too great and should be more used a substitute for JT13. * Carney in at 6 – Morgan at 3. O’Neil dropped. * Consider a different role for Asiata. He has been hugely underutilised so far this year. They look more dangerous when goes to the line. This becomes easier to manage with a Scott and Hess bench because he doesn’t have to play as a prop. * If available and until Carney is available consider Chudleigh instead Martin as the bench role. I don’t have an update Chudleigh’s injury from a few weeks back, but if he is available, if I would prefer him over Martin. * Figure out how to get Hamstead more involved. He is the only player in the Cowboys team that looks dangerous with ball in hand. Looked wasted in the centers last week. Consider playing him like Paul Green used to play Granville at Wynnum Manly (fullback in defence, dummy half in attack).
14-12
Guest
then why'd they only come 8th? 50% of the comp won more games than them....