Season 2019 continued the Cowboys’ dramatic fall from grace after their 2015 premiership.
The last four years were characterised by a pack that looked great on paper but failed to deliver and an ageing and ordinary back line. Despite high hopes of Michael Morgan, the Cowboys attack has not yet recovered from the retirement of Johnathan Thurston.
There have been excuses for the Cowboys such as the loss of Ben Barba for disciplinary reasons before he even played a game and an injury crisis that saw John Asiata in the halves and Coen Hess in the centres. However, the fact remains their whole team has looked in need of mass changes to the playing group and an updated style of play.
For 2020 it looks as though the necessary changes have been made. This is headlined with star recruit Valentine Holmes to play fullback. Reece Robson and Esan Marsters are two other recruits expected to play a big role, while Matt Scott and Scott Bolton have both retired and several outside backs have been released.
With a brand new stadium and a rejuvenated side, the Cowboys could be this year’s version of 2019’s Parramatta Eels?
Valentine Holmes’ NFL adventure has come to an end, and he returns to the NRL in Cowboys colours. (Image: Twitter/New York Jets)
Their forward pack remains strong. They will be again led by undoubtedly the best forward in the world Jason Taumalolo. He will be joined in the middle by representative forwards Jordan McLean and Josh McGuire. Gavin Cooper and Shane Wright will likely start as their edge back-rowers. Both are very reliable players but lack the brilliance of some others. This starting pack will be complemented by a group of quality young forwards, ensuring they have plenty of depth for the season.
It remains to be seen how their spine will look in 2020. They will likely run with two hookers, pairing new recruit Reece Robson and experienced clubman Jake Granville. They will battle for the starting position, however the highly rated youngster Robson will take the lion’s share of minutes, allowing Granville to return to the running game that made him so dangerous in their premiership year.
It seems that Holmes is locked into the fullback spot, while club captain Morgan will take one of the halves positions. That leaves Scott Drinkwater and Jake Clifford fighting for the remaining position. Both are exceptional talents more than capable of fulfilling the role. The ability of Ben Hampton and Drinkwater to play fullback ensures all positions in their spine have plenty of depth.
Many will disagree, but Clifford is their only genuine organising halfback. As such I hope he is given this position and Morgan is allowed to run. It seems, however, most experts are tipping Morgan to take the seven jersey with Drinkwater likely to partner him.
Paul Green has a selection headache on his hands. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The back line – while also not yet settled – looks stronger than previous years. Club favourite Kyle Feldt is assured of taking his place on the right wing. One centre position will be filled by new recruit Esan Marsters. At 23 years of age he should be about to show his best football. His form dropped off towards the back end of the season, however Cowboys fans will be hoping he will play the type of football that has seen him already amass six Tests for New Zealand. The remaining positions will go to two of Tom Opacic, Justin O’Neill, Hampton and Murray Taulagi.
Their key strength this year is a more balanced side. In previous years they have stacked the pack at the expense of their back line. Their forwards remain strong while the quality of their spine and back line has improved.
Settling on the strongest line-up and developing combinations quickly will be vital for the Cowboys to be successful in 2020. It will be equally important that Holmes makes a seamless return to playing NRL after a year out of the game pursuing NFL.
If he struggles, not only will it mean a key position player isn’t performing, but also given his price tag and players being moved to accommodate him, there is potential for it to cause unrest within the team. This likely won’t be a concern, however, as all the noise out of the Cowboys camp regarding Holmes is positive so far.
The final obstacle will be if coach Paul Green can empower his troops to play the type of attacking football they are capable of. The Cowboys have been playing an outdated style of attack that has struggled for any potency without the brilliance of Thurston.
It seems illogical to recruit an offloading machine like Marsters and pay big money for the likes of Holmes if you were not prepared to allow them to play the style that suits them. Green has identified the need to adapt his team’s attack to be successful in 2020.
With so many question marks over the make up of their back line, what do you think is their strongest side? And how do you believe the Cowboys will perform in 2020?
Daz
Guest
We have a very weak prop rotation Jordan m who can’t stay on the paddock McGuire a lock playing out of position molo a good talent Jensen good hard worker it that big not a lot more most clubs don’t make thru the season without loosing at least 1 prop to injury jt attacking skills are without peer however you concede meters in the middle without a lock making 40-50 hard tackles every game. We play MM out of position at half back he is a wide runner 5/8 or centre Clifford is a work in progress Drinkwater untied at this level as a half how long Holmes takes to get match hardened is a great challenge he is still unproven as a full back over a season. We have some great young talent coming thru but every decision this year needs to be made to creating a premiership window in a few years time not what you will get from a coach worried about keeping his job
Rob
Guest
30-6 that certainly is a stylish win. Hang on isn’t that the score the Roosters beat your bunnies by in the Finals last year? Talking about Bradbury how was the Gagai fall down (Oscar nominations) to get the Rabbits home playing a 12 men. If Ref Sutton wasn’t sending players off and penalising the hell out of Manly your wabbits would been definitely losing in straight sets. Is the ref related to your captain John Sutton by any chance? He certainly has a good record of looking after the Bunnies in finals.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Yes, there is that. But Souths won their premiership in style 30 - 6 only 12 months before. They didn't need to score on the bell to tie the game and then rely on Ben Hunt to drop a catch that an U16's kid could have made blindfolded. But I understand that even "Last Man Standing" Stephen Bradbury celebrated his gold medal even after all his competition fell over just short of the line. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Rob
Guest
Papi it’s 2020. Your living in the past again. If we’re going to talk about past seasons then at least our last grand final appearance and premiership were not as long as the Bunnies.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
But Souths still finished 3rd with all their set backs while the Cowboys finished 14th! :laughing:
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Rob scoring tries and creating try assists isn't the only measure of a FBs performance surely? CNK along with Hodgson and Bateman were the major reason that that Raiders made it to the GF. He was one of the top 3 FBs in 2019 without a doubt. As for Boyd's performance at FB... well on those figures perhaps Nat could have a word in Seibold's ear and get Darius his old job back. I think the other 15 clubs would all love that. ;-)
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I was only guessing with Holmes and hi TA,s are a bit higher than I thought. Turbos stats are possibly a bit misleading because he went off injured in at least two games before he could make an impact. I've lost count of the number of long passes he's thrown for tries which have been pulled up also , some which weren't forward and others which can be fixed by the wingers standing DEEPER , my pet hate. Turbo and Ponga along with Mitchell have the most natural ability to set tries up and it helps if you play fullback in a title winning outfit. Holmes stats will look more like Kahus if the Cows are at the base of the table again.
Rob
Guest
Cry me a river little bunny. Barba sacked, Hampton, Te Martin, McDonald season ending injuries Feldt hurt for 7 games and we picked up Kahu a bloke that couldn't beat Boyd for a spot.
Rob
Guest
Papi, In 26 games CNK scored 11 tries with 4 try assists in 2019. Holmes scored 12 tries and 9 TA in 18 games in 2018. Holmes replacement Moylan 11 games zero tries, 8 TA. You'll love this one, Darius Boyd 25 games 3 tries, 6 TA only slightly better than Kahu IMO.
Rob
Guest
Forty Twenty, You made me do a little research about Holmes and the Try Assist issues. I assumed he wasn't as bad as Dugan. Teddy in 2019 was fantastic with 18 tries and 15 TA in 28games by far the best player in the comp. Turbo was 5 tries and 9 TA in 12 games. Ponga 11 tries, 11 TA in 20 games. In 2018 when Holmes played (18 games) fullback he scored 12 tries with 9 TA. If we combine T+TA it gives a good indication of attacking points IMO. Put it this way Kahu scored 1 try with 3 TA in 19 games so while Holmes might not be the best in the comp he's is a massive improvement.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Yeah but then Greg Inglis got injured and was forced to retire early in the season. AJ, Souths first choice FB, then missed half the season with a hamstring injury, Braidon Burns missed half the season through injury and Sam Burgess missed almost as many games through injury, suspension or playing injured when he should have been rested. That would throw a spanner in most teams premiership aspirations Rob. I could just about guarantee the Rabbitohs a premiership if they get Josh Addo-Carr and Jai Arrow for 2020 and no key players are injured or suspended. Other than that I'm still predicting a top 4 finish for the Bunnies. :thumbup:
Rob
Guest
It's fair to say Seibold inherited Bennett's squad and Bennett inherited Seibold's. It's not 2nd year syndrome but his first season for the Broncos after Bennett was sacked. I thought you said South were a Premiership bound last year?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It does assist others to be more dangerous but Holmes can't be as good as Turbo or Teddo unless he can get close to their try assist numbers. Players who can't pass can be ganged up on which limits their effectiveness. Ponga is a perfect example of a a dangerous runner who is almost as good at setting up a try.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Touché and well played Rob. ;-)
Rob
Guest
That okay Papi I will be interested to see if my NQ boys Gagai and Lowe can rescue your Bunnies again this year. Just wondering wasn't Mitchell a NSW, Roosters, Cowboys, Tigers, Gold Coast and we don't want NRL him reject?
Rob
Guest
Forty Twenty, most certainly Holmes is more a ball run and hole hitter with terrific instincts for seeing opportunities and finishing. Slater and Tedesco had similar strengths and were often criticised as not having passing game like Lockyer or Bowen. IMO Slater and Teddy are pretty dam good fullbacks and they both improved that area play later in their career's. Who is better Mullins or Belcher, Moylan or Dugan, Minicheillo or Hodgson? I would also suggest players like Holmes draw more than 2 sets of eyes in the defensive line which opens up space for those around him. If you have players like JT13, Morgan and Holmes attracting numbers in the defensive line does that not assist others to be more dangerous in attack?
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Well CNK and "Little Papy" have emerged since then and Kayln Ponga has improved and is finally back in his correct position of FB and Latrell Mitchell, like Muhammad Ali, will "shake up the world" when he finds his feet playing in his correct position at FB! ;-) In any case even without those 3 and with Billy Slater and Greg Inglis still playing back then I would have Valentine Holmes behind Slater, Tedesco, Turbo, Inglis and RTS in any case.
Nat
Roar Guru
He was top 3 when he left and that was after 1/2 a season.
Nat
Roar Guru
Don't worry about Darius, he's a rock. He'll be back playing so well ol' coach will come sniffing. No wait, he only does that after we drop him to the reserves. He'll be yours by June. :stoked:
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Thanks Rob. Good luck to your 14th placed Cowboys and their new FB, NFL reject Valentine Holmes as well mate. ;-)