The 2021 season has not been kind to The North Queensland Cowboys, who have seen their campaign go from bad to promising to dismal in the space of just 23 weeks.
They have a good coach in Todd Payten, who is trying his best to turn the ship around. Payten worked wonders with the New Zealand Warriors, so given time, great things are expected from him in North Queensland.
Currently North Queensland sit in 15th spot on the ladder, four wins above the hapless Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Looking at the roster, what can the Cowboys do in 2022?
The Cowboys have some great talent in many positions but little developed talent beyond that. At fullback Val Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have both shown what they’re capable of. The Hammer, Tabuai-Fidow, should have the edge in that match-up for fullback in 2022.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
On the wings proven performer Kyle Feldt and youngster Murray Taulagi nailed down their spots without either being spectacular. Feldt’s performances, good before Origin and average ever since, demonstrated remarkable inconsistency for one of their most experienced players. Taulagi had one great game against the Knights, in which he scored three tries, but overall his season output was down.
A planned shift into the centres from Taulagi should provide the Cowboys with a little more strike power there for 2022. Feldt and Holmes should start on the wings in 2022.
Connelly Lemuelu, Esan Marsters, Justin O’Neill, Javid Bowen, Ben Hampton, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Daejarn Asi, Murray Taulagi and Jake Granville have all spent time in the centres this season with only the Hammer cementing a spot. Lemuelu and Asi have looked the most comfortable there, but despite Lemuelu’s potential as a defender, he must fix up his unforced errors, and Asi is better suited to five-eighth. Taulagi and new recruit Peta Hiku will be the centres in 2022.
Five-eighth and half will be hotly contested in 2022 with the arrival of Chad Townsend, the emergence of Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater and the potential for both Asi and Hampton to play in the halves. Drinkwater’s inconsistency could hurt him, while Dearden is seen as their half of the future. However, if Townsend can take on the bulk of the organising duties, he would provide the perfect foil to allow Drinkwater to play his natural, instinctive game. Drinkwater at five-eighth and Townsend at half in 2022.
The forward pack loses quite a bit of punch in 2022 with the losses of Molo (St George Illawarra Dragons) and Corey Jensen (Brisbane Broncos). Coen Hess, Jordan McLean, Mitchell Dunn, Reuben Cotter, Jason Taumalolo and Tom Gilbert should all be fit to start next season. Look for Taumalolo, McLean and Cotter to start with Gilbert and Hess on the interchange.
The back row, average at best this season, needs inspiration. Taumalolo provides that inspiration, but it remains to be seen whether or not he settles into that position or if that position showcases his best strengths. The other edge is anyone’s guess. Mitchell Dunn, Heilum Luki, Shane Wright and Ben Condon are all potential starters on that edge. Dunn and Luki or Condon on the edges in 2022.
Reece Robson has been very solid at hooker all season, and his combination with Jake ‘I’m a fixer’ Granville off the bench has given the Cowboys a lot of go-forward in the back-end of games. Look for Robson and Granville to reproduce the sequel in 2022.
Other players that will likely be in the mix in 2022 include Daejarn Asi, Peter Hola, Javid Bowen, Kane Bradley, Lachlan Burr, Ben Condon and Jeremiah Nanai.
My predicted 2022 team
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
- Kyle Feldt
- Peta Hiku
- Murray Taulagi
- Valentine Holmes
- Scott Drinkwater
- Chad Townsend
- Jason Taumalolo
- Reece Robson
- Jordan McLean
- Mitchell Dunn
- Ben Condon
- Reuben Cotter
- Jake Granville
- Tom Gilbert
- Coen Hess
- Heilum Luki
The Cowboys will struggle to make the eight once again next year and will finish around 12th.
TA
Guest
Cowboys have had huge injury numbers for many years now and that has always been the number one problem. They can`t string together the same team 2 weeks in a row and as soon as a better player is injured they fall further behind. Why are the Cowboys always amongst the highest injury toll in the NRL? Certainly travel can be a cause, and forced position changes bring different work loads, but something has to change on this front. It doesn`t get spoken about ever but maybe time for Paul Bowman to step aside get some new thinking in there.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It will be hard to improve our lot if we keep defending the way we do. I live in hope that things will change.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Yep. The defence will definitely be better. I'd love to see Payten hire a really experienced former head coach as another assistant to help strengthen the defence and take some of the pressure off him, stop him from overthinking things too much.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
I see exactly what you're saying, and I'm very keen to see how the young forwards go. I'd like to see one more experienced voice come in and lead from the front. None of this Lachlan Burr business or Jordan McLean (who, incidentally, probably had his best game in 3 or 4 years on Saturday) being captain stuff. Maybe a Dunamis Lui or someone like that could be an answer? Lui on a 1-year deal, perhaps, whilst the other young guys get some more development time?
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Lemuelu had some great games as a defender at the end of 2020 and before his injury this year, he was decent in defence. For some reason, after his injury, it was like he forgot how to defend, and how to carry the ball out of trouble. He made way too many errors. Let's see if he retains his spot for next year. I doubt it.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I also believe the Cows will be much better in 22. We have to be. We aren't troubling the top teams next year but we will be heaps better. My criteria for success.? There is only one thing I want . Stop conceding 30.5 POINTS PER GAME !. You can't win footy games at that level , it's impossible . Let's get it down to the the low 20's. That's about the Sharkies level ( not a noted defensive side). If we concede 20 , we have a good enough side to score that many points. At 30 we will finish exactly where we are this year.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
He's certainly a talent at FB. I just love a gun centre.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I don't even disagree with the signing of Chad . He has a good kicking game and a mentor for Tommy and others is great , but if we are paying the rumoured $800 k it's another Dumb as DoG Doo moment. We WILL lose more young talent because we have overpaid for an aging half from NSW and can't afford to keep them, similar to many NSWers we have recruited before. Come to the Cows for your Superannuation Fund. When that happens , yeah I will whinge long and hard and probably cry.
Rob
Guest
JT 7 played with 28 year old Justin Smith in 2005. Cooper Cronk was an understudy to 28 year old Hill in 2002 and took over about 3 years later. Gee the Warriors fell to pieces when Chad came off yesterday.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Agree with most of what you said. The issue I have is that they keep buying washed up players from south of the border. Look within your own system, and promote those players.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Yep. Well said. I think Townsend could struggle for a starting role. Drinky is good, but he drifts in and out of games too much. Dearden will be better with the win yesterday.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
You're right that we won't displace anybody in the top 8, that's for sure. I think we'll challenge Cronulla and maybe the Titans. Canberra will be a step too far (unless they have a crisis like they have had this year). The pack definitely needs a fresh face or two. I don't like Aaron Woods, so I hope they don't pick him up, but Dunamis Lui is a great option. TPJ suits the Bulldogs' culture. Corey Oates is an interesting option. Drinky doesn't have the talk to be a regular FB. He struggles to organise in the halves. Dearden and Townsend are too similar in style to play in the halves. I wanted them to throw the kitchen sink at Reynolds as he would've been a much better pickup. Hammer is a much better FB and with his speed, he's wasted in the centres.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
I'm with you there. I think that Molo moving on will help, and Hess playing through the middle rather than on an edge will be much better. I liked the way that Dunn played through the middle in yesterday's game and that's an option going forward as well.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
That's basically what their roster is: a bunch of ageing stars, some underperforming younger players (like Taumalolo) who should be better, and some up and coming youngsters with huge raps on them. As for the bottom 4 finish, well, 12th is only one place above that, so let's see.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
A touch pessimistic, I think. If nothing else, yesterday's game showed what they're capable of. Now, that's all dependent on them staying healthy.
Rob
Guest
I’m confused as to what you’re saying? Firstly has the team gone backwards? Payten first priority was to address the disaster of a culture and roster left by his predecessor. So he addressed Morgan and O’Neil injuries. Green just kept wheeling out the broken and if rumours are correct there was a click culture where senior players were he had limited contact with players other than a core of senior players? Kahu coming straight in over GGM and Tuala blew me away. Payten straight up told Taumalolo just running the football and bludging in defence is not what the team needs. Then McGuire you’re not going anywhere in this club and you’re killing the team (especially the next gen) with your attitude. Okay with Clifford going and Drinkwater clueless with structure, kicking and game management was a priority. He desperately needs a leader to teach Drinkwater and Dearden how to play. Tried for Reynolds but his heart wasn’t in coming it was money. He got Townsend, Drinkwater and Dearden for Morgan and Drinkwater money with change. Right now who plays in front of Dearden? Thurston was never a game manger or good all round kicker but he had two massive ticks in his game, hunger to support, chase everything and improve his execution. Kevin Walters won 6 premierships basically backing up and giving 100% following the football IMO. You can coach kicking and game management, you can’t coach hunger (heart). Do you watch Dearden? He defends better than JT or Kevin and I think he might be a lot quicker. Execution comes with experience. Right now who plays 7? Hampton that’s really not progressing the club or Dearden. Payten isn’t mucking around with Holmes at fullback because he knows Hammer is better. How did Green sign Holmes for 6x$1million with Hammer in the system? He had no interest in development. Blind Freddy would see Hammer’s potential above the average and is an excellent fullback material after one sighting. I took 1 look at the kid and immediately thought Mullins and Bowen had some how had a child together.
Rob
Guest
I do believe the Cowboys can be much better in 2022. Payten certainly shouldn't be judged on the ladder position this season as much of 2021 has been inherited issues. Clifford is a shocking loss but Payten had nothing to do with that. What Payten has done is move on a couple of problems in McGuire $650K and Masters and it has given opportunities to younger players that should be better for it in the years to come. When talking about young players i do think many don't understand the difference between a 20 year old half to that of 23 year old half. Deardon is currently more than 32 games ahead of Cronk, DCE and JT at the same age? Oh he should be playing Qcup? Guess what, last year there was no Qcup but both the Broncos and Cowboys felt he was good enough to play at NRL level. Drinkwater's is supposedly a smart attacking player with 5 tries in 22 games. Deardon's (6 tries in 15 games) this season also tells me he's no mug. Their are 4 other number 7 that have got over the try line more, Cleary (9 in 14games), Hughes(9 in 20games), Walker (8 in 18games) and DCE (7 in 20games)? Defensively Deardon is better than Drinkwater and Townsend? Seriously that's a fair effort from a 20 in a new team? With Townsend i certainly think they are investing in a quality kicking, passing and seasoned game manager. Some young blokes have also been given a go in the outside backs. Hammer is a special talent, Bell and Taulagi are promising. Hiku, Holmes and Feldt are still more than capable of playing quality football. Hess and Taumalolo are possibly the quickest front row forwards in the comp? I think Payten has realised that's their best position. Taumalolo has struggled this season with the responsibility of leadership going away from carrying the football to be a ball playing forward and being injured consistently. Hopefully he goes back to doing what he does best with the 8 on his back. That brings up the next perceived problem area, the forwards? Nanai 18, Luki 19, Condon 20, Naeme 20, Gilbert 20, Cotter 21. Matt Scott had played 3 games by 21 his best football was 24-30? Anyway IMO a forward isn't anywhere near his best physically until 24. These young forwards are also being blooded after playing next to no football in 2020 due to Covid? I would think another off season and they will all be bigger, stronger and more confident next year. It's amazing how a dozen less missed tackles, a few more tackle busts and a couple of smarter option with the boot can effect a result.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Not sure where you're getting the idea that Lemuelu has potential as a defender. He's easily the worst defender at the club and that's saying something with Drinkwater there as well. The amount of tries he's let through by running at the wrong man and conceding an overlap would make a team lose on its own. The only good thing Lemuelu provides is strong metres out of trouble on the first or second tackle. Otherwise he's a real struggler.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah, agree with the sentiment thing . It's the only way to explain Feldt getting 4 years. Also agree re Robson. Hes been great. Huge difference between him and Chad. Both key position players . Robson , young, Chad old . Robson fairly cheap , Chad very dear. Robson with years of improvement in him, Chad none. Robson follows the JT formulae , Chad follows the Shqnnon Hegarty model.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
Horses for courses - You only have to look at players like Coote and Linnet as good astute pick ups from south of the border. I think Robson will win the Cowboys player of the year this year. Once again - good pick up. Agree about the contracts except for JT13. The Cowboys had to lock him up long term - the 10 year $10 mil contract was the only way to do that. The problem is sentimental with the Cowboys. Coote, Linnet, Winsterstein, Cooper, Scott, Granville, O'Neil. All Cowboys legends. All players that were signed two years too long. The Storm dont care about sentiment. None of those players would have been re-signed if playing for the Storm.