They have struggled to compete with the other top-eight teams and former international Brent Tate warns the Cowboys will need to go up another level to match it with the big guns in the finals.
The Cowboys’ turnaround has been one of the biggest storylines of the season, rising from 15th to third after many experts had tipped them for the wooden spoon.
Despite producing some brilliant footy to be one game away from finishing the regular season in second or third spot, their record against the other top-eight teams is 4-5 this year heading into Saturday night’s Townsville tussle with a NSW Cup-strength Penrith side.
If they are going to be seen as contenders and not pretenders, Tate believes they need to raise their intensity.
“If they are going to make a real dent in the finals, I think they are going to have to lift another notch or two, which is going to be a big challenge for them,” said Tate.
“We’ll have to wait and see how many gears they’ve got left. And that’s going to be the challenge whether they have got more gears to be able to do that.
“Have they got it in them? I don’t know. But they’ve surprised me all year with the way that they played. So, there’s no reason why they can’t.”
Despite all of the success, the Cowboys have lost to the Panthers, Roosters, Sharks and Bunnies, having only beaten the Raiders, Storm and Eels among the current top eight.
“That’s where the challenge is, they haven’t beaten all of those top teams. And they’re the teams that they have got to beat. They are going to have to find another couple of gears to get up and beat those really good sides,” added Tate.
Another obstacle for their finals chances is the amount of travel they will face. Their road record in 2022 of 8-4 stacks up well against 8-3 at home and Tate doesn’t see them using the tyranny of distance as a reason for failure.
Brent Tate (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
“Travelling is hard, especially after a long year,” said Tate, who covered many miles playing for Brisbane, the Warriors and the Cowboys.
“The players are used to it, they know what they are doing. And sometimes it’s good to get away for those big games, away from home, you’ve got no distractions, you can just concentrate on footy.
“It’s definitely a factor. They won’t be using that as an excuse that’s for sure.”
The shift on the field from last season to now has been phenomenal, with the side’s speed, fitness and defence all huge areas of improvement. A lot of the credit for their transformation has gone the way of coach Todd Payten.
“Todd has totally done a really good job of bringing them all together and getting them where they are in the moment,” said Tate.
“He put them through a tough pre-season where they’ve had to work really hard. But, you know, it’s paid dividends the hard work has paid off. And it’s one thing about footy if you work hard, you usually get rewarded for it.”
The entire squad have been praised for their unity and cohesion, with everyone knowing their role and pulling their weight. The old heads have stood up, the young ones have made names for themselves, and the new guys look like they have been there forever, like five-eighth Tom Dearden.
“He’s had a huge season, from where he was, where he’d been to where he is now. I think he’s done well,” said Tate.
“I think all those young guys that have come through have really added to the group, I think they’ve really given the older guys a new lease on life by the way they’ve been able to step up and play.
Tom Dearden (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
“The team have probably surprised everyone. I thought we could be a top-eight team if we could keep everyone fit and healthy on the paddock, especially on our big games. I was really confident they could make the eight but to be a chance of finishing second, and even making the top four, they exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
Sunday’s match between the Sharks and the Newcastle will likely hold the key to where the Cowboys finish. Regardless, they will be hoping for a solid victory in their game on Saturday night against Penrith in order to do everything they can to keep their top-two chances alive.
There has been a lot of talk surrounding Panthers coach Ivan Cleary resting 13 of his stars but Payten said he would have done the same.
“They have earnt the right to do what they want,” said Payten on Friday. “We’re not taking them lightly. We’ve got a job to do. Controlling the ball, being well disciplined, not letting the opposition out of their end with cheap penalties and defending our try line well.”
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Dearden underwent surgery for a ruptured testicle and missed last week’s loss against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“He trained on Tuesday, trained again today, he got through that, and we are going to wait and see how he pulls up tonight,” said Payten. “We are going to keep him in the 19 and then make the call tomorrow.
“If there is any doubt, we will sit him out.”
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Tim Carter
Roar Pro
An official with an agenda?! Get your hand off it.
3 R M
Roar Rookie
It's a great opportunity and experience for the rest of the panthers squad. Cows will be ready to give their home crowd something to cheer about it's sold out and we have a backline with 5 fullbacks what could go wrong?
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Thanks Danielle I think NQ are right in this. We have been written off from the get go but we'll finish the season with very good for and against. If we play at our best we are very capable of beating all the top teams even the panthers. I said in the preseason that if we fixed our defence we'd go alright I thought we could make the 8 but we have had a bit of luck and made a bit of our own and we are here in the top 4 and in with a chance . We definitely need to lift the intensity to stay with the other sides. The thing is we have 8 origin players , 3 test reps and 6 who have played in a grand final that's enough experience. The team just got to put it together for a few games. The ruck seems to have slowed down since origin. This and injury has knocked us in the last few weeks. So we need to be able to win games in the grind now. so it's power game time that is being able to win away with the defence our face.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Massive factor in the Panthers / Cowboys game tonight. The Panthers NSW Cup team have just won their 2 v 3 game against the Bears to now play a prelim with the Jets next week. The bulk of regular team are playing in Townsville tonight. For today's game, had to scrape together players from even lower grades. No doubt the Panthers tonight will be up and about, effectively a free test for their NSW Cup side against a top NRL side, so they will be up. Cowboys in severe doubt that they will be, themselves.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are totally correct Jimmy, hopefully they can build for next season. This has been an emotional roller coaster one for them all all supporters, they are a team that I fully respect.. :thumbup:
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Like a few club's we need a little luck to go out way but we can beat the Sharks and if we do we are in a prelim. I try to be realistic and not pump up our tyres too much. I don't think we have the depth of Penrith or the class of Melbourne but we do have a ticket.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are correct RN, the emotions were still high after such a tragic loss of Green their Coach and Mentor.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I am actually pretty impressed by the Cowboys with the season that they are having, considering the emotions of their previous coach passing away! May he Rest In Peace. Also compared to the top teams, they have not got the depth but have still provided some great results. I for one have not written them off, if they can bring the cohesion and intensity anything can happen.
R N
Roar Rookie
I figure they have surprised us all year... why not! Cotters "elite ticker" might just hold the key to finials!
R N
Roar Rookie
I had that game as a loss the second word came through that Green had passed. I wouldn't place to much importance on that game.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Youre a good man RN. Nothing like belief. My bloody head just keeps getting in the way.!
G money
Roar Rookie
A top 4 team with genuine premiership aspirations should not have lost as easily as we did to the roosters a few weeks ago. Those are the games that a truly strong side does not lose. It was there for the taking, and we came up short.. as I expected. Just not good enough at present unfortunately
Don
Guest
I don't think the Cows are flat track bullies. They had a really good early season, beating sides that probably underestimated them, which really laid a foundation for the Top 4 finish. However, with Origin and injuries the players do look a little tired and you wouldn't be able to confidently pick them to beat a Parra or Sharks side in the Finals. As a young side, they (and probably Todd Payten) probably need another pre-season to go deep into finals
R N
Roar Rookie
I am going all in…. :laughing: it is our year! Going heart not head! Nanai Clive Churchill!
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
We are a live chance against the Sharks even at Shark Park but we need to play our best footy. My concerns are Drinkwater will drop one or two . Ouch We need match the Sharks kick defence and copy it. They don't really escort but they get at least two players between the FB and the chasers . Very smart and they give away very few penalties. We need our attack to be slicker. I'm hopeful we can sort it out against Penrith this weekend. A prelim is there for the taking if we want it bad enough.
Rob
Guest
I’m confident the Cowboy’s can keep the surprises coming. Whilst people are questioning the experience and star power or lack there of I feel they have enough weapons to score the points against the top teams. There are plenty of GF experience amongst the Team. Taumalolo, Townsend, McClean, Hess, Feldt and Holmes all been there. Robson, Dearden, Nanai, Hammer and Taulagi have are all considered Origin worthy. At full strength the Cowboys are more than capable and I wouldn’t conclude the losses against full strength Roosters with 3 send offs and 2 days after Greens passing ideal. A red hot full strength Panthers on their home turf without Taumalolo or Feldt available was longer ago than the belting they handed the Eels. Sharks a couple of days after Origin and 6 starts not playing. Rabbits without Dearden and an official with an agenda.
TA
Guest
Flat track bullies is a bit unfair. I think they lack a bit of mongrel but their style of football can easily trouble the `big guns` after a long season. If they can stay in the fight anything can and probably will happen.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I happen to agree with your last point . I don't think it's our year. But your first point is the 180 degree wrong. Have you watched our games at all this year.? We are the ones coming home strong , ( except where we have finished with 12 men ). We have folded against no-one except the Warriors early on. We didn't fold against Penrith or the Roosters or South's or Cronulla ( just beaten by better sides). Losing is not folding. I can't fathom how you arrive at your conclusion..
G money
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately the Cows are flat track bullies.. When the going gets tough against the big guns, they fold like superman on laundry day. And I'm a cows fan. No chance this year