NRL - North Queensland Cowboys 2018 Season Preview
North Queensland Cowboys 2018 Season Preview
Last Season Regular Season - 7th, 13 wins, 11 losses, 467 Point Scored, 443 Points Against (Made Grand Final, losing to Melbourne Storm)
Last 5 Seasons (regular season) - 8th, 5th, 3rd (Premiers), 4th (Lost Prelim Final), 7th (Lost Grand Final)
2017 Review - The Cowboys had an outstanding 2017, overcoming a crippling injury toll to storm into the Grand Final from seventh position. Without Co-Captains Thurston and Scott for the majority of the season, the Club also suffered several other injuries to key players at various points throughout the season. The Cowboys proved a very resilient and mentally tough side throughout the season, by hanging tough and then elevating their game once they got to the finals. They have a strong culture and good depth, and there is no way any other side in the Competition could have achieved what they did with the obstacles put in their way. Their finals’ performances against the Sharks, Eels and Roosters were all outstanding wins away from home, before the Storm proved far too classy in the Grand Final. The Cowboys were one of the best defensive sides in the NRL in 2017, conceding less than 19 points per game, and winning a number of physical and low scoring contests.
2018 Gains: Carlin Anderson (Townsville Blackhawks - 2019), Jordan McLean (Storm - 2020), Francis Molo (Townsville Blackhawks - 2018).
2018 Losses: Patrick Kaufusi (Storm), Patrick Mago (Broncos), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Ray Thompson (retired), Braden Uele (Sharks), Blake Leary, Ben Spina (released).
What to Make of their Gains and Losses - There hasn't much activity up North this summer, however they did further bolster their stocks up front with the signing of Jordan McLean from the Storm. McLean adds more size and grunt to a pack already containing Matt Scott and Jason Taumololo. I think the Cowboy are really going to rue losing Kayln Ponga to the Knights. To me, he looks like a freakish talent that could really become a superstar in the next couple of seasons.
Head Coach - Paul Green only enhanced his reputation as one of the best coaches in the game last season, with the Cowboys’ miracle run to the Grand Final. The Cowboys have now reached two of the last three Grand Finals, and three straight Preliminary Finals, in what has been a 3-year period of outstanding consistency. Last year the Cowboys had just about the worst injury toll of any Club, yet found a way to scramble into the finals and go on a giant killing run from there. Green did make the usual excuse What impressed me was the way he got the best out of a player like Michael Morgan as a key playmaker, and forged a game style that the Cowboys could adjust to without Johnathan Thurston. It was not the most flashy style of football, however it was error free and tough, and they defended extremely well for the majority of the season, winning a number of low scoring struggles.
Most Important Player - Johnathan Thurston - The future immortal JT returns for what is likely to be a farewell tour in the NRL in 2018. Having retired from Origin, the Cowboys will be hoping to take advantage of having Thurston through that middle of the year grind when they lose players to the game’s showpiece. Thurston will have to deal with plenty of traffic coming his way again this year, coming off shoulder surgery; however, he has dealt with that his whole career. Thurston will be desperate to go out on a high with his Club career after missing his swan song in Origin last season through injury. It is hard to bet against him; however, it will be interesting to see whether the body can handle what the mind wants to do in 2018.
2018 Likely Side - 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston (c) 8. Matt Scott (c) 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo. Bench - 14. Ben Hampton 15. Scott Bolton 16. Coen Hess 17. John Asiata
2018 Verdict - 10th - Maybe I have gone mad, however I always try and identity one side that is about to fall off their perch when no one expects them to. It happened in 2016 with the Roosters, and last year with the Bulldogs. Not always, but in most seasons, there is a side that has been up and about for a long time, playing finals’ football, that finally hits the wall. I'm going out on a bit of a limb and thinking it might be the Cowboys with a few ageing stars. There has been plenty of hype about the return of Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston, however they are both returning from serious injuries and right at the back end of their careers. Plus they are coming back into a side that learnt to win without them in 2017. I don't particularly like their back 5, with the centres lacking pace, and Lachlan Coote generally safe but not an explosive fullback. They do have a very good pack on paper, and I do expect Jason Taumololo to terrorise sides once again. However, the likes of Gavin Cooper and Matt Scott are getting on a bit, and this is a little bit of an ageing roster in some respects. I think they are going to live to regret losing Kayln Ponga this season. How will Michael Morgan adjust to playing second fiddle again after being so good at halfback last year? Most pundits probably rightly have the Cowboys in their Top 4 or 5, however they only just snuck into the finals last season. I'm going out on a limb and saying they just miss the finals.