History of the North Queensland Cowboys facts for kids

The history of the North Queensland Cowboys began in 1995. That's when they joined Australia's top rugby league competition.

The Cowboys' Journey: From Local Heroes to NRL Champions

Early Days: The Foley Shield Competition

In North Queensland, rugby league was always a big deal. Teams and towns had strong rivalries. Players dreamed of representing their town, North Queensland, or even Australia!

The "Foley Shield" competition was super important. It started in 1948. It was named after Arch Foley, a legend of the sport. He helped arrange the first game between North Queensland and the Great Britain team in 1928. This was a huge moment for rugby league in the region.

The Foley Shield brought together teams from different zones. These included Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, and more. Playing for your town in the Foley Shield was a great honor. Many talent scouts came to watch these games. It was harder for North Queensland players to get picked for bigger teams back then. But some, like Bill Glasheen in 1933, made it to the Australian team!

From State League to a National Team Dream

By the 1980s, the Foley Shield was still popular. But North Queensland teams also played in the Queensland State League. In 1984, North Queensland was the first regional team to reach the State League finals. They won the State League in 1991, led by coach Kerry Boustead.

People in Townsville loved rugby league. In 1989, a big game between the Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta drew 16,000 fans. This showed how much North Queenslanders wanted their own team in the national league. Many former star players agreed it was time.

The dream of a national team started to come true. A survey showed huge public support. Kerry Boustead, a former player, became the promotions manager for the bid. Local leaders and businesses worked hard. They even found a place for a new stadium.

In November 1992, the big news came! Three new clubs, including the North Queensland Cowboys, would join the "Australian Rugby League" competition. The Cowboys wanted to build a team with local talent and experienced players. Many of the experienced players were North Queenslanders coming home.

Starting Out: The First Seasons (1995-1996)

The Cowboys' name and team colors were chosen by fans in 1994. In their first few years, it was tough. They struggled to win games and had many different captains. It was hard to attract fans away from the more famous Brisbane Broncos.

Super League and the NRL (1997-1999)

In 1997, a new competition called Super League started. The Cowboys joined it. They signed new players like Ian Roberts and Steve Walters. But they still finished last that season.

In 1998, Super League and the Australian Rugby League joined together. This created the National Rugby League (NRL). The Cowboys started strong in the NRL. They even made a record comeback, winning a game after being 26-0 down at halftime! In 1999, Paul Green became the Cowboys' first player to represent Queensland in the State of Origin series.

Getting Better: Climbing the Ladder (2000-2003)

From 2000 to 2002, the Cowboys still had a hard time. They finished last or near last. Coaches changed, but the team slowly improved. In 2003, with new coach Graham Murray, they played much better. Young local stars like Matt Bowen and Josh Hannay shone brightly. They just missed out on the finals by a few points.

Making History: First Time in the Finals (2004)

The 2004 season started slowly for the Cowboys. But then, things changed! They started winning games. By the end of the season, they were in 7th place. This was their first time ever making the top eight finals!

Injuries hit key players, but young players stepped up. Shane Tronc and Steve Southern played important roles. The Cowboys became the "fairytale team" of 2004. They beat the Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos in the finals. They came very close to reaching the Grand Final, losing by just 16-19 to the Sydney City Roosters. This season showed everyone the Cowboys were a team to watch.

Grand Finalists: A Dream Season (2005)

The 2005 season was the best in the Cowboys' history so far. They started strong, beating the defending champions, the Canterbury Bulldogs. The team played with a tough, attacking style and solid defense.

Six Cowboys players were chosen for the Queensland Origin team. They had a huge win against Canterbury, scoring 48-12. They won eight of their first 13 games.

The Cowboys reached the finals again. After a big loss in the first semi-final, they bounced back. They beat the Melbourne Storm and then shut out the Parramatta Eels 29-0 in the preliminary final! This sent them to the 2005 NRL Grand Final.

Thousands of fans traveled to Sydney to support them. The Cowboys played the Wests Tigers in the Grand Final. They lost 30-16, but they made their fans and North Queensland proud. It was a fantastic season!

Ups and Downs (2006-2007)

Dairy Farmers Stadium is the home ground of the North Queensland Cowboys. It hosted two qualifying finals in 2007.

In 2006, the Cowboys started great, winning six games in a row. But then they struggled and missed the finals. Star players like Johnathan Thurston, Aaron Payne, and Matthew Bowen impressed. Paul Bowman, a long-time player, showed great spirit despite injuries.

The 2007 season was almost perfect. The Cowboys finished in the top four. They won 15 games and hosted a semi-final. Injuries hit the team, but other players stepped up. Johnathan Thurston won his second Dally M medal. Matthew Bowen had an amazing season, scoring 22 tries. Paul Bowman, the last player from the 1995 team, retired after 13 years and a club record 203 games. He became a coach for the club.

Tough Times (2008-2010)

The 2008 season was very hard for the Cowboys. Their coach, Graham Murray, left. The team struggled with injuries and lost 13 games in a row. They finished 15th on the ladder. But Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb, and Jacob Lillyman still played for Queensland and Australia.

In 2009, Neil Henry became the new coach. The team showed promise but just missed the finals. Matthew Bowen scored his 100th try, a first for the club!

The 2010 season was also tough. The team finished 15th again. But new stars like Scott Bolton and Matthew Scott emerged. Jason Taumalolo made his debut at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest Cowboy ever!

Back to the Finals (2011-2013)

After three years, the Cowboys made big changes for the 2011 season. They signed new players like Brent Tate, Dallas Johnson, and Glenn Hall. Young Tariq Sims also joined and had a great year. These new players helped the Cowboys finish 7th and return to the finals. They lost to Manly, who went on to win the premiership.

In 2012, the Cowboys made the finals again, finishing 5th. They beat the Broncos in the first week. But they lost to Manly in a controversial game the next week. Club legend Aaron Payne retired after 10 years.

The Cowboys reached the finals for a third straight year in 2013. This was a club first! They had a tough start but won six games in a row after coach Neil Henry left. They lost a controversial game to the Cronulla Sharks in the first week of the finals. Club legends Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, and Dallas Johnson also retired. Paul Green, a former Cowboys player, became the new head coach for 2014.

A New Era: NRL Champions! (2014-Present)

The Cowboys started 2014 by winning the first-ever NRL Auckland Nines tournament. They beat the Brisbane Broncos in the final! Kyle Feldt was named the Breakout Player of the Tournament.

In the 2014 NRL season, the Cowboys finished 5th. They had a strong finish to the season and beat the Brisbane Broncos in the finals. But they lost a very close and controversial game to the Sydney Roosters, ending their finals run. This was the third year in a row they were knocked out in a tough way.

On September 26, 2015, the Cowboys made it to their second Grand Final! They beat Melbourne 32-12 in the preliminary final. In the Grand Final, they faced the Brisbane Broncos in an incredibly close game. It went into "golden point" extra time. Johnathan Thurston kicked a field goal to win the game 17-16! The North Queensland Cowboys won their first ever NRL premiership! Johnathan Thurston also won the Clive Churchill Medal for being the best player in the Grand Final.