North Queensland Cowboys facts for kids
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| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Cowboys |
| Website | cowboys.com.au |
| Colours | Navy Blue Grey Gold |
| Founded | 30 November 1995 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
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| CEO | Jeff Reibel |
| Chairman | Lewis Ramsay |
| Coach | Todd Payten |
| Captain | Reuben Cotter Tom Dearden |
| Competition | National Rugby League |
| 2024 season | 5th |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1 (2015) |
| Runners-up | 2 (2005, 2017) |
| Minor premiership | 0 |
| World Club Challenge | 1 (2016) |
| NRL Nines | 2 (2014, 2020) |
| Wooden spoons | 3 (1995, 1997 (SL), 2000) |
| Most capped | 294 - Johnathan Thurston |
| Highest points scorer | 2,182 - Johnathan Thurston |
The North Queensland Cowboys are a professional rugby league team from Townsville, Australia. They play in Australia's top rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL).
The club started in 1995. Since then, they have played in three Grand Finals (in 2005, 2015, and 2017). They won their first championship in 2015. The team has also made it to the finals eleven times. Their home ground is North Queensland Stadium, also known as Queensland Country Bank Stadium. It is located in South Townsville.
The Cowboys joined the league in 1995. They played in the Super League in 1997 before returning to the unified NRL competition. In 2015, the Cowboys won their first championship. They beat the Brisbane Broncos 17–16 in a thrilling "golden point" extra time game.
Contents
History of the Cowboys
Early Years (1995–1999)
The Cowboys joined the ARL competition in 1995. It was hard for them to attract fans because the Brisbane Broncos were already very popular in Queensland. The Cowboys also struggled to win games early on. In their first season, they finished last. They had eight different captains in their first two years.
In 1997, the Cowboys played in the Super League competition. Even with new players like Ian Roberts and Steve Walters, they finished last again. However, their first Super League game was a win, beating the Adelaide Rams 24–16. This was the first game of the Super League ever.
In 1998, the Super League and ARL joined to form the NRL. The Cowboys started strong but then faded. They made a record comeback that year, winning 36–28 against the Penrith Panthers after being down 26–0 at halftime. In 1999, Paul Green became the first Cowboy to play in the State of Origin series.
Getting Better (2000–2007)
From 2000 to 2002, the Cowboys still had some tough times. Coaches changed, and the team didn't win much. In 2002, Graham Murray became coach. He helped the team improve a lot. By 2003, players like Matt Bowen and Josh Hannay were playing much better.
In 2004, the Cowboys had their best year yet. They started slowly but then won many games to finish 7th. This was their first time making the top eight finals! They surprised everyone by beating the Canterbury team 30–22. Then, they beat their rivals, the Brisbane Broncos, 10–0. They just missed the Grand Final, losing to the Sydney Roosters.
In 2005, the Cowboys made it to their first Grand Final! With new players like Carl Webb and Johnathan Thurston, they finished 5th. They lost the Grand Final to the Wests Tigers. In his first year, Johnathan Thurston won the Dally M Medal, which is a big award for the best player.
The Cowboys started 2006 with six wins in a row but then struggled. In 2007, they made the finals again, finishing in the top four. They reached the preliminary final but lost to the Manly. Club legend Paul Bowman retired that year. Johnathan Thurston won his second Dally M Medal.
Tough Times and Comebacks (2008–2013)
The years 2008 to 2010 were difficult for the Cowboys. They had many injuries and finished near the bottom of the ladder. In 2009, Matthew Bowen scored his 100th try for the club, a first for a Cowboys player. Young star Jason Taumalolo made his debut in 2010, becoming the youngest Cowboy ever at 17 years old.
In 2011, the Cowboys changed many players and returned to the finals. They finished 7th. In 2012, they made the finals again, finishing 5th. They beat the Brisbane Broncos in the first week but lost to Manly in a controversial game. Club legend Aaron Payne retired after 10 years.
The Cowboys made the finals for a third straight year in 2013. This was a first for the club. They had a tough start but then won six games in a row. They lost in the first week of the finals. Club legends Matthew Bowen and Ashley Graham retired. In October 2013, former Cowboys player Paul Green became the new head coach.
Championship Glory (2014–2017)
The Cowboys started 2014 by winning the first-ever NRL Auckland Nines tournament. They beat the Brisbane Broncos in the final. After a difficult start to the NRL season, they made a late push to finish 5th and reach the finals. They beat the Broncos again but lost a close game to the Sydney Roosters.
In 2015, the Cowboys had their best regular season ever. They won a club record 11 games in a row and finished with 17 wins. Johnathan Thurston won his fourth Dally M Medal, a new record.
On September 26, 2015, the Cowboys reached their second Grand Final. They beat the Melbourne Storm 32–12. In the Grand Final, they faced the Brisbane Broncos in the first-ever all-Queensland Grand Final. The Cowboys won 17–16 in "golden point" extra time. Johnathan Thurston kicked the winning field goal and won the Clive Churchill Medal for best player in the Grand Final. This was the Cowboys' first championship!
In 2016, the Cowboys won the World Club Challenge, beating the Leeds Rhinos 38–4 in England. They were crowned the world's best club. They finished 4th in the NRL season but lost in the preliminary final.
In 2017, even with co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott injured, the Cowboys made it to their third Grand Final. They were only the second team to reach the Grand Final from 8th place. They lost to the Melbourne Storm.
New Eras (2018–Present)
Many thought the Cowboys would do well in 2018, but they struggled and finished 13th. This was the last season for Johnathan Thurston, who retired after 14 seasons and one championship with the club.
In 2019, the Cowboys had another tough year, finishing 14th. Club legends Matthew Scott and Scott Bolton retired. They had both played their whole NRL careers at the club and were part of the 2015 championship team. The club also played its last game at their old home stadium, Willows Sports Complex.
For the 2020 season, the Cowboys looked to rebuild. They signed Valentine Holmes, a local player who had been playing American football. In July 2020, coach Paul Green resigned, and Todd Payten became the new head coach in 2021.
In 2022, the Cowboys returned to the finals after four years. They finished 3rd and almost made the Grand Final. Todd Payten was named the Dally M Coach of the Year.
In 2023, the Cowboys had a mixed season. They had a huge 74-0 win against the Wests Tigers, which was their biggest win ever. However, they finished 11th and missed the finals. In 2024, they finished 5th and made the finals again.
Players
Cowboys Hall of Fame
In 2015, the Cowboys started their Hall of Fame. Players must have played at least 100 NRL games for the club and been retired for at least two years. They are chosen based on their skill, leadership, character, and awards.
Matthew Bowen was inducted in 2019. Johnathan Thurston joined in 2021, and Matthew Scott in 2023.
| Inductee | Class | Position | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Bowman | 2015 | Centre | 1995–2007 |
| Matt Sing | 2015 | Wing | 2002–2007 |
| Matthew Bowen | 2019 | Fullback | 2001–2013 |
| Jonathan Thurston | 2021 | Halfback | 2005–2018 |
| Matthew Scott | 2023 | Prop | 2004–2019 |
Coaches
Todd Payten is the Cowboys' current head coach. He took over in 2021 and is the club's tenth coach.
| No | Coach | Tenure | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grant Bell | 1995 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 9.1% |
| 2 | Graham Lowe | 1996 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 28.6% |
| 3 | Tim Sheens | 1997–2001 | 109 | 32 | 4 | 73 | 29.4% |
| 4 | Murray Hurst | 2001–2002 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 22.2% |
| 5 | Graham Murray | 2002–2008 | 161 | 79 | 1 | 81 | 49.1% |
| 6 | Ian Millward | 2008 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 14.3% |
| 7 | Neil Henry | 2009–2013 | 124 | 58 | 0 | 66 | 46.8% |
| 8 | Paul Green | 2014–2020 | 167 | 87 | 0 | 80 | 52.1% |
| 9 | Josh Hannay | 2020 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 20% |
| 10 | Todd Payten | 2021– | 76 | 39 | 0 | 37 | 51.3% |
| 11 | Dean Young | 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Awards and Records
Each year, the Cowboys give out the Paul Bowman Medal for the best player. This award is named after club legend Paul Bowman. Players get votes from the coaching staff after each game. Jason Taumalolo has won this award four times in a row. Johnathan Thurston has also won it four times.
In 2014, the Cowboys won their first big trophy, the NRL Auckland Nines tournament. They won their first NRL premiership in 2015. In 2020, they won the NRL Nines again, becoming the first club to win it twice.
Matthew Bowen holds the record for playing the most games and scoring the most tries for the club. He also scored the most tries in a season (22 in 2007). Johnathan Thurston holds the record for most points in a season (234 in 2014). The Cowboys' biggest win was 74-0 against the Wests Tigers in 2023.
Stadiums
From 1995 to 2019, the Cowboys played at Willows Sports Complex in Townsville. It was known by different names due to sponsorships, like Stockland Stadium and Dairy Farmers Stadium. The stadium was upgraded in 2005 and 2006. In 2013, it was renamed 1300SMILES Stadium. The Cowboys played their last game there in August 2019.
The biggest crowd for a regular season game at Willows Sports Complex was 30,302 in 1999.
In 2020, the club moved to the new 25,000-seat Queensland Country Bank Stadium in South Townsville.
In 2021, the Cowboys opened a new training and office building next to Queensland Country Bank Stadium. It's called the Hutchinson Builders Centre.
Team Colors and Logos
Before they were called the Cowboys, other names like Marlins and Crocodiles were considered. The name 'Cowboys' was chosen after asking the public. The team's colors, navy blue and yellow, were picked to match Townsville's local teams. Grey and white were also added.
Logos
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1995–1997
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1998–2003
The Cowboys' "steer head" logo has mostly stayed the same since 1995. Small changes were made over the years, like adding a yellow star and changing the font in 2003. In 2020, a new logo was introduced for their 25th season.
Jerseys
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1995–1996
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1997–1998
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1999–2001
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2023
The Cowboys' home jerseys are usually navy blue. White, grey, and yellow have been used as main secondary colors. Their away jerseys are mostly white. The club also wears special jerseys for events like Women in League round and Indigenous round.
Supporters
In 2018, the Cowboys had their highest number of members ever, with 23,437 fans joining the club.
Notable Supporters
Many famous people support the Cowboys, including:
- Andy The Kid, musician
- Bob Katter, Politician
- Alicia Coutts, Olympic gold medal winning swimmer
- Mitchell Johnson, Australian international cricketer
- Jessica Mauboy, singer/actress
- Anna Meares, Olympic gold medal winning cyclist
- Jack Miller, Australian Grand Prix motorcycle racer
- Karrie Webb, Australia's most successful female professional golfer
Rivalries
The Cowboys' main rivals are the Brisbane Broncos. For many years, these were the only two Queensland teams in the NRL. The Broncos often won against the Cowboys early on. But in 2004, the Cowboys beat the Broncos 10–0 in the finals, which was their first win in this rivalry.
In 2015, the two teams met in the NRL Grand Final, which was the first time two Queensland teams played for the championship. The Cowboys won 17–16 in extra time. This rivalry is now one of the best in rugby league.
The Cowboys also have a rivalry with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. They have played each other many times in the finals since 2013. Since 2023, the best player in games between these two clubs receives the Paul Green Medal, named after Paul Green, who played for both teams and coached the Cowboys.
Women's Team
On June 15, 2022, the Cowboys were given a team in the NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW). This is the top women's rugby league competition. Their first NRLW season was in 2023. Ben Jeffries was named the first NRLW head coach.
See also
In Spanish: North Queensland Cowboys para niños
