The 1997 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 3rd in the club's history. Coached by Tim Sheens and captained by Ian Roberts, they competed in the breakaway News Limited-run competition, the Telstra Cup.

Season summary After an improved 1996 season, the club pulled off a major coup in signing three-time premiership winning coach Tim Sheens from the Canberra Raiders, who brought five players with him from his old club, including Australia and Queensland representative hooker Steve Walters. Former Australia and New South Wales prop Ian Roberts was brought in as captain as part of a major off-season rebuild in which 20 players were let go, including a number of foundation players.

The club, who were competing in News Limited's breakaway Super League competition, got off to a promising start after defeating the newly formed Adelaide Rams in the opening round of the season. The good times under Sheens and his new signings were short lived, as a four game losing streak followed. A win over the Auckland Warriors in Round 9 was followed by two consecutive draws, which included a 20-all draw against arch-rivals Brisbane, their best ever result against them at the time.

Back-to-back wins in Round 14 and 15 had the Cowboys sitting just four points outside the Top 5, but a three-game losing streak to end the season left the club languishing in last place. The Cowboys recorded their second wooden spoon in three seasons, with just five wins from 18 games. Despite the disappointing year, Tim Sheens signed a five-year contract renewal with the club. Owen Cunningham, an off-season recruit from Manly, was named the club's Player of the Year.

Towards the end of the season, the club took part in the World Club Championship. The tournament featured all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions and was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres. The Cowboys played home and away games against three Super League clubs; (Leeds Rhinos, Oldham Bears and Salford Reds), winning all but once (a 16-20 loss to Oldham at Boundary Park). Despite the great results, the Cowboys missed out on the finals, while clubs in other pools got through without even winning a game. It would be the last time the club would face a Super League side or play a game in England until the 2016 World Club Challenge.

Milestones Round 1: Dion Cope, Owen Cunningham, Jason Ferris, John Lomax, Scott Mahon, Ray Mercy, Luke Phillips, Ian Roberts, Tyran Smith, Bert Tabuai and Steve Walters made their debuts for the club. Round 1: Kyle Warren made his first grade debut. Round 2: Jimmy Ahmat and Mark Shipway made their first grade debuts. Round 4: John Doyle made his first grade debut. Round 6: Luke Scott made his first grade debut. Round 7: Jason Ryan made his debut for the club. Round 7: Adam Warwick made his first grade debut. Round 11: Shane Vincent made his debut for the club. Round 14: Ray Mercy became the first player to score three tries in a match for the club.

Squad list In Super League, players were able to choose their own jersey number (regardless of their starting position), which they wore for the entire season.

Squad movement

1997 Gains Player Signed from Dion Cope Cronulla Sharks Owen Cunningham Manly Sea Eagles Jason Ferris Canberra Raiders John Lomax Canberra Raiders Scott Mahon Parramatta Eels Ray Mercy Atherton Roosters Luke Phillips Canberra Raiders Ian Roberts Manly Sea Eagles Jason Ryan South Sydney Rabbitohs Tyran Smith South Sydney Rabbitohs Bert Tabuai Canberra Raiders Shane Vincent South Sydney Rabbitohs Steve Walters Canberra Raiders

1997 Losses Player Signed To David Bouveng Halifax Blue Sox Steve Edmed Sheffield Eagles Damian Gibson Leeds Rhinos Shane Howarth Auckland Blues Jason Martin Paris Saint-Germain Jamie Mathiou Leeds Rhinos Willie Morganson Sheffield Eagles Willie Poching Hunter Mariners Dean Schifilliti Adelaide Rams Wayne Sing Paris Saint-Germain Tyran Smith Hunter Mariners (mid-season) Whetu Taewa Sheffield Eagles Adrian Vowles Castleford Tigers

Ladder

Fixtures

Regular season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance1 MarchRound 1 Adelaide RamsStockland Stadium24 – 16 Walters (2), Phillips, Smith Phillips (4/5) 17,7387 MarchRound 2 Perth RedsStockland Stadium20 – 22 Ahmat, Ferris, Roberts Phillips (4/5) 15,74515 MarchRound 3 Penrith PanthersStockland Stadium12 – 19 Phillips, Warren Phillips (2/3) 18,00322 MarchRound 4 Hunter MarinersTopper Stadium10 – 38 Phillips, Warren Phillips (1/3) 6,09031 MarchRound 5 Canterbury BulldogsBelmore Oval16 – 14 Bowman, Mahon, Shipway Phillips (2/3) 9,8305 AprilRound 6 Brisbane BroncosStockland Stadium16 – 42 Death (2), Cressbrook Doyle (2/2), Phillips (0/1) 30,12212 AprilRound 7 Perth RedsWACA4 – 6 Doyle (2/2) 9,70120 AprilRound 8 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium16 – 40 Phillips, Walters, Warren Phillips (2/3) 10,07127 AprilRound 9 Auckland WarriorsStockland Stadium30 – 22 Cressbrook, Jones, Phillips, Scott, Walters Phillips (5/6) 12,4642 MayRound 10 Adelaide RamsAdelaide Oval14 – 14 Cressbrook, I. Dunemann, Shipway Phillips (1/4) 15,97025 MayRound 11 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium20 – 20 A. Dunemann, I. Dunemann, Shipway Phillips (4/5) 14,16731 MayRound 12 Cronulla SharksStockland Stadium10 – 24 Mahon (2) Phillips (1/3) 16,09528 JuneRound 13 Canterbury BulldogsStockland Stadium22 – 29 Roberts, Tassell, Warren, Warwick Phillips (3/6) 14,1764 JulyRound 14 Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium33 – 26 Mercy (3), Phillips (2), Loomans Phillips (4/7), A. Dunemann (1 FG) 5,33513 JulyRound 15 Hunter MarinersStockland Stadium33 – 14 A. Dunemann (2), Mercy (2), Loomans, Murphy Phillips (4/7), A. Dunemann (1 FG) 11,4809 AugustRound 16 Canberra RaidersStockland Stadium14 – 22 Bowman, Lomax Phillips (3/3) 22,02616 AugustRound 17 Cronulla SharksShark Park12 – 34 Phillips, Scott Phillips (2/3) 11,64024 AugustRound 18 Auckland WarriorsEricsson Stadium22 – 50 Mercy, Scott, Skardon, Warren Phillips (3/4) 12,000 Legend:

World Club Championship

The World Club Championship was a mid-season tournament featuring all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions. It was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres from 6 June to 11 October.

Pool Play Club Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Diff. Points Hunter Mariners 6 6 0 0 226 50 176 12 North Queensland Cowboys 6 5 1 0 228 92 136 10 Adelaide Rams 6 4 2 0 170 68 102 8 Perth Reds 6 4 2 0 148 104 44 8

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance7 JuneRound 1 Leeds RhinosStockland Stadium42 – 20 Murphy (2), Cressbrook, Jones, Phillips, Shipway, Tabuai, Warwick Phillips (5/8) 14,56114 JuneRound 2 Oldham BearsStockland Stadium54 – 16 Cressbrook (2), Vincent (2), Walters (2), A. Dunemann, Murphy, Phillips, Shipway Phillips (7/10) 12,60021 JuneRound 3 Salford RedsStockland Stadium44 – 8 Warwick (2), Bowman, Cressbrook, Cunningham, I. Dunemann, Shipway, Tabuai Phillips (6/8) 15,50818 JulyRound 4 Oldham BearsBoundary Park20 – 16 Bowman, Mercy, Phillips Phillips (2/3) 2,69127 JulyRound 5 Salford RedsThe Willows24 – 14 Cunningham, Murphy, Phillips, Skardon Phillips (4/4) 7,4483 AugustRound 6 Leeds RhinosHeadingley Stadium48 – 14 A. Dunemann (2), Phillips (2), Cressbrook, Mercy, Murphy, Shipway Phillips (8/8) 12,224 Legend:

Statistics NameAppTGFGPts21--4102--85----7----113--1218----203--1212-4-8143-21462--871--41----151--43----11----151--472--8143--1266--241----111--417845-122172--81----123--12133--1231--491--45----31--42----154--16145--2061--4 Totals 57 49 2 328 Source:

Representatives The following players played a representative match in 1997.

Anzac Test Super League Tri-series End of Year Test SL Test SeriesOwen Cunningham John Lomax Ian Roberts Tyran Smith Steve Walters

Honours

Club Player of the Year: Owen Cunningham Players' Player: John Lomax Club Person of the Year: Ian Roberts

References