The 1998 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 4th in the club's history. Coached by Tim Sheens and captained by John Lomax, they competed in the inaugural season of the newly formed National Rugby League (NRL) competition.

Season summary After a disappointing 1997 season, the Cowboys entered the newly unified National Rugby League competition with high hopes. While the squad from a year earlier was kept mostly the same, the club added former Australia and Queensland representative and local favourite Dale Shearer, veteran forward Dale Fritz from the recently folded Perth Reds and former Canberra Raiders flyer Noa Nadruku, who reunited with coach Tim Sheens.

The year got off to the best start possible, as the club went on a four-game winning streak, the first time they'd won three and four games in a row. They then bounced back from a big loss to Brisbane in Round 5, with a 17-4 win over Newcastle. After six rounds, the club sat in equal 1st on 10 competition points and a maiden finals appearance looked to be a real possibility.

It turned out to be false dawn, as a five-game losing streak followed. The club would then make history in Round 12, defeating the Penrith Panthers 36-28, after trailing 26-0 at half time. As of 2019, this still stands as the biggest comeback victory in Australian first grade history. They followed that up with another milestone, recording 40 points in a game for the first time, defeating the Western Suburbs Magpies 40-10. Over the last 10 rounds, the club would win just two games, finishing in 16th place after such a promising start to the season. The club's lone representative in 1998, New Zealand's John Lomax, was named Player of the Year and Players' Player.

The club blooded two talented 18-year-olds during the season, Moranbah's Josh Hannay and Mt Isa's Scott Prince. Hannay, whose planned debut in 1996 as a 16-year-old was vetoed by the ARL, played 21 games and was the club's top try and point scorer. He went onto set numerous point scoring records for the club, playing 150 games over nine seasons, and representing Queensland on two occasions. Prince, a Junior Kangaroo in 1998, played 16 games (10 of those off the bench) and would play 53 games over three seasons before joining the Cowboys' arch-rivals, the Brisbane Broncos, in 2001. In 2005, he guided the Wests Tigers to their maiden premiership, defeating the Cowboys in the Grand Final.

Milestones Round 1: Dale Fritz, Noa Nadruku, Dale Shearer and Scott Wilson made their debuts for the club. Round 2: Ray Mercy became the first player to score four tries in a match for the club. Round 3: Josh Hannay made his NRL debut. Round 3: The club won three games in a row for the first time. Round 4: Scott Prince made his NRL debut. Round 4: The club won four games in a row for the first time. Round 12: The club overcame a 26-0 half time deficit to defeat Penrith 36-28 (Biggest comeback in NSWRL/ARL/NRL history). Round 13: The club scored 40 points in a game for the first time. Round 14: Paul Pensini made his NRL debut. Round 19: Scott Donald made his NRL debut. Round 20: John Malu made his NRL debut. Round 21: Andrew Dunemann played his 50th game for the club, the first player to do so. Round 23: Scott Whiting made his NRL debut. Round 24: Denny Lambert made his NRL debut.

Squad list

Squad movement

1998 Gains Player Signed from Dale Fritz Perth Reds Leigh McWilliams Hunter Mariners Noa Nadruku Canberra Raiders Dale Shearer Sydney City Roosters Scott Wilson Perth Reds

1998 Losses Player Signed To Dion Cope Released Reggie Cressbrook Townsville Stingers Ian Dunemann Townsville Stingers Aaron Ketchell Released Justin Loomans South Sydney Rabbitohs Marshall Miller Wests Tigers Mackay Luke Phillips Manly Sea Eagles John Skardon Released Shane Vincent Released Scott Wilson Canterbury Bulldogs (mid-season)

Ladder

Fixtures

Regular season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance13 MarchRound 1 Adelaide RamsAdelaide Rams18 – 8 Nadruku, Shearer, Walters Ferris (3/5) 11,28921 MarchRound 2 Balmain TigersMalanda Stadium26 – 2 Mercy (4), Tassell Dunemann (2/3), Ferris (1/5) 18,39929 MarchRound 3 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium16 – 15 Bowman, Hannay, Tassell Ferris (1/2, 2 FG), Hannay (0/1) 10,1774 AprilRound 4 Canberra RaidersMalanda Stadium14 – 12 Murphy, Nadruku Doyle (1/2), Ferris (1/1), Hannay (1/1) 20,04812 AprilRound 5 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium4 – 58 Hannay Hannay (0/1) 20,90418 AprilRound 6 Newcastle KnightsMalanda Stadium17 – 4 Warren (2), Hannay Hannay (2/5), Dunemann (1 FG) 18,42825 AprilRound 7 Sydney City RoostersMalanda Stadium16 – 50 Mercy, Tassell, Warren Hannay (2/3) 21,0272 MayRound 8 Cronulla SharksShark Park8 – 16 Hannay, Roberts Hannay (0/2) 5,9789 MayRound 9 Canterbury BulldogsMalanda Stadium18 – 24 Ahmat, Hannay, Mahon, Mercy Doyle (1/3), Hannay (0/2) 15,28817 MayRound 10 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium12 – 50 Cunningham, Tassell Hannay (2/2) 8,29123 MayRound 11 Parramatta EelsMalanda Stadium12 – 29 Hannay, Tassell Hannay (2/3) 17,36129 MayRound 12 Penrith PanthersPenrith Panthers36 – 28 Nadruku (3), Dunemann (2), Mercy, Shipway Hannay (4/7) 8,6856 JuneRound 13 Western Suburbs MagpiesMalanda Stadium40 – 10 Nadruku (2), Ferris, Mercy, Prince, Tassell, Warren, Warwick Shearer (2/2), Dunemann (1/1), Ferris (1/4), Warren (0/1) 10,62814 JuneRound 14 St George DragonsKogarah Oval14 – 16 Mercy (2), Hannay Hannay (1/3) 9,48620 JuneRound 15 Melbourne StormMalanda Stadium8 – 10 Mercy Hannay (2/3) 24,46428 JuneRound 16 Illawarra SteelersWIN Stadium18 – 24 Hannay (2), Nadruku, Tabuai Hannay (1/4) 6,5584 JulyRound 17 Gold Coast ChargersMalanda Stadium14 – 4 Hannay, Shearer Hannay (3/4) 7,12711 JulyRound 18 Balmain TigersLeichhardt Oval0 – 18 10,65318 JulyRound 19 Adelaide RamsMalanda Stadium14 – 10 Hannay, Locke Hannay (3/4) 11,34025 JulyRound 20 South Sydney RabbitohsMalanda Stadium16 – 22 Dunemann, Nadruku, Walters Hannay (2/3) 10,40931 JulyRound 21 Auckland WarriorsEricsson Stadium18 – 34 Hannay, Mercy, Shipway Hannay (3/4) 4,5008 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosMalanda Stadium10 – 22 Nadruku (2) Hannay (1/3) 30,25016 AugustRound 23 Manly Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval12 – 28 Hannay (3) Hannay (0/3) 8,42223 AugustRound 24 North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Oval0 – 62 15,604 Legend:

Statistics NameAppTGFGPts21--461--49----7----231--417----1----8-2-42133119191722021----211529-1182----1----171--421----41--42----2412--4891--42211--446----161--4121--410----1322-12192--851--4186--24222--8204--1671--41----2---- Totals 68 43 3 361 Source:

Representatives The following players played a representative match in 1998.

Anzac Test John Lomax

Feeder Clubs

Queensland Cup Townsville Stingers - 7th, missed finals

Honours

Club Player of the Year: John Lomax Players' Player: John Lomax Club Person of the Year: Scott Mahon

References