The 2009 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 15th season in the club's history. Coached by Neill Henry and captained by Johnathan Thurston, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2009 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 12th place, failing to reach the finals for the second consecutive year.

Season summary The 2009 season was an improvement on 2008 for the Cowboys, with 11 wins from 24 games. The closeness of the 2009 season meant the Cowboys finished 12th, just three points behind eventual Grand Finalists Parramatta, who finished 8th.

Neil Henry re-joined the club as head coach in 2009, taking over from interim head coach Ian Millward. Henry was an assistant coach at the club from 2002 to 2006, before moving to the Canberra Raiders in 2007 and winning the Dally M Coach of the Year award in 2008. Renowned strength and conditioning coach Billy Johnstone also returned to the club after a stint at the Gold Coast Titans. The club's key off-season recruits included Australian and Queensland representatives Willie Tonga, Antonio Kaufusi and Shannon Hegarty.

After a slow start to the season, the Cowboys enjoyed a strong run of form that included a four-game winning streak. With five rounds to play, they were sitting inside the top eight in 6th position. The club then endured four-game losing streak to end the season, dropping to 12th place.

2009 saw the debut of James Tamou, who joined the club from the Sydney Roosters under-20's side. Tamou would become an Australian and New South Wales representative at the Cowboys and play integral role in the club's maiden premiership victory in 2015.

Milestones Round 1: Shannon Hegarty, Antonio Kaufusi, Manase Manuokafoa and Willie Tonga made their debuts for the club. Round 2: Grant Rovelli made his debut for the club. Round 5: Steve Southern played his 100th game for the club. Round 5: Steve Rapira made his NRL debut. Round 8: James Tamou made his NRL debut. Round 15: Michael Bani made his debut for the club. Round 17: Luke O'Donnell played his 100th game for the club. Round 17: Johnathan Thurston played his 100th game for the club. Round 17: Aaron Payne played his 150th game for the club. Round 22: Donald Malone made his NRL debut. Round 26: Ray Thompson made his NRL debut.

Squad List

Squad Movement

2009 Gains Player Signed From Until end of Mitch Achurch Wests Tigers Clint Amos Gold Coast Titans Michael Bani Manly Sea Eagles (mid-season) Shannon Hegarty South Sydney Rabbitohs Antonio Kaufusi Melbourne Storm Donald Malone Ipswich Jets Manase Manuokafoa South Sydney Rabbitohs David Pangai Sydney Roosters Steve Rapira Warriors Grant Rovelli Warriors James Tamou Sydney Roosters Willie Tonga Canterbury Bulldogs

2009 Losses Player Signed To Until end of Daniel BackoReleased Greg Byrnes Northern Pride Ray Cashmere Salford City Reds Ben Farrar Manly Sea Eagles (mid-season) Sione Faumuina Castleford Tigers Sam Faust Central Tigers John FrithReleased George GatisRetired Luke Harlen Northern Pride Mark Henry Salford City Reds Keiron Lander Ipswich Jets Jacob Lillyman Warriors Jackson Nicolau Gold Coast Titans Chris Sheppard Northern Pride Justin SmithRetired Ben Vaeau Easts Tigers

Ladder

Fixtures

Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance21 FebruaryTrial 1 WarriorsNorth Harbour Stadium28 – 32 - - -28 FebruaryTrial 2 Penrith PanthersBarlow Park18 – 18 - - - Legend:

Regular season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance13 MarchRound 1 BrisbaneSuncorp Stadium18 – 19 Bowen, Tonga, Webb Thurston (3/3) 45,02221 MarchRound 2 Wests TigersDairy Farmers Stadium42 – 14 Bowen, Burns, Kaufusi, Payne, Webb, J Williams, T Williams Thurston (7/7) 19,87928 MarchRound 3 MelbourneDairy Farmers Stadium12 – 26 Bolton, J Williams Thurston (2/2) 21,4896 AprilRound 4 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium18 – 23 Burns, Farrar, J Williams Thurston (3/3) 12,19811 AprilRound 5 Gold Coast TitansDairy Farmers Stadium10 – 14 Hegarty, Thurston Thurston (1/2) 18,12319 AprilRound 6 Cronulla SharksHindmarsh Stadium34 – 10 Bowen, Farrar, Hegarty, O'Donnell, Tonga, Tronc Thurston (5/6) 8,54725 AprilRound 7 Manly Sea EaglesDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 12 Bowen (2), Bolton, Farrar Thurston (5/5) 16,1531 MayRound 8 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium18 – 28 Farrar, Southern, Tamou Thurston (3/3) 8,1049 MayRound 9 St George IllawarraDairy Farmers Stadium24 – 20 Thurston (3), Tamou Thurston (4/5( 16,03117 MayRound 10 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium34 – 12 Bowen, Farrar, Graham, O'Donnell, Thurston, Tonga Thurston (5/6) 16,34525 MayRound 11 Newcastle KnightsDairy Farmers Stadium36 – 10 Burns, Kaufusi, O'Donnell, Southern, Thurston, J Williams Thurston (6/7) 11,892Round 12Bye6 JuneRound 13 South Sydney RabbitohsDairy Farmers Stadium46 – 12 Graham (2), J Williams (2), Bolton, Bowen, Payne, Scott, T Williams Thurston (5/9) 16,56814 JuneRound 14 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium18 – 32 O'Donnell, Tonga, T Williams Thurston (3/3) 11,37420 JuneRound 15 Sydney RoostersDairy Farmers Stadium24 – 22 Burns, Payne, Southern, Webb J Williams (4/4) 13,48626 JuneRound 16 Canterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium18 – 30 Payne, Watts, J Williams Thurston (3/3) 13,4614 JulyRound 17 Cronulla SharksDairy Farmers Stadium24 – 4 Bowen (2), J Williams, T Williams Thurston (4/5) 17,283Round 18Bye19 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval14 – 34 Bowen, Webb Thurston (3/3) 18,80425 JulyRound 20 Penrith PanthersDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 28 Thurston, Tonga, Webb, J Williams Thurston (2/4) 14,27431 JulyRound 21 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park34 – 18 Bowen (2), Bani, Rapira, Tonga, J Williams Thurston (5/6) 20,3157 AugustRound 22 Melbourne StormOlympic Park8 – 20 Tonga (2) Thurston (0/2) 10,51014 AugustRound 23 Canterbury BulldogsDairy Farmers Stadium12 – 22 Thurston, Tonga Thurston (2/2) 18,19922 AugustRound 24 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium26 – 32 Thurston (2), Bani, Tonga, Watts Thurston (3/5) 15,40828 AugustRound 25 Brisbane BroncosDairy Farmers Stadium10 – 16 O'Donnell, Tonga Thurston (1/2) 24,3326 SeptemberRound 26 Sydney RoostersSFS32 – 16 Graham, Malone, Thurston, Tonga, Tronc, T Williams Thurston (4/6) 10,277 Legend:

Statistics NameAppTGFGPts4----92--8243--122012--48204--16105--20164--168----52--8222--821--412----175--20164--16161--413----231--4203--12122--81----231179-2021912--48242--8142--8225--202----17104-48175--20 Totals 98 83 0 558 Source:

Representatives The following players have played a representative match in 2009

City vs Country ANZAC Test State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII Four NationsLuke O'Donnell Matthew Scott Johnathan Thurston Willie Tonga

Honours

League Dally M Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston RLIF Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston

Club Paul Bowman Medal: Luke O'Donnell Player's Player: Luke O'Donnell Club Person of the Year: Clint Amos Rookie of the Year: Steve Rapira Most Improved: Scott Bolton NYC Player of the Year: Dane Hogan

Feeder Clubs

National Youth Competition North Queensland Cowboys - 9th, missed finals

Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters - 12th, Wooden Spoon Northern Pride - 2nd, Runners-up

References

External links North Queensland Cowboys: Season Review - NRL.com