The 2010 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 16th season in the club's history. Coached by Neil Henry and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2010 Telstra Premiership, finishing in 15th place and failing to make the finals for the 3rd consecutive year.
Season summary Prior to the kick-off of the 2010 season, the media's attention surrounded the Cowboys' signing of ex-Australian international forward, Willie Mason on a one-year deal. The controversial figure was one of the team's most consistent players in 2010 but would leave the Cowboys at season's end to join English Super League side Hull Kingston Rovers.
2010 resulted in a very poor season for the Cowboys who recorded just five wins from 24 matches, although four of those wins came against teams that would participate in the 2010 finals series. Had the Melbourne Storm not been deducted premiership points for salary cap breaches earlier in the year, the Cowboys would have received the wooden spoon. During the season the side went on a three-game losing streak, two four-game losing streaks and ended the season on a run of six straight losses.
Highlights during the season included a golden point extra time victory over the Newcastle Knights in Round 20, in which rookie winger Will Tupou scored the match-winning try and the debuts of 18-year-old Michael Morgan and 17-year-old Jason Taumalolo, who would go on to play integral roles in the Cowboys' first Premiership win in 2015. Taumalolo was the youngest player to ever make his debut for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys' season of disappointment only got worse when Johnathan Thurston was arrested in Brisbane for drunk and disorderly behaviour during the off-season. His captaincy role at the Cowboys was under review, but no further action was taken. Furthermore, CEO Peter Parr was removed from his role and relegated to football operations manager.
During the off-season the club underwent a major overhaul of personnel, releasing 15 players and signing a number of new recruits for 2011, including Queensland and Australian representatives Dallas Johnson and Brent Tate.
Milestones Round 1: Willie Mason made his debut for the club. Round 4: Leeson Ah Mau and Shannon Gallant made their debuts for the club. Round 4: Will Tupou made his NRL debut. Round 6: Carl Webb played his 100th game for the club. Round 7: Isaak Ah Mau made his debut for the club. Round 9: Matthew Bowen scored his 100th try for the club. Round 9: Dane Hogan and Michael Morgan made their NRL debuts. Round 16: John Williams played his 50th game for the club. Round 16: Arana Taumata made his debut for the club. Round 18: Scott Bolton played his 50th game for the club. Round 24: Jason Taumalolo made his NRL debut. Round 25: Matthew Scott played his 100th game for the club. Round 25: Ty Williams played his 150th game for the club. Round 26: Matthew Bowen played his 200th game for the club.
Squad List
Squad Movement
2010 Gains Player Signed From Until End of Isaak Ah Mau Easts Tigers 2011 Leeson Ah Mau Warriors 2011 Shannon Gallant Wests Tigers 2011 Willie Mason Sydney Roosters 2010 Arana Taumata Wests Tigers (mid-season) 2011Will Tupou Brisbane Broncos 2011
2010 Losses Player Signed To Until End of Matthew Bartlett Lakes United 2010 Brandon BoorReleased - Travis Burns Penrith Panthers 2011 Shannon HegartyRetired - Antonio Kaufusi Newcastle Knights (mid-season) 2012 Manase Manuokafoa Parramatta Eels (mid-season) 2011David Pangai Western Suburbs Rosellas 2010 Anthony PerkinsReleased - Shane Tronc Brisbane Broncos 2011 Dayne Weston Burleigh Bears 2010
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance12 FebruaryTrial 1 Wests TigersTiger Park4 – 28 Manuokafoa J Williams (0/1) 5,00020 FebruaryTrial 2 WarriorsBarlow Park6 – 28 Geia J Williams (1/1) 8,00027 FebruaryTrial 3 Gold Coast TitansRichardson Park22 – 4 O'Donnell (2), Bani, J Williams J Williams (2/3), Thurston (1/1) 9,879 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance12 MarchRound 1 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium24 – 30 Graham, Thurston, Tonga, T Williams Thurston (4/4) 48,51620 MarchRound 2 Penrith PanthersDairy Farmers Stadium28 – 20 Bolton (2), Bani, Tonga Thurston (6/6) 13,33526 MarchRound 3 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium8 – 33 Graham Thurston (2/2) 13,2673 AprilRound 4 Gold Coast TitansDairy Farmers Stadium32 – 18 Tonga (3), O'Donnell, Thurston Thurston (6/6) 15,55110 AprilRound 5 Wests TigersDairy Farmers Stadium16 – 23 Bolton, Tonga, Watts Thurston (1/1), J Williams (1/3) 16,27317 AprilRound 6 NewcastleEnergyAustralia Stadium18 – 36 Gallant, Graham, J Williams J Williams (3/3) 14,20523 AprilRound 7 Parramatta EelsDairy Farmers Stadium18 – 24 Bolton, Graham, Tonga Thurston (3/3) 11,3351 MayRound 8 Melbourne StormDairy Farmers Stadium6 – 34 Bolton Graham (1/1) 19,85310 MayRound 9 Sydney RoostersSFS32 – 14 Bani (2), Bowen, Tonga, Watts, J Williams J Williams (3/5), Graham (1/1) 6,47815 MayRound 10 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium12 – 24 Bani, Bolton Thurston (2/2) 10,800Round 11Bye29 MayRound 12 Manly Sea EaglesDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 24 Graham (2), O'Donnell, Tupou Thurston (2/4) 13,5387 JuneRound 13 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium4 – 32 Graham Thurston (0/1) 9,68812 JuneRound 14 Canberra RaidersDairy Farmers Stadium16 – 8 Morgan (2) J Williams (4/4) 12,05819 JuneRound 15 Melbourne StormAAMI Park12 – 58 Gallant, Tamou Thurston (2/2) 10,66126 JuneRound 16 Cronulla SharksDairy Farmers Stadium19 – 20 Mason, Scott, Webb Thurston (3/4, 1 FG) 13,063Round 17Bye12 JulyRound 18 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium24 – 36 Tonga (2), Taumata, Tupou Thurston (4/4) 11,17719 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval16 – 26 Graham, Harris, Taumata Thurston (2/3) 11,36424 JulyRound 20 Newcastle KnightsDairy Farmers Stadium28 – 24 O'Donnell (2), Tonga, Tupou, Watts Thurston (4/5) 12,14630 JulyRound 21 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium16 – 24 Graham, Tonga, Tupou Thurston (2/3) 7,0806 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 34 Ah Mau, Bolton, Hogan, T Williams Graham (5/5) 20,14814 AugustRound 23 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park18 – 37 T Williams (2), Watts J Williams (3/3) 14,03221 AugustRound 24 Canterbury BulldogsDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 22 T Williams (2), Rovelli, J Williams J Williams (2/4) 11,74228 AugustRound 25 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium4 – 48 Bani J Williams (0/1) 11,4344 SeptemberRound 26 Sydney RoostersDairy Farmers Stadium8 – 18 Bowen, T Williams J Williams (0/2) 12,033 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts4----181--45----105--20247--28162--892--82497-5091--4101--411----4----231--442--8134--1621----10----131--4231--43----6----191--41----72--84----172431952112--48124--16214--16181--417316-4117--28 Totals 73 66 1 425 Source:
Representatives The following players have played a representative match in 2010
All Stars match City vs Country State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII Four NationsMatthew Bowen - - - - - Prime Minister's XIII - Willie Mason - Country - - - - - Luke O'Donnell NRL All Stars - - New South Wales - - - Matthew Scott - - Queensland Queensland Queensland - Australia Johnathan Thurston Indigenous All Stars - Queensland Queensland Queensland - - Willie Tonga - - Queensland Queensland Queensland Prime Minister's XIII Australia Anthony Watts - - - - - Prime Minister's XIII - Carl Webb Indigenous All Stars - - - - - - Ty Williams Indigenous All Stars - - - - - -
Honours
League NYC Team of the Year: James Segeyaro
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Matthew Scott Player's Player: Matthew Scott Club Person of the Year: Jeff Reibel Rookie of the Year: Leeson Ah Mau Most Improved: James Tamou NYC Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo
Feeder Clubs
National Youth Competition North Queensland Cowboys – 4th, lost semi final
Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters – 6th, lost preliminary final Northern Pride – 4th, Premiers
References
External links