The 2011 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 17th season in the club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2011 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season in 7th place and were knocked out in the first week of the finals by the eventual premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Season summary After missing the finals the previous three seasons, finishing 15th in both 2008 and 2010, the Cowboys underwent a major overhaul of personnel for the 2011 season. Club legend Ty Williams retired and they parted ways with club favourites Luke O'Donnell, Carl Webb and Steve Southern. Their biggest signing for the 2011 season was Queensland and Australian representative centre Brent Tate. They also made key recruits in the signings of former Melbourne Storm and Queensland State of Origin representative Dallas Johnson, premiership winner Glenn Hall from the English Super League, re-signing a former Cowboy in Gavin Cooper and picking up younger, experienced first graders such as Antonio Winterstein.
The Cowboys' new signings had a positive impact on the NRL team, with the club spending the majority of the year in the top four before a late slide dropped them to seventh position and giving them their first finals appearance since 2007. In 2011, they were the most watched NRL club on pay television, and their Round 4 clash against the Parramatta Eels was the fourth most watched sports event in Fox Sport's history.
In the qualifying final, they led Manly 8–0 at half time before being overrun by the Sea Eagles who went on to claim the premiership.
Milestones Round 1: Glenn Hall, Ben Jones, Dallas Johnson and Ashton Sims made their debuts for the club. Round 2: Ashley Graham played his 100th game for the club. Round 2: Tariq Sims made his NRL debut. Round 3: Kalifa Faifai Loa made his debut for the club. Round 3: James Segeyaro made his NRL debut. Round 5: Antonio Winterstein made his debut for the club. Round 4: Matthew Bowen became the club's most capped player with 204 games. Round 9: Johnathan Thurston became the club's highest point scorer. Round 10: Willie Tonga played his 50th game for the club. Round 13: Johnathan Thurston scored his 50th try for the club. Round 14: Ashley Graham scored his 50th try for the club. Round 14: Joel Riethmuller made his NRL debut. Round 18: Cory Paterson made his debut for the club. Round 19: Brent Tate made his debut for the club. Round 23: James Tamou played his 50th game for the club.
Squad List
Squad Movement
2011 Gains Player Signed From Until End of Gavin Cooper Penrith Panthers Kalifa Faifai Loa St George Illawarra Dragons Glenn Hall Bradford Bulls Dallas Johnson Catalans Dragons Ben Jones Sydney Roosters Blake Leary Melbourne Storm Tyson Martin Mackay Cutters Cory Paterson Newcastle Knights (mid-season) Joel Riethmuller Northern Pride Ashton Sims Brisbane Broncos Tariq Sims Brisbane Broncos Brent Tate Warriors Ricky Thorby St George Illawarra Dragons Antonio Winterstein Brisbane Broncos
2011 Losses Player Signed To Until End of Mitch Achurch Western Suburbs Magpies Obe GeiaReleased Ben HarrisRetired Donald Malone Ipswich Jets Willie Mason Hull Kingston Rovers Luke O'Donnell Huddersfield Giants Steve Rapira Warriors Grant Rovelli Mackay Cutters Nick Slyney Redcliffe Dolphins Steve Southern Newcastle Knights Arana Taumata Penrith Panthers Anthony Watts Sydney Roosters Carl Webb Parramatta Eels John Williams Cronulla Sharks Ty Williams Northern Pride
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance11 FebruaryTrial 1 Wests TigersJack Manski Oval10 – 22 Martin, Riethmuller Faifai Loa (1/2) -19 FebruaryTrial 2 Brisbane BroncosTraeger Park4 – 26 Faifai Loa Faifai Loa (0/1) -26 FebruaryTrial 3 Gold Coast TitansBarlow Park22 – 24 Bowen, Bolton, Scott, Tonga Thurston (3/4) - Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance11 MarchRound 1 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium16 – 14 Bani, Tamou, Tupou Thurston (2/3) 45,11919 MarchRound 2 Newcastle KnightsDairy Farmers Stadium22 – 34 Graham (2), Ah Mau, Jones Thurston (3/4) 14,06128 MarchRound 3 Melbourne StormDairy Farmers Stadium34 – 6 Bowen (2), Graham (2), T Sims, Tupou Thurston (5/6) 9,5542 AprilRound 4 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium20 – 22 Faifai Loa (2), Graham, Tonga Thurston (2/4) 12,2268 AprilRound 5 Gold Coast TitansDairy Farmers Stadium22 – 12 Bowen, Cooper, Thurston, Tonga Thurston (3/4) 13,65116 AprilRound 6 Canberra RaidersDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 18 Bolton, Hall, Thurston, Winterstein Thurston (5/5) 10,74123 AprilRound 7 Cronulla SharksToyota Stadium30 – 12 Cooper (2), Faifai Loa, Graham, Tonga Thurston (5/6) 7,34030 AprilRound 8 Manly Sea EaglesDairy Farmers Stadium22 – 20 Bowen (2), Payne, Thurston Thurston (3/4) 14,8848 MayRound 9 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Jubilee Oval8 – 22 Thurston Thurston (2/2) 13,05614 MayRound 10 Parramatta EelsDairy Farmers Stadium40 – 26 Thurston (2), Tonga (2), Faifai Loa, Hall, Winterstein Thurston (6/7) 13,610Round 11Bye28 MayRound 12 Sydney RoostersDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 6 Hall, Tamou, Thurston Thurston (4/4) 13,3355 JuneRound 13 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium40 – 24 Faifai Loa (2), T Sims (2), Hall, Payne, Thurston Thurston (6/7) 11,12811 JuneRound 14 Manly Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval4 – 24 Graham Cooper (0/1) 8,45218 JuneRound 15 WarriorsDairy Farmers Stadium30 – 10 Faifai Loa (2), Graham, Jones, Segeyaro, T Sims, Thurston Cooper (1/3), Graham (0/1) Thurston (0/3) 16,08126 JuneRound 16 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium20 – 30 Cooper (2), Jones, Segeyaro Thurston (2/4) 14,090Round 17Bye11 JulyRound 18 Newcastle KnightsAusgrid Stadium22 – 12 Paterson, Riethmuller, Segeyaro, Tupou Bowen (3/5) 17,21216 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersDairy Farmers Stadium18 – 38 Paterson (2), Tonga (2) Bowen (1/4) 12,88023 JulyRound 20 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park28 – 20 Graham (2), Cooper, Tate, Tonga Bowen (4/5) 15,74130 JulyRound 21 Penrith PanthersDairy Farmers Stadium30 – 18 Segeyaro (2), Graham, A Sims, Tate, Thompson Bowen (2/4), Paterson (0/2) 12,3495 AugustRound 22 Canterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium6 – 14 Tate Bowen (1/1) 8,65412 AugustRound 23 Brisbane BroncosDairy Farmers Stadium16 – 34 Bowen, Faifai Loa, Tate Thurston (2/3) 26,46319 AugustRound 24 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium24 – 26 Bowen, T Sims, Thurston, Tonga Thurston (4/5) 11,20827 AugustRound 25 Cronulla SharksDairy Farmers Stadium28 – 20 Taumalolo (2), Bowen, Graham, Hall Thurston (4/5) 12,6553 SeptemberRound 26 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium6 – 18 Faifai Loa Thurston (1/1) 20,802 Legend:
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance3 SeptemberQualifying Final Manly Sea EaglesSFS8 – 32 Tonga Thurston (2/2) 13,972 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts1----151--41----21--4151--425812-562461-262210--402512--48235--2024----83--124----73--12232--841--422----195--20241--4205--20232--894--1632--8251--4191061-1622010--4093--1292--8 Totals 98 74 - 540 Source:
Representatives The following players have played a representative match in 2011
All Stars match ANZAC Test State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII World Cup Qualifiers Four NationsMatthew Bowen Kalifa Faifai Loa Joel Riethmuller Matthew Scott James Segeyaro Ray Thompson Johnathan Thurston Willie Tonga
Honours
League Golden Boot: Johnathan Thurston Dally M Prop of the Year: Matthew Scott RLIF Prop of the Year: Matthew Scott RLPA NYC Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo NYC Team of the Year: Kyle Feldt, Jason Taumalolo
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Ashley Graham Player's Player: Johnathan Thurston Club Person of the Year: Gavin Cooper Rookie of the Year: Tariq Sims Most Improved: Ray Thompson NYC Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo
Feeder Clubs
National Youth Competition North Queensland Cowboys - 2nd, Runners-up
Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters - 11th, missed finals Northern Pride - 2nd, Lost Semi Final
References