The 2013 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 19th in the club's history. Coached by Neil Henry and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2013 Telstra Premiership. The Cowboys finished the season in 8th place and were knocked out in the first week of the finals by the Cronulla Sharks.
Season summary The Cowboys entered the 2013 NRL season with high expectations and without their long time hooker and club legend Aaron Payne, who retired at the end of 2012. The side won their Round 1 game against the Canterbury Bulldogs but would only win five of their next 19 games, leaving them sitting in 15th place after 20 rounds. Tragedy struck the club on 29 April, when talented rookie Alex Elisala died at age 20. The Cowboys defeated the Parramatta Eels five days later, dedicating the game and the rest of the season to Elisala.
On 29 July, coach Neil Henry had his contract terminated after re-signing until the end of 2014 in March. Henry stayed on as head coach until the end of 2013, as the Cowboys went on a six-game winning streak to finish in 8th place and qualify for the finals series. They were defeated 20–18 by the Cronulla Sharks in week 1 of the finals, in a game in which the Sharks scored a try on the 7th tackle of a set.
On 1 October the club appointed former player Paul Green as their head coach for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
At the end of the season, the Cowboys' had 13 players selected for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
Milestones Round 1: Ashton Sims played his 50th game for the club. Round 1: Rory Kostjasyn and Scott Moore made their debuts for the club. Round 2: Ray Thompson played his 50th game for the club. Round 3: Ashley Graham played his 150th game for the club. Round 3: Johnathan Thurston played his 200th NRL game. Round 4: Glenn Hall played his 50th game for the club. Round 6: Clint Greenshields made his debut for the club. Round 7: Brent Tate played his 200th NRL game. Round 9: Matthew Scott played his 150th game for the club. Round 10: Glenn Hall played his 150th NRL game. Round 12: Ethan Lowe made his NRL debut. Round 17: Antonio Winterstein played his 50th game for the club. Round 17: Scott Bolton played his 100th game for the club. Round 21: Kyle Feldt made his NRL debut. Round 21: Ashton Sims played his 200th NRL game. Round 22: Brent Tate played his 50th game for the club. Round 24: Wayne Ulugia made his NRL debut. Round 25: Jayden Hodges made his NRL debut. Finals Week 1: Tariq Sims played his 50th game for the club. Finals Week 1: James Tamou played his 100th NRL game.
Squad List
Squad Movement
2013 Gains Player Signed from Until end of Clint Greenshields Catalans Dragons Rory Kostjasyn Melbourne Storm Ethan Lowe Northern Pride Scott Moore Huddersfield Giants Curtis Rona Sydney Roosters
2013 Losses Player Signed To Until end of Luke HarlenReleased Dane Hogan Easts Tigers Ben Jones Newtown Jets Aaron PayneRetired Cory Paterson Hull Kingston Rovers Mosese Pangai Penrith Panthers James Segeyaro Penrith Panthers
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance9 FebruaryTrial 1 Brisbane BroncosAlex Inch Oval28 – 24Leary, Morgan, Munns, Thorby, UlugiaFeldt (2), Faifai Loa (1), Lowe (1)4,00016 FebruaryTrial 2 St George Illawarra DragonsBarlow Park28 – 22 J Bowen, Greenshields, Morgan, Riethmuller, Taumalolo Morgan (3), Feldt (1) -23 FebruaryTrial 3 Gold Coast TitansVirgin Australia Stadium10 – 28 Faifai Loa, A Sims Lui (1) - Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance25 MarchRound 1 Canterbury BulldogsCentral Coast Stadium24 – 12 Graham (2), Cooper, Winterstein Thurston (4/6) 11,62716 MarchRound 2 Melbourne Storm1300SMILES Stadium10 – 32 Graham, Linnett Thurston (1/2) 19,28825 MarchRound 3 Newcastle KnightsHunter Stadium6 – 34 Cooper Thurston (1/1) 15,7581 AprilRound 4 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium18 – 20 Faifai Loa, Tate, Winterstein Thurston (3/4) 10,5725 AprilRound 5 Penrith Panthers1300SMILES Stadium30 – 0 Linnett (2), Faifai Loa, Lui, Winterstein Thurston (5/6) 12,34112 AprilRound 6 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium10 – 12 Graham, Greenshields Thurston (1/2) 42,55627 AprilRound 7 Canberra Raiders1300SMILES Stadium30 – 12 Bowen, Graham, Hall, Morgan, Tate Thurston (5/7) 13,2404 MayRound 8 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium14 – 10 Graham, Tate, Winterstein Thurston (1/3) 9,15710 MayRound 9 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium10 – 28 Winterstein (2) Thurston (1/2) 15,97218 MayRound 10 Sydney Roosters1300SMILES Stadium8 – 12 Lui Thurston (2/3) 13,66624 MayRound 11 Wests TigersLeichhardt Stadium20 – 22 Sims (2), Linnett, Winterstein Thurston (2/4) 7,1252 JuneRound 12 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park12 – 31 Graham, Lowe, Winterstein Lui (0/2), Morgan (0/1) 12,7908 JuneRound 13 Canterbury Bulldogs1300SMILES Stadium26 – 36 Greenshields, Johnson, Lui, Tate Lui (5/5) 12,77514 JuneRound 14 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium22 – 16 Greenshields, Linnett, Tate, Winterstein Thurston (3/4) 9,035Round 15Bye30 JuneRound 16 Cronulla Sharks1300SMILES Stadium24 – 4 Linnett, Cooper, Winterstein Thurston (4/5) 14,4347 JulyRound 17 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium18 – 26 Lui, Thurston, Winterstein Thurston (3/3) 10,51515 JulyRound 18 Manly Sea Eagles1300SMILES Stadium14 – 34 Bowen, Morgan Lowe (3/3) 9,029Round 19ByeJuly 26Round 20 Brisbane Broncos1300SMILES Stadium16 – 18 Bowen, Cooper, Faifai Loa Thurston (2/3) 17,7023 AugustRound 21 South Sydney Rabbitohs1300SMILES Stadium30 – 12 Linnett (2), Lui, T Sims, Tate Thurston (5/6) 13,04511 AugustRound 22 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium36 – 4 Thompson (3), Feldt, Tate, Winterstein Thurston (6/6) 6,61117 AugustRound 23 Gold Coast Titans1300SMILES Stadium22 – 10 Feldt (2), Cooper, Hall Thurston (3/4) 12,00324 AugustRound 24 Newcastle Knights1300SMILES Stadium26 – 6 Ulugia (2), Lui, Tate Thurston (5/6) 12,2081 SeptemberRound 25 Cronulla SharksRemondis Stadium31 – 18 Cooper (2), Bowen, T Sims, Tate Thurston (5/6, 1 FG) 15,3137 SeptemberRound 26 Wests Tigers1300SMILES Stadium50 – 22 Ulugia (3), Bowen (2), Lui, Taumalolo, Thurston, Winterstein Thurston (6/7), Bowen (1/2) 19,519 Legend:
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance14 SeptemberQualifying Final Cronulla SharksAllianz Stadium18 – 20 Tate, Taumalolo, Ulugia Thurston (3/4) 32,747 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts18----1961-26227--2873--1233--12147--2863--12252--83----151--420----1----259--36213-101675-384----6----92--812----22----17----234--1622----2310--40142--8193--128----22271115146--242413--52 Totals 91 80 1 525 Source:
Representatives The following players have played a representative match in 2013
All Stars match City vs Country ANZAC Test Polynesian Cup State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII World CupGavin Cooper Alex Elisala Kalifa Faifai Loa Clint Greenshields Rory Kostjasyn Kane Linnett Joel Riethmuller Matthew Scott Ashton Sims Tariq Sims James Tamou Brent Tate Jason Taumalolo Ray Thompson Johnathan Thurston Antonio Winterstein
Honours
League Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year: Johnathan Thurston
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Matthew Scott Player's Player: Matthew Scott Club Person of the Year: Kevin Marty Rookie of the Year: Kyle Feldt Most Improved: Joel Riethmuller NYC Player of the Year: Jayden Hodges
Feeder Clubs
National Youth Competition North Queensland Cowboys - 10th, missed finals
Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters - 2nd, won Grand Final Northern Pride - 1st, lost Preliminary Final
References