The 2019 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 25th in the club's history. Coached by Paul Green and captained by Michael Morgan, they competed in the NRL's 2019 Telstra Premiership. Their first season since 2004 without club legend Johnathan Thurston, who retired at the end of 2018, the side finished 14th and missed the finals for the second straight year.
Season summary
Milestones Round 1: Jordan Kahu, Nene Macdonald, Josh McGuire and Tom Opacic made their debuts for the club. Round 1: Nene Macdonald scored his first try for the club. Round 2: Jordan Kahu scored his first try for the club. Round 4: The club played their 600th game. Round 4: Ben Hampton played his 50th game for the club. Round 4: Jordan McLean played his 100th NRL game. Round 5: Jordan Kahu played his 100th NRL game. Round 5: Kurt Baptiste made his debut for the club. Round 6: Josh McGuire played his 200th NRL game. Round 7: John Asiata played his 100th game for the club. Round 9: Tom Opacic scored his first try for the club. Round 10: Michael Morgan played his 150th game for the club. Round 10: Kyle Feldt played his 100th game for the club. Round 11: Justin O'Neill played his 100th game for the club. Round 13: Reuben Cotter made his NRL debut. Round 13: Francis Molo scored his first try in the NRL. Round 15: Scott Drinkwater made his debut for the club. Round 15: Scott Drinkwater scored his first try for the club. Round 17: Gavin Cooper played his 300th NRL game. Round 17: Jake Clifford scored his first try for the club. Round 18: Murray Taulagi made his NRL debut. Round 18: Paul Green coached his 150th NRL game. Round 21: Peter Hola made his NRL debut. Round 21: Shane Wright scored his first try in the NRL. Round 23: Murray Taulagi scored his first try in the NRL. Round 24: Shane Wright scored the final try at 1300SMILES Stadium.
Squad
Squad movement
Gains Player Signed From Until end of NotesKurt Baptiste Sydney RoostersBen Barba St. HelensScott Drinkwater Melbourne Storm (mid-season)Jordan Kahu Brisbane BroncosNene Macdonald St George Illawarra DragonsJosh McGuire Brisbane BroncosTom Opacic Brisbane BroncosDan Russell Souths Logan Magpies
Losses Player Signed To Until end of NotesBen BarbaReleased (pre-season)Josh Chudleigh Townsville BlackhawksLachlan Coote St. HelensShaun Fensom Brisbane BroncosSam Hoare Townsville BlackhawksShaun Hudson Townsville BlackhawksKyle Laybutt Townsville BlackhawksKane Linnett Hull Kingston RoversEthan Lowe South Sydney RabbitohsNene MacdonaldReleased (mid-season)Johnathan ThurstonRetiredAntonio WintersteinRetired
Re-signings Player Club Until end of Notes Jake Clifford North Queensland CowboysGavin Cooper North Queensland CowboysReuben Cotter North Queensland CowboysMitchell Dunn North Queensland CowboysTom Gilbert North Queensland CowboysBen Hampton North Queensland CowboysPeter Hola North Queensland CowboysCorey Jensen North Queensland CowboysMurray Taulagi North Queensland Cowboys
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 23 FebruaryTrial 1 Gold Coast TitansSunshine Coast Stadium22 – 16Clifford (3), MartinClifford (3/4)10,680Saturday, 2 MarchTrial 2 Melbourne StormBB Print Stadium14 – 6Cooper, Hampton, O'NeillKahu (1/3) 10,000 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 16 MarchRound 1 St George Illawarra Dragons1300SMILES Stadium24 – 12Bowen, Macdonald, Martin, Morgan, O'NeillKahu (2/4), Martin (0/1) 18,415Friday, 22 MarchRound 2 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium10 – 29Kahu, O'NeillKahu (1/2)45,023Saturday, 30 MarchRound 3 Cronulla Sharks1300SMILES Stadium16 –42Cooper, Martin, McLeanKahu (2/3) 11,610Saturday, 6 AprilRound 4 Canberra Raiders1300SMILES Stadium12 – 30Asiata, CooperKahu (2/2)11,750Friday, 12 AprilRound 5 Melbourne Storm1300SMILES Stadium12 – 18Hampton, MartinKahu (2/3)14,130Saturday, 20 AprilRound 6 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium17 – 10Hess, O'NeillKahu (4/4), Morgan (1 FG) 11,395Friday, 26 AprilRound 7 Canterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium12 – 24Hampton, O'NeillKahu (2/3)6,711Friday, 3 MayRound 8 Gold Coast Titans1300SMILES Stadium28 – 14Asiata, Granville, O'Neill, TaumaloloKahu (6/6)10,655Sunday, 12 MayRound 9 South Sydney RabbitohsSuncorp Stadium16 – 32O'Neill (2), OpacicKahu (2/3)34,564 Saturday, 18 MayRound 10 Parramatta Eels1300SMILES Stadium17 – 10Feldt, Opacic, ScottKahu (2/4, 1 FG) 12,493Saturday, 25 MayRound 11 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium22 – 16Feldt, O'Neill, OpacicKahu (5/6)14,647Sunday, 2 JuneRound 12 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium6 – 4TaumaloloKahu (1/1)11,226Saturday, 8 JuneRound 13 Manly Sea Eagles1300SMILES Stadium20 – 22Feldt, Molo, Opacic Clifford (4/4) 13,314Friday, 14 JuneRound 14 Wests Tigers1300SMILES Stadium26 – 27Feldt (2), Bowen, Morgan Clifford (5/6) 11,692Friday, 28 JuneRound 15 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium14 – 22Opacic (2), DrinkwaterKahu (1/3), Clifford (0/1)7,008Round 16ByeSunday, 14 JulyRound 17 Sydney RoostersCentral Coast Stadium15 – 12Asiata, Clifford Clifford (2/2, 1 FG), Kahu (1/2) 14,668Saturday, 20 JulyRound 18 South Sydney Rabbitohs1300SMILES Stadium18 – 30Drinkwater, Feldt, Opacic Clifford (3/6) 16,638 Thursday, 25 JulyRound 19 Cronulla SharksSouthern Cross Group Stadium14 – 16Drinkwater, Molo, Scott Clifford (1/3) 6,144 Thursday, 1 AugustRound 20 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval4 – 24FeldtClifford (0/1) 10,016Thursday, 8 AugustRound 21 Brisbane Broncos1300SMILES Stadium14 – 18Clifford, WrightClifford (3/3) 17,530Saturday, 17 AugustRound 22 Newcastle KnightsMcDonald Jones Stadium6 – 42CliffordKahu (1/1) 16,752Friday, 23 AugustRound 23 Penrith Panthers1300SMILES Stadium24 – 10Feldt (2), Taulagi, Taumalolo Kahu (4/4) 10,523Thursday, 29 AugustRound 24 Canterbury Bulldogs1300SMILES Stadium15 – 8Feldt, WrightKahu (2/2, 1 FG), Bolton (1/1) 15,141 Friday, 6 SeptemberRound 25 Melbourne StormAAMI Park16 – 24Cooper, Feldt, TaulagiFeldt (2/2), Kahu (0/1) 12,085 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts243--129----18-1-272--815318149243--125----103--129----16112-483----241--482--8221--45----6----1914028651--473--1217----221--4242--8202-1988--32197--28172--862--8183--127----142--8 Totals 63 61 4 378
Representatives The following players have played a representative match in 2019.
Residents match State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII Oceanic CupJohn Asiata Kurt Baptiste Tom Gilbert Kyle Feldt Corey Jensen Josh McGuire Michael Morgan Daniel Russell Jason Taumalolo
Honours
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Jason Taumalolo Players' Player: Jordan McLean Coach's Award: Francis Molo Member's Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo Club Person of the Year: Ben Hampton Rookie of the Year: Shane Wright Townsville Bulletin Fan's Choice Award: Kyle Feldt
Feeder Clubs
Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters - 11th, missed finals Northern Pride - 12th, missed finals Townsville Blackhawks - 4th, lost preliminary final
References