The 2022 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 28th in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend, they competed in the NRL's 2022 Telstra Premiership.
The Cowboys returned to the finals after four seasons in the bottom four, finishing one game short of the Grand Final. They finished the regular season in the third position and won 17 games, their equal-highest ever (along with 2015).
Season summary
Milestones Round 1: Peta Hiku, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Chad Townsend made their debuts for the club. Round 1: Tom Gilbert scored his first NRL try. Round 2: Mitchell Dunn played his 50th NRL game for the club. Round 3: Reece Robson played his 50th NRL game. Round 3: Griffin Neame scored his first NRL try. Round 10: Reuben Cotter scored his first NRL try. Round 10: Peta Hiku scored his first try for the club. Round 11: Tom Dearden played his 50th NRL game. Round 13: Brendan Elliot made his debut for the club. Round 16: Luciano Leilua made his debut for the club. Round 16: Luciano Leilua played his 100th NRL game. Round 18: Tom Chester made his NRL debut. Round 21: Valentine Holmes played his 50th NRL game for the club. Round 21: Luciano Leilua and Chad Townsend scored their first tries for the club.
Squad
Squad movement
Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesIosefo Baleiwairiki Fiji Rugby SevensBrendan Elliot Leigh CenturionsBrendan Frei Norths Devils (mid-season)Peta Hiku New Zealand WarriorsLuciano Leilua Wests Tigers (mid-season)Taniela Sadrugu Fiji Rugby SevensGehamat Shibasaki Green Rockets Tokatsu (mid-season)Jamayne Taunoa-Brown New Zealand WarriorsChad Townsend New Zealand Warriors
Losses Player Signed to Until end of NotesDaejarn Asi New Zealand Warriors (mid-season)Javid BowenRetiredLachlan BurrRetiredPeter Hola Canberra RaidersFrancis Molo St. George Illawarra DragonsCorey Jensen Brisbane BroncosShane Wright Salford Red Devils
Re-signings Player Club Until end of NotesScott Drinkwater North Queensland CowboysMitchell Dunn North Queensland CowboysBrendan Elliot North Queensland CowboysJake Granville North Queensland CowboysBen Hampton North Queensland CowboysHeilum Luki North Queensland CowboysJeremiah Nanai North Queensland CowboysGriffin Neame North Queensland CowboysReece Robson North Queensland CowboysTaniela Sadrugu North Queensland CowboysMurray Taulagi North Queensland Cowboys
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 19 FebruaryTrial 1 South Sydney RabbitohsBarlow Park24 – 12Bourke, Z. Laybutt, Lipp, NikoAsi (4/4) 7,128Saturday, 26 FebruaryTrial 2 Brisbane BroncosBB Print Stadium26 – 6Taulagi (2), Holmes, Tabuai-FidowHolmes (4/4), Drinkwater (1/1)4,545 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 13 MarchRound 1 Canterbury BulldogsQueensland Country Bank Stadium4 – 6GilbertHolmes (0/1)12,640Saturday, 19 MarchRound 2 Canberra RaidersQueensland Country Bank Stadium26 – 6Feldt, Nanai, Tabuai-Fidow, TaulagiHolmes (5/6)13,864Sunday, 27 MarchRound 3 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium38 – 12Nanai (3), Dearden, Holmes, NeameHolmes (7/7)37,761Saturday, 2 AprilRound 4 Sydney RoostersQueensland Country Bank Stadium4 – 28TaulagiHolmes (0/1)17,929Friday, 8 AprilRound 5 New Zealand WarriorsMoreton Daily Stadium24 – 25Dearden, Drinkwater, Feldt, HolmesHolmes (4/6)6,254Thursday, 14 AprilRound 6 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium18 – 12Holmes, Luki, NanaiHolmes (3/3)11,854Saturday, 23 AprilRound 7 Gold Coast TitansQueensland Country Bank Stadium30 – 4Dearden, Drinkwater, Luki, Nanai, TaulagiHolmes (5/6)14,547Saturday, 30 AprilRound 8 Parramatta EelsTIO Stadium35 – 4Feldt (3), Dearden, Drinkwater, Tabuai-FidowHolmes (5/7, 1 FG)10,017Saturday, 7 MayRound 9 Newcastle KnightsQueensland Country Bank Stadium36 – 16Dearden, Feldt, Holmes, Luki, Nanai, TaulagiHolmes (6/6)14,463Sunday, 15 MayRound 10 Wests TigersSuncorp Stadium36 – 12Taulagi (2), Cotter, Drinkwater, Feldt, Hiku, NanaiHolmes (4/7)43,401 Saturday, 21 MayRound 11 Melbourne StormQueensland Country Bank Stadium36 – 6Nanai (2), Drinkwater, Gilbert, Robson, TaulagiHolmes (6/6)22,728Friday, 27 MayRound 12 Penrith PanthersBlueBet Stadium0 – 22 17,125Thursday, 2 JuneRound 13 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium32 – 6Tabuai-Fidow (2), Hiku, Luki, Robson, TaulagiDrinkwater (4/6) 10,334Friday, 10 JuneRound 14 St. George Illawarra DragonsQueensland Country Bank Stadium31 – 12Drinkwater, Hiku, Lemuelu, Robson, TaulagiHolmes (5/6), Townsend (FG) 14,683Friday, 17 JuneRound 15 Manly Sea Eagles4 Pines Park28 – 26Holmes (2), Lemuelu, Nanai, RobsonHolmes (4/5) 9,226Saturday, 2 JulyRound 16 Brisbane BroncosQueensland Country Bank Stadium40 – 26Taulagi (2), Feldt, Nanai, Neame, RobsonHolmes (8/8)23,351Round 17ByeFriday, 15 JulyRound 18 Cronulla SharksQueensland Country Bank Stadium 12 – 26Feldt, Tabuai-FidowTownsend (2/2)15,982Sunday, 24 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersQueensland Country Bank Stadium27 – 26Nanai (2), Dearden, HolmesHolmes (5/5, 1 FG)14,910Sunday, 31 JulyRound 20 St. George Illawarra DragonsNetstrata Jubilee Stadium34 – 8Drinkwater (2), Nanai (2), Feldt, NeameHolmes (5/6) 9,517Saturday, 7 AugustRound 21 Canterbury BulldogsSalter Oval28 – 14Drinkwater (2), Leilua, Neame, TownsendHolmes (4/6) 8,521Saturday, 13 AugustRound 22 Sydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground18 – 32Robson, Tabuai-Fidow, TaulagiHolmes (3/3)15,219 Friday, 19 AugustRound 23 New Zealand WarriorsQueensland Country Bank Stadium48 – 4Dearden (2), Hess, Hiku, Leilua, Nanai, Taulagi, TownsendHolmes (8/9) 17,404Saturday, 27 AugustRound 24 South Sydney RabbitohsStadium Australia10 – 20Feldt, Taulagi Holmes (1/2)15,264 Saturday, 3 SeptemberRound 25 Penrith PanthersQueensland Country Bank Stadium38 – 8Holmes (3), Drinkwater, Robson, Tabuai-Fidow, TaulagiHolmes (3/5), Townsend (2/2)23,840 Legend:
Finals Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSunday, 10 SeptemberQualifying Cronulla SharksPointsBet Stadium32 – 30Dearden, Tom Gilbert, Hiku, Taulagi, Taumalolo Holmes (5/6, 1 FG)12,447Friday, September 23Preliminary Parramatta EelsQueensland Country Bank Stadium20 – 24Cotter, Leilua, TaulagiHolmes (4/5)25,372 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts1– – – -182 – – 8239 – – 3622114 – 522 – – – -3 – – – -2011 – – 44243 – – 1214 – – – -231 – – 4265 – – 2024101003244113 – – 1242 – – 8144 – – 1622 – – – -2317 – – 68234 – – 16267 – – 28237 – – 282517 – – 68251 – – 416 – – – -2624117 Totals 116 108 4 685
Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2022.
All Stars match State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Pacific Tests Rugby League World CupReuben Cotter Tom Dearden Robert Derby Peta Hiku Valentine Holmes Jeremiah Nanai Taniela Sadrugu Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Murray Taulagi Jason Taumalolo Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Honours
League Dally M Coach of the Year: Todd Payten Dally M Centre of the Year: Valentine Holmes Dally M Second Rower of the Year: Jeremiah Nanai Dally M Rookie of the Year: Jeremiah Nanai Dally M Try of the Year: Scott Drinkwater
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Jason Taumalolo Players' Player: Tom Dearden The Cowboys Way Award: Tom Dearden Rookie of the Year: Jeremiah Nanai JCU Education Award: Scott Drinkwater Young Guns Cowboys Way Award: Robert Derby Club Person of the Year: Tom Gilbert Member's Player of the Year: Jeremiah Nanai
Feeder clubs
Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters – 11th, missed finals Northern Pride – 8th, lost elimination final Townsville Blackhawks – 10th, missed finals
Women's team
QRL Women's Premiership North Queensland Gold Stars – 3rd, Premiers
References