The 2016 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 22nd in
the club's history and their first as defending premiers. Coached by
Paul Green and co-captained by
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All ...
and
Matthew Scott Matthew or Matt Scott may refer to:
Sports
*Matthew Scott (footballer, born 1867) (1867–1897), English footballer for Sunderland
*Matthew Scott (footballer, born 1872) (1872–?), Scottish footballer (Airdrieonians FC and Scotland)
*Matthew Scott ...
, they competed in the
NRL
The National Rugby League (also known as the NRL Telstra Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is a professional rugby league competition in Oceania which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria (state), Victoria, the Austral ...
's
2016 Telstra Premiership. In the pre-season the Cowboys competed in the
2016 Auckland Nines
The 2016 NRL Auckland Nines (known as the Downer Group, Downer NRL Auckland Nines due to sponsorship) was the third NRL Auckland Nines competition. It was held on 6–7 February 2016 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. As with previous tourna ...
tournament, reaching the quarter-finals. The team finished the regular season in 4th, losing in the preliminary final to the eventual premiers, the
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the Sutherland Shire of Southern Sydney, New South Wales. Cronulla compete in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australasia's premier rugby league compet ...
.
Season summary
Milestones
* Round 1:
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All ...
scored his 1,800th point in the NRL.
* Round 3:
Lachlan Coote
Lachlan Coote (born 6 April 1990) is a former Australian rugby league footballer who last played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
Coote previously played in the National Rugby League for the Penrith Panthers and the North Queens ...
scored his 50th try in the NRL.
* Round 5:
Javid Bowen
Javid Bowen (born 30 March 1993) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and er for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL.
Background
Born in Cairns, Queensland, Bowen is of Indigenous Australian and M ...
made his NRL debut.
* Round 5:
James Tamou played his 150th game for the club.
* Round 5:
Javid Bowen
Javid Bowen (born 30 March 1993) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and er for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL.
Background
Born in Cairns, Queensland, Bowen is of Indigenous Australian and M ...
scored his first NRL try.
* Round 7:
Justin O'Neill
Justin O'Neill (born 4 April 1991) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL and Australia at international level.
He represented the NRL All Stars ...
played his 100th NRL game.
* Round 7:
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All ...
scored his 1,000th point at
1300SMILES Stadium
The Willows Sports Complex (last known as 1300SMILES Stadium due to naming rights) was a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was used predominantly as a rugby league ground as the home ground of the North Que ...
.
* Round 9:
Kane Linnett
Kane Linnett (born 11 January 1989) is a retired Scotland international rugby league footballer, who plays as a or forward for Sarina Crocodiles in the Mackay & District Rugby League.
He has previously played for the Sydney Roosters and th ...
scored his 50th NRL try.
* Round 10:
Ethan Lowe
Ethan Lowe (born 20 March 1991) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal kicking for the North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Lowe was a member of the North Queensland Cowbo ...
played his 50th game for the club.
* Round 11:
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All ...
played his 250th game for the club.
* Round 12:
Jahrome Hughes
Jahrome Hughes (born 8 October 1994) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League, the New Zealand Māori and New Zealand at international level. He is an NRL premie ...
made his debut for the club.
* Round 12:
Jahrome Hughes
Jahrome Hughes (born 8 October 1994) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League, the New Zealand Māori and New Zealand at international level. He is an NRL premie ...
scored his first NRL try.
* Round 13:
Ray Thompson played his 100th game for the club.
* Round 13:
Gavin Cooper
Gavin Cooper (born 19 August 1985) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a for the North Queensland Cowboys, Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
He started in the second row in the Cowboys' ...
scored his 50th try for the club.
* Round 14:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
played his 100th game for the club.
* Round 17:
Gavin Cooper
Gavin Cooper (born 19 August 1985) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a for the North Queensland Cowboys, Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
He started in the second row in the Cowboys' ...
played his 150th game for the club.
* Round 18:
Josh Chudleigh made his NRL debut.
* Round 18:
Josh Chudleigh scored his first NRL try.
* Round 26:
Lachlan Coote
Lachlan Coote (born 6 April 1990) is a former Australian rugby league footballer who last played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
Coote previously played in the National Rugby League for the Penrith Panthers and the North Queens ...
and
Jake Granville played their 50th games for the club.
* Finals Week 1:
Ben Hannant
Benjamin Hannant (born 31 December 1984), also known by the nickname of "Polar Bear", is a former Australian rugby league footballer and boxer.
A Queensland rugby league team, Queensland State of Origin series, State of Origin and Australia na ...
played his 50th game for the club.
* Finals Week 2:
Justin O'Neill
Justin O'Neill (born 4 April 1991) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL and Australia at international level.
He represented the NRL All Stars ...
played his 50th game for the club.
* Finals Week 2:
Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga (born 30 March 1998) is a professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League and Queensland rugby league team, Queensland in the State of Origin series. He is the ...
made his NRL debut.
* Finals Week 2:
Michael Morgan played his 100th game for the club.
* Finals Week 3:
John Asiata
Atalani "John" Asiata (born 19 April 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer, who plays as a and for Hull FC in the Super League.
He has also played for both Samoa and Tonga at international level.
He previously played for the Bris ...
played his 50th game for the club.
Squad List
Squad Movement
Gains
Losses
Re-signings
Ladder
Fixtures
NRL Auckland Nines
The
NRL Auckland Nines
The NRL Nines is a rugby league nines competition, normally held during the NRL preseason each year. It was initially held in Auckland, New Zealand, between 2014 and 2017 before going on hiatus.
Returning in 2020, hosting duties moved to Per ...
is a pre-season
rugby league nines
Rugby league nines (or simply nines) is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played i ...
competition featuring all 16
NRL
The National Rugby League (also known as the NRL Telstra Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is a professional rugby league competition in Oceania which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria (state), Victoria, the Austral ...
clubs. The Cowboys, whose side featured a returning
Matthew Bowen
Matthew Jeremy Bowen (born 9 March 1982) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australia international and Queensland State of Origin representative , he played in the National Rugb ...
, finished first in their pool before being eliminated by the
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm is a rugby league football club based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia that participates in the National Rugby League (NRL). The club plays its home games at AAMI Park, and wears a purple and navy blu ...
in the quarter-finals.
Pool Play
Pre-season
Regular season
Finals
Statistics
Representatives
The following players have played a representative match in 2016.
Honours
League
*
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is awarded each year (annually) to the player voted for as the ' Player of the year' over the National Rugby League (NRL) regular season. The awards are named in honour of Australian former rugby league great Herbert Henry "Da ...
:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
*
Dally M
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. As well as honouring the player of the year, who received the Dally M Medal, awards are also given to the premier player in each position, the be ...
Lock of the Year:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
*
Rugby League Players Association
The Rugby League Players Association is a representative organisation based in Australia. The RLPA, as it is more commonly referred to, is the representative body of elite rugby league players, protecting and promoting the welfare and interests ...
Player of the Year:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
*
NYC
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive wit ...
Team of the Year:
Gideon Gela-Mosby,
Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga (born 30 March 1998) is a professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League and Queensland rugby league team, Queensland in the State of Origin series. He is the ...
,
Brandon Smith
Club
*
Paul Bowman Medal:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
*Players' Player:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
*Member's Player of the Year:
Jason Taumalolo
Vaai Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993), better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Z ...
*Club Person of the Year:
John Asiata
Atalani "John" Asiata (born 19 April 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer, who plays as a and for Hull FC in the Super League.
He has also played for both Samoa and Tonga at international level.
He previously played for the Bris ...
*Most Improved:
Ethan Lowe
Ethan Lowe (born 20 March 1991) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal kicking for the North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Lowe was a member of the North Queensland Cowbo ...
*Rookie of the Year:
Javid Bowen
Javid Bowen (born 30 March 1993) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and er for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL.
Background
Born in Cairns, Queensland, Bowen is of Indigenous Australian and M ...
*NYC Player of the Year:
Brandon Smith
*Townsville Bulletins' Fan Choice Award:
Michael Morgan
Feeder Clubs
National Youth Competition
*
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, the largest city in North Queensland. They compete in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL).
Sinc ...
- 2nd, lost preliminary final
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup, currently known as the Hostplus Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level regional rugby league, rugby league football competition in Queensland, Australia. It is run by the Queensland Rugby League, Queensland Rugby ...
*
Mackay Cutters
The Mackay Cutters are a semi-professional rugby league football club based in Mackay, Queensland. They compete in Queensland's top rugby league competition, the Queensland Cup. The club was admitted to the Queensland Cup in 2007, alongside th ...
- 14th, missed finals
*
Northern Pride - 8th, missed finals
*
Townsville Blackhawks
The Townsville & Districts Blackhawks are an Australian semi-professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Queensland's top rugby league competition, the Queensland Cup. The club was admitted to the Que ...
- 3rd, lost semi final
References
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North Queensland Cowboys seasons
North Queensland Cowboys season