2010 North Queensland Cowboys season

The 2010 North Queensland Cowboys season is the 16th season in the club's history. Coached by Neil Henry and captained by Johnathan Thurston, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2010 Telstra Premiership, finishing 15th (out of 16) and failing to make the finals for the 3rd consecutive year. Matthew Scott was named the club's player of the year.

Season summary

Prior to the kick-off of the Telstra Premiership, the media's attention surrounded the Cowboys' signing of ex-Kangaroo forward, Willie Mason on a one-year deal. He left the club at season's end.

2010 resulted in a very poor season for the Cowboys who recorded just five wins from a possible 24 matches (although four of those were against teams who participated in the finals during the year) and, had the Melbourne Storm not been deducted premiership points for their salary cap breach earlier this year, would have received the wooden spoon. The Cowboys finished 15th of 16. Highlights during the season though included a near-comeback against the Brisbane Broncos in the first round coupled with a 32-18 win against the Gold Coast Titans at home (their first ever) and Matt Bowen's comeback from a long injury lay-off.

The Cowboys' season of unrelenting disappointment only got worse when captain Johnathan Thurston was arrested in Brisbane for drunk, disorderly behaviour during the off-season. His captaincy role at the Cowboys was under review, but no further action was taken. Furthermore, CEO Peter Parr was punted from his role and relegated to football operations manager.

North Queensland have been bolstered for the 2011 season by signing Queensland players Dallas Johnson and Brent Tate as well as Brisbane Broncos pair Antonio Winterstein and Ashton Sims. The Cowboys have however lost Steve Southern to the Newcastle Knights.

Ladder

2010 NRL season
#	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	St. George Illawarra Dragons (P)	24	17	0	7	2	518	299	+219	38
2	Penrith Panthers	24	15	0	9	2	645	489	+156	34
3	Wests Tigers	24	15	0	9	2	537	503	+34	34
4	Gold Coast Titans	24	15	0	9	2	520	498	+22	34
5	New Zealand Warriors	24	14	0	10	2	539	486	+53	32
6	Sydney Roosters	24	14	0	10	2	559	510	+49	32
7	Canberra Raiders	24	13	0	11	2	499	493	+6	30
8	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	24	12	0	12	2	545	510	+35	28
9	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	11	0	13	2	584	567	+17	26
10	Brisbane Broncos	24	11	0	13	2	508	535	−27	26
11	Newcastle Knights	24	10	0	14	2	499	569	−70	24
12	Parramatta Eels	24	10	0	14	2	413	491	−78	24
13	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	9	0	15	2	494	539	−45	22
14	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	7	0	17	2	354	609	−255	18
15	File:North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys	24	5	0	19	2	425	667	−242	14
16	Melbourne Storm	24	14	0	10	2	489	363	+126	01

¹ Melbourne were deducted eight premiership points and barred from receiving premiership points for the rest of the season due to gross long-term salary cap breaches.

Players

Squad

Although other players may play for the North Queensland Cowboys during the year, all NRL clubs are required to select a top 25 First Grade squad at the beginning of the season.

No. Position Player SR Mitchell Achurch PR Isaak Ah Mau PR Leeson Ah Mau HK Clint Amos WG Michael Bani SR Scott Bolton CE Brandon Boor FB Matthew Bowen FB Shannon Gallant WG Obe Geia WG Ashley Graham CE Ben Harris LF Dane Hogan SR Antonio Kaufusi'*' WG Donald Malone FE Manase Manuokafoa'*'

No. Position Player PR Willie Mason LK Luke O'Donnell HK Aaron Payne (vc) SR Steve Rapira HB Grant Rovelli PR Matthew Scott LK Nick Slyney SR Steve Southern SR James Tamou HB Johnathan Thurston (c) SR Willie Tonga WG Will Tupou HK Anthony Watts SR Carl Webb CE John Williams CE Ty Williams

Players who have also played this season who weren't in the squad named at the start of the year.

• Ray Thompson
• Michael Morgan
• Arana Taumata
• Jason Taumalolo

• Note '*': Have left the club since then.

Player Movement

Squad changes from 2009 season.

Gains

Name	From	Details
Shannon Gallant	Wests Tigers	2010–2011
Leeson Ah Mau	New Zealand Warriors	2010–2011
Isaak Ah Mau	Easts Tigers	2010 - 2010
Will Tupou	Brisbane Broncos	2010 - 2010
Willie Mason	Sydney Roosters	2010 - 2010

Losses

Name	Club Going To	Details
Shane Tronc	Brisbane Broncos	2010–2011
Travis Burns	Penrith Panthers	2010–2011
Matthew Bartlett	Released
Shannon Hegarty	Retried
Anthony Perkins	Released
Dayne Weston	Released

Shane Tronc originally signed with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Mid Season Transfers

Gains

Name	From	Details
Arana Taumata	Wests Tigers	Rest of 2010 - 2011

Losses

Name	Club Going To	Details
Antonio Kaufusi	Newcastle Knights	Rest of 2010 - 2012
Manase Manuokafoa	Parramatta Eels	Rest of 2010 - 2011

Fixtures & Results

Trial matches

Trial Match 12 February 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	4-28	Wests Tigers
Tries: Manuokafoa (1)	Report	Tries: Flanagan (2) Mullaney (1) Moors (1) Davis (1) Goals: Mullaney (4/5)

West Tigers Park, Walkerston Attendance: Approx 5000

Trial Match 20 February 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	6	New Zealand Warriors
Tries: Geia (1) Goals J.Williams (1/1)		Tries: Hohaia (2) Heremaia (1) Ah Van (1) Tupou (1) Goals: Seymour (1/1) Locke (1/1) Packer (1/1) Johnson (1/2)

Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: Approx 8000

Trial Match 27 February 2009

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	22-4	Gold Coast Titans
Tries: O'Donnell (2) Bani (1) J.Williams (1) Goals:J.Williams (2) Thurston (1)	Report	Tries: Gordon

Richardson Park, Darwin Attendance: 9879

Telstra Premiership

Round 1 12 March 2010

Brisbane Broncos	30-24	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Folau Lockyer Gillett Glenn Kemp Goals: Parker (5/5)	Report	Tries: T.Williams Graham Tonga Thurston Goals: Thurston (4/4)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland Attendance: 48516 Referee/s: Jared Maxwell & Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Corey Norman

Round 2 20 March 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	28-20	Penrith Panthers
Tries: Bolton (2) Tonga Bani Goals: Thurston (6/6)	Report	Tries: Lewis Walsh Coote Goals: Gordon (4/4)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville, Queensland Attendance: 13,339 Referee/s: Ben Cummins & Chris James

Round 3 26 March 2010

St. George Illawarra Dragons	33-8	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Morris (2) Nightingale (2) Cooper Ben Creagh Goals: Soward (4/7) Field Goals: Soward		Tries: Graham Goals: Thurston (2/2)

WIN Stadium, Wollongong Attendance: 13,267 referee= Jared Maxwell & Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Ben Creagh

Round 4 3 April 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	32-18	Gold Coast Titans
Tries: Tonga (3) O'Donnell Thurston Goals: Thurston (6/6)	Report	Tries: Minichiello (2) Tagataese Goals: Rogers (3/3)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 16,551 Referee/s: Steve Lyons & Alan Shortall

Round 5 10 April 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	16-23	Wests Tigers
Tries: Bolton Tonga Watts Goals: Thurston (1/1) J. Williams (1/3)	Report	Tries: Lawrence (2) Tuqiri Heighington Goals: Marshall (3/5) Field Goals: Marshall

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 16,273 Referee/s: Gavin Badger & Brett Suttor

Round 6 17 April 2010

Newcastle Knights	36-18	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Vuna (3) Ciraldo Lulia Paterson De Gois Goals: Gidley (4/7)	Report	Tries: Gallant J. Williams Graham Goals: J. Williams (3/3)

Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle Attendance: 14,205 Referee/s: Ashley Klein & Chris James

Round 7 23 April 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	18-24	Parramatta Eels
Tries: Bolton Graham Tonga Goals: Thurston (3/3)	Report	Tries: Tahu (2) B. Smith Inu Goals: Burt (4/4)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 11,335 Referee/s: Jason Robinson & Tony De Las Heras Man of the Match: Fui Fui Moi Moi

Round 8 1 May 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	6-34	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Bolton Goals: Graham (1/1)	Report	Tries: Norrie Duffie Inglis Quinn Lima Finch Neilson Goals: C. Smith (3/6) Inglis (0/1)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 19,853 Referee/s: Gavin Badger & Gerard Sutton

Round 9 10 May 2010

Sydney Roosters	14-32	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Kouparitsas Carney Graham Goals: Carney (1/3)	Report	Tries: Bani (2) Bowen J. Williams Tonga Watts Goals: J. Williams (3/5) Graham (1/1)

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 6,478 Referee/s: Jason Robinson & Ashley Klein

Round 10 14 May 2010

New Zealand Warriors	24-12	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Ta'ai Brown Henderson Locke Goals: Maloney (4/5)	Report	Tries: Bolton Bani Goals: Thurston (2/2)

Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Attendance: 10,802 Referee/s: Ashley Klein & Gerard Sutton

Round 11 BYE

	v

Round 12 29 May 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	20-24	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Tries: Graham (2) Tupou O'Donnell Goals: Thurston (2/4)	Report	Tries: Whare (3) Robertson Goals: Lyon (4/4)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 13,538 Referee/s: Jason Robinson & Alan Shortall

Round 13 7 June 2010

South Sydney Rabbitohs	32-4	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Champion (2) Merritt (2) Taylor Talanoa Luke Goals: Luke (1/6) Sandow (1/1)	Report	Tries: Ashley Graham Goals: Thurston (0/1)

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 9,688 Referee/s: Steve Lyons & Matt Cecchin

Round 14 12 June 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	16-8	Canberra Raiders
Tries: Morgan (2) Goals: J. Williams (4/4)	Report	Tries: Vidot McCrone Goals: Campese (0/2)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 12,055 Referee/s: Matt Cecchin & Gerard Sutton

Round 15 19 June 2010

Melbourne Storm	58-12	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: O'Neill (3) Duffie (2) Slater (2) Inglis Lima Cronk Goals: Smith (5/6) Inglis (3/3) Finch (1/1)	Report	Tries: Tamou Gallant Goals: Thurston (2/2)

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 10,661 Referee/s: Ben Cummins & Bernard Sutton

Round 16 26 June 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	19-20	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tries: Mason Scott Webb Goals: Thurston (3/4) Field Goals: Thurston	Report	Tries: Pomeroy Gordon Gardner Aiton Goals: Gardner (1/4) Field Goals: Morris Barrett

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 13,063 Referee/s: Gavin Badger & Brett Suttor

Round 17 BYE

	v

Round 18 12 July 2010

Parramatta Eels	36-24	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Hayne (3) Robson Inu Reddy Goals: Burt (6/6)	Report	Tries: Tonga (2) Taumata Tupou Goals: Thurston (4/4)

Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 11,177 Referee/s: Jared Maxwell & Ashley Klein

Round 19 19 July 2010

Wests Tigers	26-16	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Tuqiri (2) Brown Ayshford Fulton Marshall Goals: Marshall (1/6)	Report	Tries: Graham Harris Taumata Goals: Thurston (2/3)

Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Attendance: 11,364 Referee/s: Shayne Hayne & Matt Cecchin

Round 20 24 July 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	28-24	Newcastle Knights
Tries: O'Donnell (2) Watts Tonga Tupou Goals: Thurston (4/5)	Report	Tries: Uate (2) Rogers Vuna Goals: Gidley (4/5)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 12,146 Referee/s: Steve Lyons & Chris James

Round 21 30 July 2010

Penrith Panthers	24-16	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Gordon (2) Tighe Kingston Goals: Michael Gordon (4/5)		Tries: Graham (2) Tonga Tupou Goals: Thurston (2/3)

CUA Stadium, Penrith Attendance: 7,080 Referee/s: Steve Lyons&Tony De Las Heras Man of the Match: Kevin Kingston

Round 22 6 August 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	26-34	Brisbane Broncos
Tries: T. Williams Bolton L. Ah Mau Hogan Goals: Ashley Graham (5/5)	Report	Tries: Gillett (2) Folau (2) Lockyer Yow Yeh Goals: Corey Parker (5/6) Wallace (0/1)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 20,148 Referee/s: Ben Cummins & Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Matt Gillett

Round 23 14 August 2010

Gold Coast Titans	37-18	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Michaels (2) Prince Friend Bailey Minichiello Goals: Prince (6/6) Field Goals: Prince	Report	Tries: T. Williams (2) Watts Goals: J. Williams (3/3)

Skilled Park, Gold Coast Attendance: 14,032 Referee/s: Jason Robinson & Ashley Klein

Round 24 21 August 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	20-22	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Tries: T. Williams (2) J. Williams Rovelli Goals: J. Williams (2/4)	Report	Tries: Idris Ennis Turner Morris Goals: Goodwin (3/4)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 11,742 Referee/s: Jason Robinson & Gavin Reynolds

Round 25 28 August 2010

Canberra Raiders	48-4	16px North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Robinson (4) Dugan (2) Buttriss McCrone Shillington Goals: Croker (6/9)	Report	Tries: Bani Goals: Williams (0/1)

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Referee/s: Ashley Klein & Brett Suttor

Round 26 4 September 2010

North Queensland Cowboys 16px	8-18	Sydney Roosters
Tries: Bowen T. Williams Goals: J. Williams (0/1) Graham	Report	Tries: Kenny-Dowall (2) Pearce Goals: Carney

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Referee/s: Steve Lyons & Brett Suttor

Statistics

Updated: 9 September 2010

Name	P	T	G	FG	Pts
Isaak Ah Mau	0 (4)	0	0	0	0
Leeson Ah Mau	13 (5)	1	0	0	4
Clint Amos	2 (3)	0	0	0	0
Michael Bani	9 (0)	5	0	0	20
Scott Bolton	24 (0)	7	0	0	28
Matthew Bowen	16 (0)	2	0	0	8
Shannon Gallant	9 (0)	2	0	0	8
Ashley Graham	24 (0)	9	7/8	0	50
Ben Harris	6 (3)	1	0	0	4
Dane Hogan	2 (8)	1	0	0	4
Antonio Kaufusi	10 (1)	0	0	0	0
Manase Manuokafoa	0 (4)	0	0	0	0
Willie Mason	14 (10)	1	0	0	4
Michael Morgan	4 (0)	2	0	0	8
Luke O'Donnell	13 (0)	4	0	0	16
Aaron Payne	21 (0)	0	0	0	0
Steve Rapira	8 (2)	0	0	0	0
Grant Rovelli	12 (1)	1	0	0	4
Nick Slyney	0 (3)	0	0	0	0
Matthew Scott	22 (1)	1	0	0	4
Steve Southern	1 (4)	0	0	0	0
James Tamou	2 (17)	1	0	0	4
Jason Taumalolo	0 (1)	0	0	0	0
Arana Taumata	6 (1)	2	0	0	8
Ray Thompson	4 (0)	0	0	0	0
Johnathan Thurston	17 (0)	2	42/47	1	93
Willie Tonga	21 (0)	12	0	0	48
Will Tupou	12 (0)	4	0	0	16
Anthony Watts	3 (18)	4	0	0	16
Carl Webb	9 (9)	1	0	0	4
John Williams	17 (0)	3	16/23	0	44
Ty Williams	11 (0)	7	0	0	28
Total	312 (96)	74	66/82	1	425

• Appearances in brackets () denote games off interchange/repl bench
• Key: P = Played, T = Tries, G = Goals, FG = Field Goals, Pts = Points

Representative Honours

The following players have played a representative match during the 2010 NRL Season.

NRL All Stars

• Luke O'Donnell

Indigenous All Stars

• Johnathan Thurston
• Carl Webb
• Ty Williams

City Origin

• Luke O'Donnell

Country Origin

• Willie Mason

Queensland Origin

• Matthew Scott
• Johnathan Thurston
• Willie Tonga

New South Wales Origin

• Luke O'Donnell

Australia train-on Squad

• Matthew Scott
• Willie Tonga

Prime Minister's XIII

• Matthew Bowen
• Willie Tonga

New Zealand Maori

• James Tamou
• Arana Taumata

Australia

• Matt Scott
• Willie Tonga