The 2018 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 24th in the club's history. This rugby league team is based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Coached by Paul Green and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2018 Telstra Premiership. The team finished the regular season in 13th position and did not qualify for the finals.
Season summary
Milestones Round 1: Johnathan Thurston played his 300th NRL game. Round 1: Johnathan Thurston played his 271st game for the club, becoming the Cowboys' most capped player. Round 1: Jordan McLean made his debut for the club. Round 2: Antonio Winterstein played his 200th NRL game. Round 2: Jordan McLean scored his first try for the club. Round 7: Ethan Lowe played his 100th NRL game for the club. Round 11: Jason Taumalolo played his 150th NRL game for the club. Round 11: Francis Molo made his debut for the club. Round 13: Mitchell Dunn made his NRL debut. Round 13: Jake Granville played his 100th NRL game. Round 13: Enari Tuala scored his first NRL try. Round 16: Gavin Cooper played his 200th NRL game for the club. Round 19: Jake Clifford made his NRL debut. Round 20: The club won their 250th game. Round 24: Jake Granville played his 100th NRL game for the club. Round 24: Matthew Scott played his 250th game for the club. Round 25: Gavin Cooper scored in his 9th consecutive game, breaking the record set by Frank Burge in 1918 for most consecutive try scoring games by a forward.
Squad
Squad movement
Gains Player Signed From Until End of NotesCarlin Anderson Townsville BlackhawksJordan McLean Melbourne StormFrancis Molo Townsville Blackhawks
Losses Player Signed To Until End of NotesCorey Horsburgh Canberra RaidersMarcus Jensen Townsville BrothersPatrick Kaufusi Melbourne StormBlake Leary Burleigh Bears Patrick Mago Brisbane BroncosKalyn Ponga Newcastle KnightsBen Spina Herbert River CrushersRay ThompsonRetiredBraden Uele Cronulla Sharks
Re-signings Player Club Until End of Notes Jake Clifford North Queensland CowboysJake Granville North Queensland CowboysCoen Hess North Queensland CowboysFrancis Molo North Queensland CowboysMichael Morgan North Queensland CowboysJustin O'Neill North Queensland CowboysEmry Pere North Queensland CowboysShane Wright North Queensland Cowboys
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 17 FebruaryTrial 1 Wests TigersBarlow Park30 – 16 Asiata, Clifford, Hess Clifford (2/2), Lowe (0/1) -Friday, 23 FebruaryTrial 2 Melbourne StormSuncorp Stadium16 – 14 Feldt (3), Thurston Lowe (0/2), Cooper (0/1), Feldt (0/1) 25,000 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceFriday, 9 MarchRound 1 Cronulla Sharks1300SMILES Stadium20 – 14Cooper, Feldt, Hess, O'NeillThurston (2/5)15,900Friday, 16 MarchRound 2 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium 20 – 24Cooper, Granville, McLeanThurston (4/4) 46,080Thursday, 22 MarchRound 3 Melbourne StormAAMI Park14 – 30Hess (2) Thurston (3/3)12,866Thursday, 29 MarchRound 4 Penrith Panthers1300SMILES Stadium14 – 33 Feldt (2), Winterstein Thurston (1/3)11,907Saturday, 7 AprilRound 5 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium12 – 22Feldt, HamptonThurston (2/2)25,600Saturday, 14 AprilRound 6 Canterbury Bulldogs1300SMILES Stadium10 – 27Feldt, HamptonThurston (1/2)14,434Saturday, 21 AprilRound 7 Gold Coast Titans1300SMILES Stadium26 – 14Feldt, Hampton, Hess, Taumalolo Thurston (5/7) 12,885Saturday, 28 AprilRound 8 Canberra Raiders1300SMILES Stadium8 – 18Cooper Thurston (2/2) 14,004Friday, 4 MayRound 9 Penrith PanthersCarrington Park26 – 20Cooper, Hampton, Morgan, ThurstonThurston (5/6) 10,289Thursday, 10 MayRound 10 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval12 – 20Martin, WintersteinThurston 2/2)13,127Saturday, 19 MayRound 11 South Sydney Rabbitohs1300SMILES Stadium19 – 20Winterstein (2) Thurston (5/5); Morgan (1 FG) 14,270Friday, 25 MayRound 12 Melbourne Storm1300SMILES Stadium6 – 7FeldtThurston (1/1)16,003Thursday, 31 MayRound 13 Manly Sea EaglesLottoland26 – 12Winterstein (2), Taumalolo, Tuala Thurston (5/6) 6,172Saturday, 9 JuneRound 14 Parramatta EelsTIO Stadium20 – 14Feldt, Scott, TualaThurston (1/3)8,393Friday, 15 JuneRound 15 Warriors1300SMILES Stadium16 – 23Feldt (2), BowenThurston (2/4)11,062Sunday, 1 JulyRound 16 South Sydney RabbitohsBarlow Park21 – 20Cooper, Coote, WintersteinThurston (4/4)7,651Round 17ByeSaturday, 14 JulyRound 18 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium12 – 38 Coote, Cooper Thurston (2/2) 11,471Saturday, 21 JulyRound 19 St George Illawarra Dragons1300SMILES Stadium10 – 24 Cooper Thurston (3/4) 18,068Friday, 27 JulyRound 20 Newcastle Knights1300SMILES Stadium20 – 18 Cooper, Hess, O'Neill, Thurston Thurston (2/4) 11,709Saturday, 4 AugustRound 21 Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium20 – 26 Cooper, Taumalolo, Thurston Thurston (4/5) 9,721Thursday, 9 AugustRound 22 Brisbane Broncos1300SMILES Stadium34 – 30 Cooper, Feldt, Gela-Mosby, Hess, Taumalolo Thurston (7/8), Feldt (1/1) 19,663Saturday, 18 AugustRound 23 Cronulla SharksSouthern Cross Group Stadium16 – 28Cooper, Hess, McLeanThurston (2/4)12,270 Friday, 24 AugustRound 24 Parramatta Eels1300SMILES Stadium44 – 6Feldt (3), Hampton (2), Cooper Gela-MosbyThurston (6/6)25,095Saturday, 1 SeptemberRound 25 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium30 –26Hampton (2), Cooper, Fensom, Gela-Mosby Thurston (5/5) 26,681 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts15----22----61--46----2313--5292--82----24141-58141--443--12241--4228--32237--283----18----12----15----231--4102--87----111-15212--8181--4234--1624377-166102--8167--282---- Totals 73 78 1 449
Representatives The following players have played a representative match in 2018.
Pacific Test Denver Test State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII October TestsJake Clifford Gavin Cooper Coen Hess Kyle Laybutt Te Maire Martin Jordan McLean Michael Morgan Jason Taumalolo Enari Tuala
Honours
League Dally M Lock of the Year: Jason Taumalolo Rugby League Players Association Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston Rugby League Players Association Lock of the Year: Jason Taumalolo
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Jason Taumalolo Players' Player: Jason Taumalolo Coach's Award: Kyle Feldt Member's Player of the Year: Kyle Feldt Club Person of the Year: Johnathan Thurston Rookie of the Year: Jake Clifford Townsville Bulletins' Fan Choice Award: Johnathan Thurston
Feeder Clubs
Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters - 14th, missed finals Northern Pride - 4th, lost elimination final Townsville Blackhawks - 3rd, lost elimination final
References