The 2023 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 29th in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend, they competed in the NRL's 2023 Telstra Premiership but did not qualify for the finals.

Season summary Milestones Round 1: Jamayne Taunoa-Brown played his 50th NRL game. Round 3: Tom Chester scored his first NRL try. Round 3: Gehamat Shibasaki made his debut for the club. Round 5: Riley Price made his NRL debut. Round 7: Jack Gosiewski made his debut for the club. Round 10: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki made his NRL debut. Round 10: Jack Gosiewski scored his first try for the club. Round 13: Robert Derby and Zac Laybutt made their NRL debuts.

Squad

Squad movement

Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesJack Gosiewski St George Illawarra DragonsSam McIntyre Gold Coast Titans (mid-season)James Tamou Wests TigersSemi Valemei Canberra Raiders (mid-season)

Losses Player Signed to Until end of NotesIosefo Baleiwairiki Fijian DruaKane Bradley Brisbane TigersBrendan Frei Wynnum Manly SeagullsTom Gilbert DolphinsConnelly Lemuelu DolphinsJordan Lipp Western Clydesdales (mid-season)Morgan McWhirter North Sydney BearsLaitia Moceidreke Newcastle Knights (mid-season)Emry Pere Burleigh BearsHamiso Tabuai-Fidow DolphinsTyreece Woods Newcastle Knights

Re-signings Player Signed from Until end of NotesJeremiah Nanai North Queensland Cowboys

Ladder

Fixtures Pre-season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 12 FebruaryTrial 1 DolphinsBarlow Park22 – 22Derby (2), Moceidreke (2) Duffy (3/4), Laybutt (0/1) 6,922Saturday, 18 FebruaryTrial 2 Brisbane BroncosSunshine Coast Stadium18 - 22Holmes, Feldt, NanaiHolmes (3/3) Legend:

Regular season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 4 MarchRound 1 Canberra RaidersQCB Stadium19 - 18 Taulagi, Drinkwater (2) Holmes (3/5), Townsend (1 FG) 19,855Friday, 10 MarchRound 2 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium16 - 28 Nanai (2) Holmes (4/4) 43,162Saturday, 18 MarchRound 3 NZ WarriorsQCB Stadium12 – 26 Chester, Robson Holmes (2/2) 17,818Saturday, 25 MarchRound 4 Gold Coast TitansQCB Stadium24 – 12 Chester, Holmes, Nanai, Tamou Holmes (4/4) 16,426Sunday, 2 AprilRound 5 Canterbury BulldogsAccor Stadium14 – 15 Chester, Dearden Holmes (3/4) 9,626 Friday, 7 AprilRound 6 DolphinsQCB Stadium22 – 32 Feldt (2), Hess, Holmes Holmes (3/4) 22,811Saturday, 15 AprilRound 7 NZ WarriorsMount Smart Stadium14 – 22Cotter, Holmes, TaulagiHolmes (1/3)23,695Saturday, 22 AprilRound 8 Newcastle KnightsQCB Stadium18 – 16Dearden, Feldt, RobsonHolmes (3/3)17,970 Thursday, 27 AprilRound 9 Cronulla SharksPointsBet Stadium6 – 44FeldtHolmes (1/1)8,148 Sunday, 7 MayRound 10 Sydney RoostersSuncorp Stadium20 – 6Cotter, Gosiewski, TownsendHolmes (4/4)45,085 Saturday, 13 MayRound 11 St George Illawarra DragonsQCB Stadium46 – 26Feldt (2), Gosiewski, Luki (2), Dearden (2)Holmes (6/7, 1 2pt FG)17,852Saturday, 20 MayRound 12 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval18 – 66Cotter, Feldt, LeiluaHolmes (3/3)12,247Friday, 26 MayRound 13 Parramatta EelsCommBank Stadium16 – 24Feldt (2), DrinkwaterTownsend (2/3) 14,810Sunday, 4 JuneRound 14 Melbourne StormQCB Stadium45 – 20Valemei (3), Holmes, Taulagi (2), Nanai, TownsendHolmes (6/8), Townsend (1 FG)18,867Round 15ByeFriday, 16 JuneRound 16 Penrith PanthersQCB Stadium27 – 23Drinkwater (2), Dearden, Finefeuiaki, FeldtTownsend (3/4, 1 FG)17,277Sunday, 25 JuneRound 17 South Sydney RabbitohsAccor Stadium31 – 6Taulagi, Holmes (2), Finefeuiaki, DeardenDrinkwater (1 FG), Holmes (5/6)11,262Saturday, 1 JulyRound 18 Wests TigersQCB Stadium74 – 0Taulagi (3), Drinkwater (2), Holmes (2), Valemei (2), Dearden, Leilua, McLean, Nanai Holmes (11/13) 30,606Round 19ByeSaturday, 15 JulyRound 20 Manly Sea Eagles4 Pines Park19 – 8Cotter, Nanai, Drinkwater Holmes (3/3) 13,240Saturday, 22 JulyRound 21 Parramatta EelsQCB Stadium24 - 16 Hiku, Valemei (2), Drinkwater Holmes (4/5) 20,710Sunday, 30 JulyRound 22 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium13 – 22Hess, Valemei Holmes (2/2), Townsend (1 FG) 16,516 Saturday, 5 AugustRound 23 Brisbane BroncosQCB Stadium14 – 30 Feldt (2), Luki Townsend (1/4) 22,659Round 24ByeThursday, 17 AugustRound 25 Cronulla SharksQCB Stadium12 – 32Drinkwater, Valemei Drinkwater (2/2) 17,318Friday, 25 AugustRound 26 DolphinsSuncorp Stadium34 – 10Laybutt (2), Drinkwater, Feldt, Hiku, Taulagi Drinkwater (5/6) 33,449Saturday, 2 SeptemberRound 27 Penrith PanthersBlueBet Stadium12 – 44 Laybutt, Neame Drinkwater (2/2) 21,525 Legend:

Statistics NameAppTGFGPts73--12204--16237--281----211191638–---2–---1813--52122--872--824–---1----242--8222--818868117043--12132--8133--122----221--4136--24171--42–---232--82–---31--4209--3616–---17----242652599--36 Totals 93 87 7 546 Source:

Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2023.

All Stars match State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIIIReuben Cotter Robert Derby Valentine Holmes Zac Laybutt Jeremiah Nanai Murray Taulagi Reece Robson Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Honours Club Paul Bowman Medal: Scott Drinkwater Players' Player: Scott Drinkwater The Cowboys Way Award: Jordan McLean Rookie of the Year: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki JCU Education Award: Reuben Cotter Young Guns Cowboys Way Award: Wil Sullivan Club Person of the Year: James Tamou Fans Choice Player of the Year: Reuben Cotter

Feeder Clubs Queensland Cup While still affiliated with the Cutters and Pride, the Cowboys used the Blackhawks as their sole feeder club for their NRL players in 2023. Mackay Cutters – 14th, missed finals Northern Pride – 7th, lost elimination final Townsville Blackhawks – 12th, missed finals

Women's team

The North Queensland Cowboys Women's team competed in their first season of the NRL Women's Premiership in 2023. They finished 9th, winning two games and losing seven. They were coached by Ben Jeffries and captained by Kirra Dibb and Tallisha Harden.

References