The 2023 North Queensland Cowboys Women season was the first in the club's history. Coached by Ben Jeffries and captained by Kirra Dibb and Tallisha Harden, they competed in the NRLW's 2023 Telstra Women's Premiership.
They finished their inaugural season in 9th, missing the finals with just two wins from nine games.
Season summary Milestones Round 1: The club played their first NRLW game (losing 16–6 to the Gold Coast Titans). Round 1: Emma Manzelmann scored the club's first try. Round 1: Krystal Blackwell, Bree Chester, Fran Goldthorp, Sera Koroi, Shellie Long, Mia Middleton, Sareka Mooka and Vitalina Naikore made their NRLW debuts. Round 2: The club won their first game (def. Newcastle Knights 31-20). Round 3: Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly made her debut for the club. Round 3: Shellie Long and April Ngatupuna scored their first NRLW tries. Round 4: Essay Banu and Jessikah Reeves made their NRLW debuts. Round 4: Tahlulah Tillett made her debut for the club. Round 4: China Polata scored her first NRLW try. Round 6: Libby Surha made her NRLW debut. Round 6: Libby Surha scored her first NRLW try. Round 7: Lily Peacock made her NRLW debut. Round 7: Krystal Blackwell and Fran Goldthorp scored their first NRLW tries. Round 9: Alisha Foord and Merewalesi Rokouono made their NRLW debuts.
Squad
Squad movement Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesEssay Banu Mackay CuttersKrystal Blackwell Goulburn City BulldogsBree Chester Newcastle KnightsKirra Dibb Newcastle KnightsJetaya Faifua Gold Coast TitansFran Goldthorp Leeds RhinosTallisha Harden Brisbane BroncosShaylee Joseph Central Coast RoostersSera Koroi Souths Logan MagpiesShellie Long Souths Logan MagpiesEmma Manzelmann Newcastle KnightsMia Middleton Newcastle KnightsSareka Mooka Mackay CuttersVitalina Naikore Fijiana DruaApril Ngatupuna Gold Coast TitansLily Peacock Mackay CuttersJasmine Peters Mackay CuttersChina Polata Mackay CuttersShaniah Power Sydney RoostersEbony Raftstrand-Smith Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsTiana Raftstrand-Smith Gold Coast TitansJessikah Reeves Central Coast RoostersMerewalesi Rokouono Fijiana DruaAutumn-Rain Stephens-Daly Hurricanes PouaLibby Surha Mackay CuttersTahlulah Tillett Mackay CuttersMakenzie Weale Newcastle KnightsLillian Yarrow Central Queensland Capras
Ladder 2023 NRLW season Team 1 Newcastle Knights 9 8 0 1 224 119 +105 16 2 Sydney Roosters 9 7 0 2 284 120 +164 14 3 Gold Coast Titans 9 7 0 2 164 126 +38 14 4 Brisbane Broncos 9 6 0 3 256 165 +91 12 5 Canberra Raiders 9 5 0 4 173 206 -33 10 6 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 9 4 0 5 202 150 +52 8 7 St George Illawarra Dragons 9 3 0 6 182 210 -28 6 8 Wests Tigers 9 2 0 7 136 186 -50 4 9 North Queensland Cowboys 9 2 0 7 133 266 -133 4 10 Parramatta Eels 9 1 0 8 104 310 -206 2 Source:NRL
Fixtures Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 22 JulyRound 1 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium6 – 16ManzelmannDibb (1/1)7,926Sunday, 30 JulyRound 2 Newcastle KnightsBelmore Sports Ground31 – 20Naikore (2), Chester, Faifua, Mooka, Peters Dibb (3/7), (1 FG) 1,584Saturday, 5 AugustRound 3 Brisbane BroncosQueensland Country Bank Stadium12 – 40Long, Ngatupuna Dibb (2/2)22,659 Saturday, 12 AugustRound 4 Wests TigersTotally Workwear Stadium16 – 12 Peters, Polata, Weale Dibb (2/3) 1,173Saturday, 19 AugustRound 5 Cronulla SharksQueensland Country Bank Stadium12 – 40Manzelmann, Peters Dibb (2/2) 1,878Saturday, 26 AugustRound 6 Parramatta EelsNetstrata Jubilee Stadium12 – 16Raftstrand-Smith, Surha Dibb (2/2) 520 Saturday, 2 SeptemberRound 7 St. George Illawarra DragonsQueensland Country Bank Stadium16 – 48 Blackwell, Goldthorp, Naikore Dibb (2/3) 2,479Saturday, 10 SeptemberRound 8 Canberra RaidersCbus Super Stadium12 – 34Manzelmann, Raftstrand-SmithDibb (2/2) 1,096Saturday, 16 SeptemberRound 9 Sydney RoostersNetstrata Jubilee Stadium16 – 40Chester, Dibb, FaifuaDibb (2/3) 632 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts1 – – – -7 1 – – 48 2 – – 89 1 18 1 415 2 – – 8 1 – – – –8 1 – – 49 – – – -8 – – – -8 1 – – 493 – – 124 – – – -6 1 – – 47 3 – – 128 1 – – 43 – – – –9 3 – – 128 1 – – 45 – – – -8 2 – – 85 – – – - 1 – – – –3 – – – - 1 1 – – 46 – – – -7 1 – – 4 Totals 24 18 1 133
Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2023.
All Stars match State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 Prime Minister's XIII Pacific ChampionshipsEssay Banu Bree Chester Kirra Dibb Tallisha Harden Sera Koroi Shellie Long Emma Manzelmann Mia Middleton Sareka Mooka Vitalina Naikore China Polata Shaniah Power Tiana Raftstrand-Smith Jessikah Reeves Tahlulah Tillett
Honours League RLPA Dream Team: Emma Manzelmann Veronica White Medal: Tahlulah Tillett
Club Cowboy of the Year: Emma Manzelmann Players' Player: Emma Manzelmann The Cowboys Way Award: China Polata Rookie of the Year: Fran Goldthorp Fans Choice Player of the Year: Kirra Dibb
References