2024 North Queensland Cowboys season

2024 North Queensland Cowboys season
2024 North Queensland Cowboys season
NRL Rank	10th
2024 record	Wins: 7; draws: 0; losses: 6
Points scored	For: 335; against: 331
Team information
CEO	Jeff Reibel
Coach	Todd Payten
Captain	Reuben Cotter; Tom Dearden;
Stadium	Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Avg. attendance	19,148
High attendance	20,697 (vs. Dolphins, Round 9)
Top scorers
Tries	Jeremiah Nanai (10)
Goals	Valentine Holmes (44)
Points	Valentine Holmes (116)

The 2024 North Queensland Cowboys season is the 30th in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden, they compete in the NRL's 2024 Telstra Premiership. Cotter and Dearden captain the club for the first time, replacing Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend.^[1]

Season summary[edit]

Milestones[edit]

Round 4: Reece Robson played his 100th NRL game.
Round 5: Jake Granville played his 200th NRL game for the club.
Round 5: Kyle Feldt scored his 131st try, becoming the club's all-time leading tryscorer.^[2]
Round 6: Scott Drinkwater played his 100th NRL game.
Round 7: Scott Drinkwater played his 100th NRL game for the club.
Round 7: Griffin Neame played his 50th NRL game for the club.
Round 8: Tom Mikaele made his debut for the club.
Round 8: Kyle Feldt played his 200th NRL game for the club.
Round 8: Chad Townsend played his 250th NRL game.
Round 9: Viliami Vailea made his debut for the club.
Round 10: Harrison Edwards made his debut for the club.
Round 10: Jeremiah Nanai played his 50th NRL game for the club.
Round 11: Braidon Burns made his debut and scored his first try for the club.
Round 11: Viliami Vailea scored his first try for the club.
Round 11: Sam McIntyre played his 50th NRL game.
Round 13: Jaxon Purdue and Jamal Shibasaki made their NRL debuts.

Squad[edit]

North Queensland Cowboys 2024 Squad
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Top 30 squad – 2024 NRL season						Supplementary list		Coaching staff
Braidon Burns – WG Tom Chester – CE Jake Clifford – HB Reuben Cotter (c) – LK Tom Dearden (c) – FE Rob Derby – WG Scott Drinkwater – FB Tom Duffy – HB Harrison Edwards – LK Kyle Feldt – WG		Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – SR Jake Granville – LK Coen Hess – PR Valentine Holmes – CE Zac Laybutt – CE Heilum Luki – SR Sam McIntyre – LK Jordan McLean – PR Tom Mikaele – PR Jeremiah Nanai – SR		Griffin Neame – PR D'Jazirhae Pua'avase – SR Reece Robson – HK Murray Taulagi – WG Jason Taumalolo – PR Jamayne Taunoa-Brown – LK Chad Townsend – HB Viliami Vailea – CE Semi Valemei – WG		Jodeci Baker-Tiraha – CE Emarly Bitungane – PR Jai Hansen – HK Kaiden Lahrs – PR Jamal Shibasaki – SR Extended squad Jaxon Purdue – HB Wil Sullivan – SR		Head coach Todd Payten Assistant coaches Justin Morgan James Maloney Ben Rauter Paul Bowman (Head of Performance) Ashley Graham (Strength & Conditioning) Mark Henry (Strength & Conditioning) James Moran (Strength & Conditioning) Steve Sartori (Physiotherapist) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Development players^[3] Extended squad^[4] Updated: 8 May 2024 Source(s): NQ Cowboys

Squad movement[edit]

Gains[edit]

Player	Signed From	Until End of	Notes
Braidon Burns	South Sydney Rabbitohs (mid-season)	2025	^[5]
Jake Clifford	Hull F.C.	2024	^[6]
Harrison Edwards	Canterbury Bulldogs (mid-season)	2026	^[7]
Tom Mikaele	Warrington Wolves	2024	^[8]
Viliami Vailea	New Zealand Warriors	2025	^[9]

Losses[edit]

Player	Signed To	Until End of	Notes
Jake Bourke	Townsville Blackhawks	2024	^[10]
Mitch Dunn	Retired	–	^[11]
Brendan Elliot	Released	–	^[12]
Jack Gosiewski	Brisbane Broncos (mid-season)	2025	^[13]
Ben Hampton	Released	–	^[14]
Peta Hiku	Hull Kingston Rovers	2026	^[15]
Luciano Leilua	St George Illawarra Dragons	2026	^[16]
Sylvester Namo	Castleford Tigers	2025	^[17]
Riley Price	Penrith Panthers	2025	^[18]
Taniela Sadrugu	CA Brive	2024	^[19]
Gehamat Shibasaki	Townsville Blackhawks	2024	^[20]
James Tamou	Townsville Blackhawks	2024	^[21]
Ragarive Wavik	Canterbury Bulldogs	2024	^[22]

Re-signings[edit]

Player	Until End of	Notes
Coen Hess	2027	^[23]
Heilum Luki	2029	^[24]
Sam McIntyre	2026	^[25]
Tom Mikaele	2027	^[26]

Ladder[edit]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Melbourne Storm	11	8	0	3	2	280	205	+75	20	Advance to finals series
2	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	12	9	0	3	1	304	234	+70	20
3	Penrith Panthers	12	8	0	4	1	278	178	+100	18
4	Dolphins	12	7	0	5	1	311	247	+64	16
5	Brisbane Broncos	12	7	0	5	1	311	254	+57	16
6	Canberra Raiders	12	7	0	5	1	256	293	−37	16
7	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	12	6	1	5	1	299	263	+36	15
8	Sydney Roosters	13	7	0	6	0	386	253	+133	14
9	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	12	6	0	6	1	270	193	+77	14
10	North Queensland Cowboys	13	7	0	6	0	335	331	+4	14
11	Newcastle Knights	12	6	0	6	1	202	241	−39	14
12	St. George Illawarra Dragons	12	6	0	6	1	226	302	−76	14
13	New Zealand Warriors	12	5	1	6	1	240	243	−3	13
14	Gold Coast Titans	11	3	0	8	2	217	306	−89	10
15	Parramatta Eels	12	4	0	8	1	247	354	−107	10
16	Wests Tigers	11	2	0	9	2	173	268	−95	8
17	South Sydney Rabbitohs	11	2	0	9	2	204	374	−170	8

Updated to match(es) played on 2 June 2024. Source: National Rugby League

Fixtures[edit]

Pre-season[edit]

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, 18 February	Trial 1	Brisbane Broncos	BB Print Stadium	20 – 46	Finefeuiaki, Mullany, Purdue, Valemei	Mullany (1/1), Purdue (1/1), Duffy (0/2)	5,332
Sunday, 25 February	Trial 2	Canberra Raiders	Seiffert Oval	36 – 26	Feldt (3), Mikaele (2), Laybutt, Taulagi	Holmes (2/4), Drinkwater (1/2), Laybutt (1/1)	6,048
Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye

Regular season[edit]

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Sunday, 10 March	Round 1	Dolphins	Suncorp Stadium	43 – 18	Laybutt (2), Dearden, Feldt, Luki, Nanai, Taulagi	Holmes (7/7), Townsend (1 FG)	32,477
Saturday, 16 March	Round 2	Newcastle Knights	QCB Stadium	21 – 20	Dearden, Feldt, Nanai, Townsend	Holmes (3/5), Townsend (1 FG)	18,986
Saturday, 23 March	Round 3	St George Illawarra Dragons	Netstrata Jubilee Stadium	46 – 24	Taulagi, McIntyre, Neame, Drinkwater, Finefeuiaki, Dearden, Holmes, Townsend	Holmes (7/8)	9,252
Friday, 29 March	Round 4	Brisbane Broncos	Suncorp Stadium	12 – 38	Holmes, Drinkwater	Holmes (2/2)	45,793
Sunday, 7 April	Round 5	Gold Coast Titans	QCB Stadium	35 – 22	Laybutt, Taulagi, Drinkwater (2), Robson, Feldt	Holmes (5/6), Townsend (1 FG)	18,870
Saturday, 13 April	Round 6	Parramatta Eels	CommBank Stadium	20 – 27	Nanai, Chester, Holmes, Drinkwater	Holmes (2/4)	14,443
Sunday, 21 April	Round 7	Cronulla Sharks	PointsBet Stadium	6 – 42	Holmes	Holmes (1/1)	12,415
Saturday, 27 April	Round 8	Penrith Panthers	QCB Stadium	20 – 26	Valemei, Holmes, Finefeuiaki, Nanai	Holmes (2/4)	20,960
Saturday, 4 May	Round 9	Dolphins	QCB Stadium	26 – 28	Feldt, Cotter, Nanai (2), McIntyre	Holmes (3/5)	20,967
Sunday, 12 May	Round 10	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium	18 – 20	Nanai (2), Feldt	Holmes (3/3)	12,125
Saturday, 18 May	Round 11	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Suncorp Stadium	28 – 22	Burns (2), Dearden (2), Vailea	Holmes (4/6)	50,708
Friday, 24 May	Round 12	Wests Tigers	QCB Stadium	42 – 28	Feldt (2), Holmes (2), Nanai (2), McIntyre	Holmes (7/8)	15,947
Sunday, 2 June	Round 13	Sydney Roosters	Allianz Stadium	18 – 16	Burns, Drinkwater, Finefeuiaki	Drinkwater (3/5)	13,811
Saturday, 8 June	Round 14	NZ Warriors	QCB Stadium
Friday, 14 June	Round 15	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium
	Round 16	Bye
Sunday, 30 June	Round 17	Penrith Panthers	BlueBet Stadium
Saturday, 6 July	Round 18	Manly Sea Eagles	QCB Stadium
	Round 19	Bye
Sunday, 21 July	Round 20	Canterbury Bulldogs	QCB Stadium
Saturday, 27 July	Round 21	Cronulla Sharks	QCB Stadium
Thursday, 1 August	Round 22	Wests Tigers	Leichhardt Oval
Saturday, 10 August	Round 23	Brisbane Broncos	QCB Stadium
Saturday, 17 August	Round 24	Canberra Raiders	QCB Stadium
	Round 25	Bye
Thursday, 29 August	Round 26	Melbourne Storm	QCB Stadium
Saturday, 7 September	Round 27	Canterbury Bulldogs	Accor Stadium
Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye

Statistics[edit]

Name	App	T	G	FG	Pts
Braidon Burns	2	3	-	-	12
Tom Chester	4	1	-	-	4
Jake Clifford	2	-	-	-	-
Reuben Cotter	12	1	-	-	4
Tom Dearden	12	5	-	-	20
Scott Drinkwater	13	6	4	-	32
Harrison Edwards	2	-	-	-	-
Kyle Feldt	12	7	-	-	28
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki	13	3	-	-	12
Jack Gosiewski	5	-	-	-	-
Jake Granville	9	-	-	-	-
Valentine Holmes	12	7	44	-	116
Zac Laybutt\|4	3	-	-	12
Heilum Luki	7	1	-	-	4
Sam McIntyre	13	3	-	-	12
Jordan McLean	12	-	-	-	-
Tom Mikaele	6	-	-	-	-
Jeremiah Nanai	12	10	-	-	40
Griffin Neame	13	1	-	-	4
Jaxon Purdue	1	-	-	-	-
Reece Robson	12	1	-	-	4
Jamal Shibasaki	1	-	-	-	-
Murray Taulagi	8	3	-	-	12
Jason Taumalolo	13	-	-	-	-
Chad Townsend	12	2	-	3	11
Viliami Vailea	5	1	-	-	4
Semi Valemei	4	1	-	-	4
Totals		59	48	3	335

Source:^[27]

Representatives[edit]

The following players played a representative match in 2024.

	State of Origin 1	State of Origin 2	State of Origin 3
Reuben Cotter	Queensland
Tom Dearden	Queensland
Valentine Holmes	Queensland
Jeremiah Nanai	Queensland
Reece Robson	New South Wales
Murray Taulagi	Queensland

Feeder clubs[edit]

Queensland Cup[edit]

References[edit]

^ "Cowboys crown new captains". NQ Cowboys. 28 January 2024.
^ "King Kyle claims Bowen's crown as Cowboys salute". NRL. 7 April 2024.
^ Development players train with the Top 30 squad but cannot play NRL until after Round 10
^ Players in the extended squad train with the Top 30 squad but are on train and trial or junior contracts
^ "Cowboys sign Burns". NQ Cowboys. 6 May 2024.
^ "Clifford comes home". NQ Cowboys. 2 August 2023.
^ "Cowboys sign Edwards". NQ Cowboys. 26 April 2024.
^ "Mikaele joins Cowboys". NQ Cowboys. 7 December 2023.
^ "Cowboys sign Vailea". NQ Cowboys. 26 July 2023.
^ "Ex-Cowboy Jake Bourke ditches French club after 10 days to sign with Blackhawks". Townsville Bulletin. 9 January 2024.
^ "Dunn joins coaching ranks". NQ Cowboys. 8 November 2023.
^ "Cowboys to farewell nine departing players". NQ Cowboys. 19 September 2023.
^ "Gosiewski Joins Broncos Through 2025". Brisbane Broncos. 29 April 2024.
^ "Recently departed Cowboys utility surprising new job". Zero Tackle. 29 October 2023.
^ "Hull KR secure Kiwis' star Peta Hiku on three-year deal". Hull KR. 21 May 2023.
^ "Dragons secure Luciano Leilua and extend Corey Allan". St George Illawarra Dragons. 24 February 2024.
^ "Namo is a Tiger". Castleford Tigers. 1 October 2023.
^ "Panthers sign Cowboys forward as club confirms development players". Zero Tackle. 13 September 2023.
^ "French rugby club CA Brive raid Cowboys for Taniela Sadrugu". Townsville Bulletin. 10 August 2023.
^ "Which clubs have signed the nine released Cowboys for 2024". Townsville Bulletin. 25 October 2023.
^ "Cowboys legend James Tamou to play on with Townsville Blackhawks in 2024". Townsville Bulletin. 21 September 2023.
^ "Junior Cowboys fullback reportedly leaves for Sydney club". Zero Tackle. 30 October 2023.
^ "Hess on track to be a Cowboy for life". NQ Cowboys. 31 May 2024.
^ "Luki signs long-term extension". NQ Cowboys. 24 April 2024.
^ "Cowboys re-sign McIntyre". NQ Cowboys. 3 April 2024.
^ "Cowboys re-sign Mikaele". NQ Cowboys. 29 May 2024.
^ "2024 North Queensland Cowboys season". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.

[1] "Cowboys crown new captains". NQ Cowboys. 28 January 2024.

[2] "King Kyle claims Bowen's crown as Cowboys salute". NRL. 7 April 2024.

[3] Development players train with the Top 30 squad but cannot play NRL until after Round 10

[4] Players in the extended squad train with the Top 30 squad but are on train and trial or junior contracts

[5] "Cowboys sign Burns". NQ Cowboys. 6 May 2024.

[6] "Clifford comes home". NQ Cowboys. 2 August 2023.

[7] "Cowboys sign Edwards". NQ Cowboys. 26 April 2024.

[8] "Mikaele joins Cowboys". NQ Cowboys. 7 December 2023.

[9] "Cowboys sign Vailea". NQ Cowboys. 26 July 2023.

[10] "Ex-Cowboy Jake Bourke ditches French club after 10 days to sign with Blackhawks". Townsville Bulletin. 9 January 2024.

[11] "Dunn joins coaching ranks". NQ Cowboys. 8 November 2023.

[12] "Cowboys to farewell nine departing players". NQ Cowboys. 19 September 2023.

[13] "Gosiewski Joins Broncos Through 2025". Brisbane Broncos. 29 April 2024.

[14] "Recently departed Cowboys utility surprising new job". Zero Tackle. 29 October 2023.

[15] "Hull KR secure Kiwis' star Peta Hiku on three-year deal". Hull KR. 21 May 2023.

[16] "Dragons secure Luciano Leilua and extend Corey Allan". St George Illawarra Dragons. 24 February 2024.

[17] "Namo is a Tiger". Castleford Tigers. 1 October 2023.

[18] "Panthers sign Cowboys forward as club confirms development players". Zero Tackle. 13 September 2023.

[19] "French rugby club CA Brive raid Cowboys for Taniela Sadrugu". Townsville Bulletin. 10 August 2023.

[20] "Which clubs have signed the nine released Cowboys for 2024". Townsville Bulletin. 25 October 2023.

[21] "Cowboys legend James Tamou to play on with Townsville Blackhawks in 2024". Townsville Bulletin. 21 September 2023.

[22] "Junior Cowboys fullback reportedly leaves for Sydney club". Zero Tackle. 30 October 2023.

[23] "Hess on track to be a Cowboy for life". NQ Cowboys. 31 May 2024.

[24] "Luki signs long-term extension". NQ Cowboys. 24 April 2024.

[25] "Cowboys re-sign McIntyre". NQ Cowboys. 3 April 2024.

[26] "Cowboys re-sign Mikaele". NQ Cowboys. 29 May 2024.

[27] "2024 North Queensland Cowboys season". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.

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v t e North Queensland Cowboys
Est. 1995 in Townsville, Queensland
The club	History Records Honours Players Coaches Representatives
Home ground	1300SMILES Stadium (1995–2019) North Queensland Stadium (2020–)
Culture	Queensland derby
League	ARL SL NRL NRLW
Important Figures	Johnathan Thurston Matt Scott Matt Bowen
Titles	Premierships (1) 2015 NRL Nines (2) 2014 2020
Seasons (28)	1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Other competitions	Current NRL Nines Past NRL Under-20s New South Wales Cup
Affiliations	NRL Women's North Queensland Cowboys Women Queensland Cup (Current) Mackay Cutters Northern Pride Townsville Blackhawks Past Cairns Cyclones North Queensland Young Guns Townsville Stingers