A list of puns related to "North Queensland Cowboys"
After being labelled as having “no steel” by their former forward Josh McGuire earlier in the season after losing their first 4 matches, the North Queensland Cowboys have gone on to win 6 of their next 8 games after releasing him to the St George Illawarra Dragons.
On the flip side, the Dragons have won 1 of 7 matches since McGuire’s arrival at the club, after starting their season winning 4 of their first 5.
Coen Hess described it as an “embarrassing” moment being awarded the Paul Bowman medal. Seeing his name etched alongside the likes of Jason Taumalolo and Johnathan Thurston humbled the Cowboys forward. In his own words, he does not feel up to their standard.
But despite his own harsh assessment, a move to prop midway through 2021 appeared to be the catalyst for a career revival.
Now he wants to capitalise and become a leader in the club.
After bursting onto the scene in 2017 with his destructive ball running off the bench, Hess has rarely lived up to the hype his initial form created in recent seasons.
Out on the edge, the 24-year-old did not inject himself into the game with the same ferocity, but his time in the middle of the field has helped him rediscover his mojo.
Aside from Jordan McLean, who is off contract at the end of 2022, the Cowboys forward pack are all well under the age of 30, with a host of emerging prospects making their mark.
Up front the likes of Tom Gilbert and Griffin Neame have announced themselves as the future of the engine room, and Hess wants to be alongside them leading the charge.
He said when he first came into the NRL he felt “invincible”, surrounded by established legends of the game. He wants to ensure the youthful brigade coming through the ranks experienced the same feeling, and he is determined to be the one who inspires it.
“I guess my form hasn’t really been up to scratch for the last few years, but I certainly felt this year I’ve made great headway moving forward and that was due to the position change,” Hess said.
“Those two younger guys (Gilbert and Neame) are tremendous players and their work ethic is probably up there with the best in the club.
“We all try to get the best out of each other, and those two in particular are two I’m really excited to see.
“I remember when I was coming through the ranks I’d run out and almost felt invincible. You look to your left and there’s JT, then you look to your right and there’s Matt Scott.
“No matter what, I ran onto the field with confidence and I’d love the younger boys to experience that. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience that, and I’d love to get the club back to that state.”
Hess declared the front row was now where he saw his long term position, and his first pre-season training in the position could spell promising signs for the Cowboys’ faithful.
The six-time Queensland representative flagged physical changes he would undergo in the off season to en
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THE OFF-SEASON
Ins: Lachlan Burr, Michael Bell, Kane Bradley, Helium Luki, Ieremia Nanai, Griffin Neame
Outs: John Asiata, Gavin Cooper, Tom Opacic, Dan Russell, Tukimihia Simpkins, Garrett Smith
The Cowboys’ main signing news for 2021 comes in the form of coaches rather than players, having nabbed the signatures of almost all of the 2020 interim coaches in Todd Payten (head coach), Dean Young (assistant coach) and Steve Georgallis (assistant coach).
Our most notable signing has been Lachlan Burr from the Warriors, who should regularly feature in the 17 coming off the bench. It’s disappointing but not unexpected that Asiata was let go so he could join the Broncos, given he was stuck behind Taumalolo for the 13 jersey and wasn’t being used to his full potential. Opacic was one of the few shining lights for the Cowboys in 2019 and was one of the more consistent centres in 2020 (not that that’s saying much), so it was a shock to see him let go so that he could take up an opportunity at the Eels.
In other signing news, a trade was made between the Cowboys and Tigers for two fringe players who most likely wouldn’t have seen any time in first grade at their respective clubs - Tukimihia Simpkins and Kane Bradley. Bradley is currently recovering from injury and should be available for selection after the first few rounds, but will find it difficult having to compete with superstars like Hampton, O’Neill and Marsters.
EXPECTATIONS FOR 2021
The incumbent NRL Nines champions enter the 2021 season with the lowest level of expectation they’ve had in recent years. Most pundits think they’re more likely to finish with the wooden spoon than they are to make it into the 8, but Cowboys fans are doing what Cowboys fans do best: be cautiously optimistic and assume most of the starting 17 will end up injured.
While the team on paper has been largely dismissed given a lack of player movement/recent success, there is no reason a lineup featuring Jason Taumalolo, Michael Morgan, Valentine Holmes, Josh McGuire and Jordan McLean shouldn’t have fans realistically expecting a 7th-11th position on the ladder by round 25.
REASONS TO BE EXCITED
As well as the aforementioned rep players, the Cowboys also have a number of players with huge potential.
Francis Molo has proven that he is a strong and consistent forward who can make terrific
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