2007 North Queensland Cowboys season

The 2007 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 13th in the club's history. Coached by Graham Murray and captained by Johnathan Thurston, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2007 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 3rd (out of 16) place. The Cowboys were the most successful of the three Queensland-based NRL clubs and drew strong crowds during the season, winning 11 of their 14 matches at Dairy Farmers stadium.^[1] Matt Bowen was named the club's player of the year,^[2] and was also the premiership's leading try-scorer.

Also during the season News Limited sold the football club to the Cowboys Leagues Club, ending a six year period of ownership during which it helped the club through a difficult time.

Ladder

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Melbourne	24	21	0	3	1	627	277	+350	44
2	Manly-Warringah	24	18	0	6	1	597	377	+220	38
3	North Queensland	24	15	0	9	1	547	618	-71	32
4	Warriors	24	13	1	10	1	593	434	+159	29
5	Parramatta	24	13	0	11	1	573	481	+92	28
6	Bulldogs	24	12	0	12	1	575	528	+47	26
7	South Sydney	24	12	0	12	1	408	399	+9	26
8	Brisbane	24	11	0	13	1	511	476	+35	24
9	Wests Tigers	24	11	0	13	1	541	561	-20	24
10	Sydney	24	10	1	13	1	445	610	-165	23
11	Cronulla-Sutherland	24	10	0	14	1	463	403	+60	22
12	Gold Coast	24	10	0	14	1	409	559	-150	22
13	St George Illawarra	24	9	0	15	1	431	509	-78	20
14	Canberra	24	9	0	15	1	522	650	-128	20
15	Newcastle	24	9	0	15	1	418	708	-290	20
16	Penrith	24	8	0	16	1	539	607	-68	18

Squad

Although other players may play for the North Queensland Cowboys during the year, all NRL clubs are required to select a top 25 First Grade squad at the beginning of the season. Below is a list of those 25 players listed alphabetically at the North Queensland Cowboys.

No. Position Player SR Matthew Bartlett SR Scott Bolton WG Brenton Bowen FB Matthew Bowen CE Paul Bowman PR Ray Cashmere HK David Faiumu CE Ben Farrar LK Sione Faumuina CE Ashley Graham CE Mark Henry SR Jacob Lillyman CE Scott Minto

No. Position Player FE Jackson Nicolau SR Luke O'Donnell HK Aaron Payne PR Matthew Scott FE Jason Smith LK Justin Smith SR Steve Southern WG Neil Sweeney HB Johnathan Thurston (c) PR Shane Tronc SR Carl Webb WG Ty Williams

Player Movement

Squad changes from 2006 season.

Gains

Name	From
Jason Smith	Canberra Raiders
Scott Minto	Brisbane Broncos
Ben Vaeau	Brisbane Broncos
Joe Clarke	Brisbane Broncos
Jackson Nicolau	Melbourne Storm
Ben Farrar	Parramatta Eels
Colin Wilkie	Melbourne Storm
John Frith	Parramatta Eels
Karl Johnson	North Sydney Bears
Jared Lindley	Camira Cougars

Draw & Results

Round 1 16 March 2007	Brisbane Broncos	16 - 23	North Queensland Cowboys	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 50,416 Referee/s: Steven Clark
	Tries: Carlaw (1) Hunt (1) Moon (1) Goals: Lockyer (2/4)	Report	Tries: Graham (2) Henry (1) M. Bowen (1) Goals: Thurston (3/5) Field Goals: M. Bowen (1)

Round 2 24 March 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	43 - 6	Sydney Roosters	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 21,396 Referee/s: Gavin Badger
	Tries: Thurston (2) B. Bowen (2) M. Bowen (2) O'Donnell (1) Goals: Thurston (6/6) Graham (1/1) Field Goals: Payne (1)	Report	Tries: Paea (1) Goals: Fitzgibbon (1/1)

Round 3 31 March 2007	St. George Illawarra Dragons	18 - 22	North Queensland Cowboys	WIN Stadium, Wollongong Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: Williams (2) MacDougall (1)	Report	Tries: Graham (1) B. Bowen (1) Bowman (1) Thurston (1) Goals: Thurston (3/3)

Round 4 7 April 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	25 - 24	Wests Tigers	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 21, 879 Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: Graham (2) Sweeney (1) M. Bowen (1) Goals: Thurston (4/4) Field Goals: M. Bowen (1)	Report	Tries: Farah (1) Collis (1) Fitzhenry (1) Whatuira (1) Goals: Marshall (4/5)

Round 5 15 April 2007	New Zealand Warriors	34 - 14	North Queensland Cowboys	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, NZ Attendance: 11,260 Referee/s: Tony Archer
	Tries: Bryne (1) Price (1) Witt (1) Rovelli (1) Fien (1) Vatuvei (1) Goals: Martin (5/6)	Report	Tries: B. Bowen (1) Thurston (1) M. Bowen (1) Goals: Thurston (1/3)

Round 6 23 April 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	6 - 10	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 17,678 Referee/s: Ben Cummins
	Tries: Bowman (1) Goals: Thurston (1/1)	Report	Tries: Hegarty (1) Merritt (1) Goals: Williams

Round 7 28 April 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	30 - 26	Manly Sea Eagles	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 18,682 Referee/s: Steven Clark
	Tries: M. Bowen (2) Farrar (1) B. Bowen (1) Jason Smith (1) Goals: Thurston (5/6)	Report	Tries: Hicks (2) Lyon (1) Halden (1) Bryant (1) Goals: Lyon (3/5)

Round 8 7 May 2007	Gold Coast Titans	10 - 24	North Queensland Cowboys	Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast Attendance: 17,806 Referee/s: Ben Cummins
	Tries: Rogers (2) Goals: Rogers (1/1) Delaney (0/1)	Report	Tries: M. Bowen (1) Bowman (1) Jensen (1) Goals: Thurston (6/6)

Round 9 12 May 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	12 - 22	Penrith Panthers	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 17,393 Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: Bolton (1) Anderson (1) Goals: Thurston (2/2)	Report	Tries: Clinton (1) Lewis (1) Pritchard (1) Worth (1) Goals: Gordon (3/5)

Round 10 19 May 2007	Parramatta Eels	44 - 14	North Queensland Cowboys	Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Referee/s: Shayne Hayne
	Tries: Burt (2) Cannings (1) Mateo (1) Riddell (1) Robinsion (1) Smith Goals: Burt (8/9)	Report	Tries: Faumuina (1) Graham (1) Minto (1) Goals: Graham (1/3)

Round 11 25 May 2007	Canterbury Bulldogs	16 - 26	North Queensland Cowboys	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 15,412 Referee/s: Tony Archer
	Tries: El Masri (1) Emelion (1) Ryan (1) Goals: El Masri (2/3)	Report	Tries: M. Bowen (2) Faumuina (1) Tronc (1) Goals: Thurston (5/5)

Round 12 2 June 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	26 - 16	Cronulla Sharks	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Referee/s: Jason Robinson
	Tries: Williams (2) Minto (1) Scott (1) Sweeney (1) Goals: Thurston (3/5)	Report	Tries: Bird (2) de Gois (1) Pomeroy (1) Goals: Covell (4/4)

Round 13 9 June 2007	Sydney Roosters	64 - 30	North Queensland Cowboys	Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 4,186 Referee/s: Gavin Badger
	Tries: Kenny-Dowall (3) Monaghan (2) Perrett (1) Shackleton (1) Tupou(1) Williams (1) Wing (1) Goals: Fitzgibbon (9/10) Roberts (1/1)	Report	Tries: M. Bowen (2) Southern (1) Tronc (1) Bartlett (1) Goals: Graham (5/5)

Round 14 16 June 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	12 - 58	Melbourne Storm	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: B. Bowen (1) M. Bowen (1) Williams (1) Goals: Thurston (0/3)	Report	Tries: Inglis (2) King (2) Cronk (1) Geyer (1) Newton (1) J. Smith (1) Tagataese (1) Turner (1) Goals: C. Smith (9/10)

Round 15 2 June 2007	Canberra Raiders	24 - 28	North Queensland Cowboys	Canberra Stadium, Canberra Referee/s: Tony De Las Heras
	Tries: Campese (2) Chalk (2) Milne (1) Goals: Dobson (2/5)	Report	Tries: B. Bowen (2) M. Bowen (2) Thurston (1) Goals: Thurston (4/5)

Round 16 BYE	'	'	'

Round 17 7 July 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	18 - 12	New Zealand Warriors	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Referee/s: Tony Archer
	Tries: Faumuina (1) Graham (1) Webb (1) Goals: Thurston (2/2) Graham (1/1)	Report	Tries: Ah Van (1) Vatuvei (1) Goals: Witt (2/2)

Round 18 13 June 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	16 - 24	Brisbane Broncos	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Referee/s: Sean Hampstead
	Tries: Graham (2) Bowen (1) Goals: Graham (2/3)	Report	Tries: Carlaw (1) Hunt (1) Michaels (1) Parker (1) Goals: Parker (4/4)

Round 19 22 July 2007	South Sydney Rabbitohs	20 - 14	North Queensland Cowboys	Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 10,002 Referee/s: Steven Clark
	Tries: Luke (1) Rogers (1) Paea (1) Goals: Merritt (4/5)	Report	Tries: M. Bowen (1) Graham (1) Minto (1) Goals: Thurston (1/3)

Round 20 30 July 2007	Wests Tigers	54 - 10	North Queensland Cowboys	Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Attendance: 17,101 Referee/s: Shayne Hayne
	Tries: Harrison (2) Farah (1) Fitzhenry (1) Galea (1) Halatau (1) Heighington (1) Hodgson (1) Morris (1) Tuiaki (1) Goals: Marshall (4/7) Hodgson (2/3) Farah (1/1)	Report	Tries: Bartlett (1) Smith (1) Goals: Thurston (1/2)

Round 21 4 August 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	28 - 22	Canberra Raiders	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 15,791 Referee/s: Tony Archer
	Tries: Farrar (2) Graham (2) M. Bowen (1) Thurston (1) Goals: Graham (2/5) Thurston (0/1)	Report	Tries: Picker (2) Carney (1) Bickerstaff (1) Goals: Dobson (3/4)

Round 22 13 August 2007	Penrith Panthers	26 - 30	North Queensland Cowboys	Penrith Stadium, Sydney Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: Jennings (2) Clinton (1) Daniela (1) Pritchard (1) Goals: Gordon (3/5)	Report	Tries: Graham (3) B. Bowen (1) M. Bowen (1) Justin Smith (1) Goals: Thurston (3/5)

Round 23 18 August 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	24 - 14	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Penrith Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 18,721 Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: M. Bowen (1) Bowman (1) Cashmere (1) Jason Smith (1) Goals: Thurston (4/4)	Report	Tries: Cooper (2) Hornby (1) Goals: Soward (1/3)

Round 24 24 August 2007	Newcastle Knights	18 - 34	North Queensland Cowboys	Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle Referee/s: Jarred Maxwell
	Tries: Bailey (1) Paterson (1) Vuna (1) Goals: Gidley (3/3)	Report	Tries: Graham (2) M. Bowen (1) Sweeney (1) Thurston (1) Williams (1) Goals: Thurston (5/6)

Round 25 31 August 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	38 - 32	Canterbury Bulldogs	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 24,050 Referee/s: Shayne Hayne
	Tries: Farrar (2) Williams (2) Justin Smith (1) Thurston (1) Goals: Thurston (7/7)	Report	Tries: Patten (2) Millard (1) Ryan (1) Tonga (1) Williams (1) Goals: El Masri (4/6)

Finals Series

Qualifying Final 8 September 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	20 - 18	Canterbury Bulldogs	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 24,004 Referee/s: Paul Simpkins
	Tries: Thurston (2) Bowman (1) Goals: Thurston (4/4)	Report	Tries: Millard (1) Patten (1) Tonga (1) Goals: El Masri (3/4)

Semi Final 16 September 2007	North Queensland Cowboys	49 - 12	New Zealand Warriors	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Referee/s: Tony Archer
		Report

Preliminary Final 22 September 2007	Manly Sea Eagles	28 - 6	North Queensland Cowboys	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Referee/s: Paul Simpkins
	Tries: Bell (1) Lyon (1) Stewart (1) Watmough (1) Williamson (1) Goals: Orford (4/7)	Report	Tries: Lillyman (1) Goals: Thurston (1/1)

Statistics

Name	P	T	G	FG	Pts
Brett Anderson	1	1	0	0	4
Matthew Bartlett	11 (5)	2	0	0	8
Scott Bolton	6 (6)	1	0	0	4
Brenton Bowen	16	9	0	0	36
Matthew Bowen	25	21	0	2	86
Paul Bowman	19	5	0	0	20
Ray Cashmere	22 (12)	1	0	0	4
David Faiumu	18 (15)	0	0	0	0
Ben Farrar	9 (2)	5	0	0	20
Sione Faumuina	18 (7)	3	0	0	12
Sam Faust	11 (2)	0	0	0	0
John Frith	1 (1)	0	0	0	0
Ashley Graham	20	17	12/18	0	92
Mark Henry	8	1	0	0	4
Rod Jensen	6 (6)	1	0	0	4
Jacob Lillyman	19 (9)	1	0	0	4
Scott Minto	14	3	0	0	12
Shane Muspratt	3 (1)	0	0	0	0
Jackson Nicolau	1 (1)	0	0	0	0
Luke O'Donnell	4	1	0	0	4
Aaron Payne	25 (3)	0	0	1	1
Matthew Scott	21 (10)	1	0	0	4
Jason Smith	18 (6)	2	0	0	8
Justin Smith	22 (2)	3	0	0	12
Steve Southern	19	1	0	0	4
Neil Sweeney	11	3	0	0	12
Johnathan Thurston	23	10	71/89	0	182
Shane Tronc	17 (7)	2	0	0	8
Ben Vaeau	7 (5)	0	0	0	0
Carl Webb	17	1	0	0	4
Ty Williams	13	6	0	0	24
		101	83/107	3	573

• Appearances in brackets denote games off interchange/repl bench
• Key: P = Played, T = Tries, G = Goals, FG = Field Goals, Pts = Points

Injuries

Injuries hampered the Cowboy's season. Luke O'Donnell was lost early to injury, that kept him out for the rest of the season. Shane Tronc also succumbed to a season-ending injury.

Also, injuries to key men in Jason Smith, Ashley Graham, Matt Scott, Jacob Lillyman, Ben Farrar, Brenton Bowen, Paul Bowman, Carl Webb and Steve Southern, occurred during the course of the season.

References

1. ^ Ross, Livermore (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (pdf). Australian Rugby League Limited. pp. 11. http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/files/ARL_2007_Annrep_1.pdf. Retrieved 15 July 2009. 
2. ^ Honours at cowboys.com.au

External links

• Official North Queensland Cowboys Website