2020 North Queensland Cowboys season

The 2020 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 26th in the club's history. Coached by Paul Green and captained by Michael Morgan, they competed in the NRL's 2020 Telstra Premiership. The 2020 season was the club's first at their new home ground, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, after 25 seasons at Willows Sports Complex.[2]

2020 North Queensland Cowboys season
NRL Rank14th
Play-off resultMissed finals
2020 recordWins: 5; draws: 0; losses: 15
Points scoredFor: 368; against: 520
Team information
CEOJeff Reibel
CoachPaul Green (resigned on July 20)
Josh Hannay (interim)
Captain
StadiumQueensland Country Bank Stadium
Avg. attendance6,712[1]
High attendance22,459 (vs. Brisbane, Round 1)
Top scorers
TriesKyle Feldt (19)
GoalsValentine Holmes (24)
PointsKyle Feldt (122)
< 2019 2021 >

On 20 July, Green resigned as head coach after just three wins from the opening 10 games. He was replaced by assistant coach Josh Hannay, who took over as interim head coach until the end of the season.[3]

Season summary

Milestones

Squad
North Queensland Cowboys 2020 Squad
NRL squad Coaching Staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)

Updated: 24 November 2019
Source(s): NQ Cowboys

Squad movement

Gains
Player Signed From Until End of Notes
Valentine Holmes New York Jets
2025
[4]
Connelly Lemuelu Canterbury Bulldogs
2021
[5]
Esan Marsters Wests Tigers
2022
[6]
Reece Robson St George Illawarra Dragons
2023
[7]

Losses
Player Signed To Until End of Notes
Carlin Anderson Townsville Blackhawks
2020
[8]
Kurt Baptiste Easts Tigers
2020
[9]
Logan Bayliss-Brow Easts Tigers
2020
[10]
Scott BoltonRetired
–
[8]
Javid Bowen Northern Pride
2020
[11]
Gideon Gela-Mosby Northern Pride
2020
[12]
Jordan Kahu Brisbane Broncos
2020
[13]
Te Maire MartinRetired
–
[14]
Matthew ScottRetired
–
[8]
Enari Tuala Newcastle Knights
2020
[8]
Kurt Wiltshire Wests Tigers Mackay
2020
[15]

Re-signings
Player Club Until End of Notes
Reuben Cotter North Queensland Cowboys
2022
[16]
Mitchell Dunn North Queensland Cowboys
2022
[17]
Kyle Feldt North Queensland Cowboys
2024
[18]
Francis Molo North Queensland Cowboys
2021
[17]
Emry Pere North Queensland Cowboys
2022
[17]
Shane Wright North Queensland Cowboys
2021
[18]

Ladder
2020 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Penrith Panthers 2018110537238+29937
2 Melbourne Storm (P) 2016040534276+25832
3 Parramatta Eels 2015050392288+10430
4 Sydney Roosters 2014060552322+23028
5 Canberra Raiders 2014060445317+12828
6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2012080521352+16924
7 Newcastle Knights 2011180421374+4723
8 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20100100480480020
9 Gold Coast Titans 2090110346463−11718
10 New Zealand Warriors 2080120343458−11516
11 Wests Tigers 2070130440505−6514
12 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2070130378452−7414
13 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2070130375509−13414
14 North Queensland Cowboys 2050150368520−15210
15 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2030170282504−2226
16 Brisbane Broncos 2030170268624−3566

Fixtures

NRL Nines
Main article: 2020 NRL Nines

The NRL Nines is a pre-season rugby league nines competition featuring all 16 NRL clubs. The 2020 competition was played over two days on February 14 and 15 at HBF Park in Perth. The Cowboys finished first in Pool 4 and defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra Dragons on their way to winning the competition.

Pool Play

Pool 4
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
North Queensland Cowboys 2 2 0 0 27 18 +9 4
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2 1 0 1 25 14 +11 2
Brisbane Broncos 2 1 0 1 23 25 −2 2
Melbourne Storm 2 0 0 2 12 30 −18 0
Source:
Date Time (Local) Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Saturday, 14 February7:05 pmRound 1 Brisbane BroncosHBF Park17 – 11Drinkwater (bonus try), Hess, Tabuai-FidowClifford (2)
Sunday, 15 Saturday1:45 pmRound 2 Manly Sea EaglesHBF Park10 – 7Opacic, TaulagiDrinkwater (1)
Legend:   Win   Loss

Finals
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
Newcastle Knights 7
Parramatta Eels 14
Parramatta Eels 6
St. George Illawarra Dragons 8
St. George Illawarra Dragons 17
Penrith Panthers 14
St. George Illawarra Dragons 14
North Queensland Cowboys 23
Gold Coast Titans 24
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 0
Gold Coast Titans 10
North Queensland Cowboys 19
North Queensland Cowboys 20
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6
Date Time (Local) Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Sunday, 15 Saturday3:55 pmQuarter South Sydney RabbitohsHBF Park20 – 6Drinkwater (bonus try), Hess (bonus try), Tabuai-FidowClifford (2), Feldt (1)
Sunday, 15 Saturday5:45 pmSemi Gold Coast TitansHBF Park19 – 8Feldt (bonus try), Drinkwater, Tabuai-Fidow, WrightFeldt (1)
Sunday, 15 Saturday7:00 pmFinal St George Illawarra DragonsHBF Park23 – 14Robson (bonus try), Clifford, Hess, Tabuai-FidowClifford (2), Drinkwater (1)
Legend:   Win   Loss

Pre-season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Saturday, 22 FebruaryTrial 1 Brisbane BroncosBarlow Park18 – 16Cotter (2), Gilbert, LemueluClifford (1/4)–
Saturday, 29 FebruaryTrial 2 Melbourne StormCasey Fields14 – 22Feldt, Holmes, O'NeillHolmes (1/3)–
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Regular season

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the regular season was suspended after Round 2.[19] On 9 April, the NRL announced that competition would re-commence on 28 May with a shortened 20-round regular season.[20] On 21 May, the full revised draw was released[21][22] From Round 7 onward, the Cowboys were allowed to host fans at their home games, starting with a limit of 2,000, before eventually rising to 10,000 from Round 9.

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Friday, 13 MarchRound 1 Brisbane BroncosQueensland Country Bank Stadium21 – 28Cooper, Feldt, Hampton, HolmesFeldt (2/2), Holmes (0/2), Morgan (1 FG)22,459
Thursday, 19 MarchRound 2 Canterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium24 – 16Drinkwater, Hampton, Hess, TaumaloloHolmes (4/5)0
Friday, 29 MayRound 3 Gold Coast TitansQueensland Country Bank Stadium36 – 6Hampton (2), Robson (2), Feldt, O'NeillHolmes (6/7)0
Saturday, 6 JuneRound 4 Cronulla SharksQueensland Country Bank Stadium16 – 26Feldt (2), O'NeillHolmes (2/3)0
Friday, 12 JuneRound 5 WarriorsCentral Coast Stadium26 – 37Feldt (2), Holmes, Molo, O'NeillFeldt (3/5)0
Saturday, 20 JuneRound 6 Wests TigersCampbelltown Stadium36 – 20Feldt (2), Drinkwater, MarstersClifford (1/2), Feldt (1/3)0
Saturday, 27 JuneRound 7 Newcastle KnightsQueensland Country Bank Stadium32 – 20Clifford, Feldt, Hess, O'Neill, Tabuai-FidowFeldt (6/6)1,853
Friday, 3 JulyRound 8 Parramatta EelsBankwest Stadium4 – 42OpacicFeldt (0/1)6,730
Thursday, 9 JulyRound 9 Sydney RoostersQueensland Country Bank Stadium16 – 42Robson (2), HessFeldt (2/4)6,478
Sunday, 19 JulyRound 10 Penrith PanthersPanthers Stadium10 – 22Asi, Tabuai-FidowFeldt (1/2)2,891
Friday, 24 JulyRound 11 Manly Sea EaglesQueensland Country Bank Stadium12 – 24Feldt, MoloFeldt (2/2)7,127
Saturday, 1 AugustRound 12 Canberra RaidersQueensland Country Bank Stadium12 – 14Robson, TaumaloloFeldt (2/2)7,586
Sunday, 9 AugustRound 13 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium10 – 30Feldt, O'NeillFeldt (1/2)5,646
Saturday, 15 AugustRound 14 South Sydney RabbitohsQueensland Country Bank Stadium30 – 31Morgan (2), Dunn, Lemuelu, Opacic, Tabuai-FidowFeldt (3/7)7,611
Sunday, 23 AugustRound 15 Newcastle KnightsMcDonald Jones Stadium0 – 145,304
Saturday, 29 AugustRound 16 Cronulla SharksNetstrata Jubilee Stadium12 – 28Feldt (2)Holmes (2/2)2,717
Sunday, 6 SeptemberRound 17 St George Illawarra DragonsQueensland Country Bank Stadium23 – 22Clifford, Feldt, Holmes, MoloHolmes (3/4, 1 FG)6,755
Sunday, 13 SeptemberRound 18 Melbourne StormSunshine Coast Stadium20 – 36Feldt, Holmes, Marsters, Tabuai-FidowHolmes (2/4)4,056
Friday, 18 SeptemberRound 19 Penrith PanthersQueensland Country Bank Stadium12 – 32Feldt, Tabuai-FidowHolmes (2/2)7,247
Thursday, 24 SeptemberRound 20 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium32 – 16Feldt (3), Clifford, O'Neill, Tabuai-FidowHolmes (3/5), Cooper (1/1)17,174
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Statistics
NameAppTGFGPts
Daejarn Asi51--4
John Asiata11----
Jake Clifford1431-20
Ben Condon1----
Gavin Cooper1511-6
Reuben Cotter10----
Scott Drinkwater162--8
Mitchell Dunn171--4
Kyle Feldt201923-122
Tom Gilbert12----
Jake Granville8----
Ben Hampton134--16
Coen Hess153--12
Peter Hola4----
Valentine Holmes12424165
Corey Jensen8----
Connelly Lemuelu71--4
Esan Marsters122--8
Josh McGuire17----
Jordan McLean15----
Francis Molo203--12
Michael Morgan62-19
Justin O'Neill176--24
Tom Opacic52--8
Emry Pere2----
Reece Robson145--20
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow146--24
Murray Taulagi4----
Jason Taumalolo162--8
Shane Wright8----
Totals67492368

Representatives

The following players have played a representative match in 2020.

All Stars matchState of Origin 1State of Origin 2State of Origin 3
Coen Hess
–
Queensland
–
–
Valentine Holmes
–
–
Queensland
Queensland
Esan Marsters
Māori All Stars
–
–
–

Honours

Club

Feeder Clubs

Queensland Cup

The Cowboys' three feeder clubs, the Mackay Cutters, Northern Pride and Townsville Blackhawks, each played just one game before the 2020 Queensland Cup season was postponed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

Women's team

QRL Women's Premiership

The Cowboys' women's team, the North Queensland Gold Stars, played just one game in the QRL Women's Premiership before the season was postponed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

References
  1. Crowds were limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  2. "Taking shape – our new home from 2020". cowboys.com.au. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  3. "Green makes immediate exit from Cowboys". NRL. 20 July 2020.
  4. "Cowboys sign Holmes on long-term deal". cowboys.com.au. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  5. "Cowboys sign Lemuelu". cowboys.com.au. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. "Cowboys sign Kiwi international Marsters". cowboys.com.au. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  7. "Cowboys sign Junior Kangaroo". North Queensland Cowboys. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  8. "Cowboys to farewell eight departing players". cowboys.com.au. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  9. "Purcell poised to pounce with Easts Tigers". 9 March 2020.
  10. "Dolphins newbie to line up for Broncos against old club Capras". qrl.com.au. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  11. "Northern Pride secure ex-Cowboy Javid Bowen for 2020". cairnspost.com.au. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  12. "Northern Pride secure ex-Cowboy Javid Bowen for 2020". cairnspost.com.au. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  13. "Kahu set to return to Broncos after short stint at Cowboys". November 2019.
  14. "Martin announces immediate retirement". 12 January 2020.
  15. Wiltshire puts NRL dream on hold, focus is Tigers (subscription required)
  16. "Cowboys re-sign Cotter". NQ Cowboys. 30 September 2020.
  17. "Cowboys re-sign forward trio". NQ Cowboys. 31 July 2020.
  18. "Feldt, Wright re-sign with Cowboys". NQ Cowboys. 3 June 2020.
  19. "NRL season suspended: Greenberg, V'landys statements". 23 March 2020.
  20. "May 28: ARL Commission proposes date for NRL to restart". 9 April 2020.
  21. "Cowboys full 2020 draw released". 21 May 2020.
  22. "Rivalries and intrigue headline round three draw for NRL restart". 15 May 2020.
  23. "2020 Presentation Night: Live Updates". NQ Cowboys. 2 October 2020.
  24. "Major second-tier competitions cancelled across Australia". QRL. 27 March 2020.

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