North Queensland Cowboys 2015 Preview

The Paul Green regime promised a brighter future and started brightly, with their Auckland Nines win, they finished off predictably - eliminated in the second week of the finals series despite defeating fellow Queenslanders, Brisbane Broncos. There were no cries of conspiracy just another season that promised a lot especially as the Cowboys were in the top four for a majority of the season but like the fifteen other sides watched the Rabbitohs lift the trophy in October.

2015 has brought some refreshing in the ranks up north with the retirement of club stalwart Brent Tate alongside the loss of both Sims brothers and talented youngster Curtis Rona leaves a few spots open in the backline. In their place they have recruited premiership experience in Ben Hannant and Justin O'Neill alongside some youthful signings to give their halves more options in the attacking half of the field.

This season is once again a chance for the Cowboys to have a good tilt at the premiership with Johnathan Thurston, who is regularly being courted by other sides, and a well balanced team that will likely finish in the top four and qualify for a fifth straight finals series.

WHY THEY'LL WIN IT
Any team that has Johnathan Thurston will have a shot at winning the premiership but the talented half is now ably assisted by his halfback and Michael Morgan who made the fullback spot his own last season to take some weight off his back. Making the metres up front is a talented and powerful forward pack that steamrolled opponents last season and will look to continue that into the new season.

WHY THEY WON'T
It sounds like a broken record from the Warriors preview but it is a worrying aspect for teams outside NSW who hold the majority of the teams in the competition - traveling. They lost nine matches in 2014 with eight of those coming outside of North Queensland which ultimately cost them a top four spot despite their impressive home record and their chance at the premiership as they had to travel to Sydney for week two.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Scott & James Tamou
Every talking head will put Johnathan Thurston in this spot, gushing happily about the five-eighth whom his laugh is as infectious as his dummy but outside him there is another key to the Cowboys side. Matthew Scott and James Tamou lay the platform alongside workhorse backrowers to open up the field for the previously mentioned Thurston to put teams to the sword.

ROOKIE TO WATCH
Javid Bowen
A name that will be familiar to long time NRL fans but with his cousin moving to the European Super League, Javid Bowen was an exciting prospect in the National Youth League competition scoring on debut against St George in 2012 then followed it up with 18 tries in 18 games the next season. He stepped up to the full-time squad this season and will see time, maybe during the origin period to wean him into NRL football.

PLAYER MOVEMENT
GAINS -  Jake Granville (Broncos), Ben Hannant (Broncos), Kyle McConnell, Justin O'Neill (Storm), Kelepi Tanginoa (Eels)
LOSSES - Anthony Mitchell (Blackhawks), Curtis Rona (Bulldogs), Ashton Sims (Wolves), Tariq Sims (Knights), Brent Tate (retired), Ricky Thorby (Blackhawks)

BEST ROUND 1 LINE-UP
1. Michael Morgan
2. Antonio Winterstein
3. Tautau Moga
4. Kane Linnett
5. Matthew Wright
6. Robert Lui
7. Johnathan Thurston (c)
8. Matt Scott (c)
9. Rory Kostjasyn
10. James Tamou
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Jason Taumalolo
13. Glenn Hall
Interchange: 14. Ray Thompson 15. Scott Bolton 16. Ben Hannant 17. Ethan Lowe