North Queensland Cowboys 2012 Season Review

After bowing out meekly in the first week of the 2011 finals series, a largely unchanged Cowboys squad started their 2012 campaign hopeful of making a much larger impact on the competition this time around. With depth in all areas and the experience and skill necessary, the thought of a North Queensland side going all the way was no longer just the dream of the delusional fanatic.

The season started off comprehensively enough, unfortunately the Cowboys finding themselves on the wrong side of an 18-0 demolition as they made 28 errors in a pathetic opening-round clash with the Titans. The only way was up, and from here some last-minute magic from superstar fullback Matty Bowen secured victory against the Broncos, while a systematic dismantlement of strugglers the Eels gave Cowboys fans more of a glimpse of what the team was capable of.

In what was an at times inconsistent season the Cowboys finished strongly, winning their last four games and comfortably overcoming rivals the Broncos for the third time in the year to move into the second week of the finals. Again it was defending premiers the Manly Sea Eagles standing in their way, the reigning champions ending the Cowboys