2023 Preview: North Queensland Cowboys

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Last season was supposed to be a year of re-tooling, a chance for Todd Payten to build on his vision as the Cowboys took another step closer to contending.

Instead, North Queensland took one giant step and in fact fell just one game short of playing for an unlikely premiership.

An injection of youth, led by try-scoring machine Jeremiah Nanai, gave the Cowboys' aging forward pack a much-needed facelift.

Meanwhile, the experienced Chad Townsend formed a solid combination with Tom Dearden as Scott Drinkwater excelled when given an opportunity at fullback.

Add in the dynamic Reece Robson out of dummy-half and North Queensland had a well-balanced spine and fast-improving forward pack that has even more growing to do in 2023.

The Cowboys may have missed out on a premiership last season but with much of the roster intact and Todd Payten still at the helm, there is every reason they could go one better and deliver a first title since 2015.

Why they'll win it

Funnily enough, last year this section simply opened with: They won't.

It just seemed far too soon for the Cowboys to be genuine contenders, even if Payten was starting to take the team in the right direction.

Now though expectations are high.

But North Queensland's forward pack in particular can match it with most in the competition and is a key reason why it can take home the trophy in 2023.

Let's start with Reuben Cotter, who quickly established himself as one of the most hard-working middle forwards in the game last year.

Just as important though is the fact he's not one-dimensional. He is developing his ball-playing and is also an explosive runner, making him tough to defend.

Then there is Nanai, who made a habit of scoring tries. He's just re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of 2027 so the dynamic backrower won't be going anytime soon.

Mid-season recruit Luciano Leilua also adds an extra element to the attack on the edges, with deft offloads and passes close to the line.

At the moment though he is facing domestic violence charges and has been stood down under the NRL's no-fault stand down policy.

But young, exciting prospect Heilum Luki is ready to fill that void, although it will likely come a few games into the season as he works his way back from a torn ACL.

Regardless, add in the revitalised Coen Hess and Jordan McLean, the running threat of hooker Robson and the explosive Jason Taumalolo and this Cowboys pack is right up there.

Plus, on Taumalolo, there is still the question of how to best use him in attack, be it in a more traditional lock forward role or as a hybrid player who is also moved strategically to the second row at times during games.

There is so much for Payten to work with and so much for opposition defences to handle.

Why they won't

The roster is very similar to that of 2022 so there are no key departures to point to here.

Rather, if anything, the main reason the Cowboys may slip down the ladder is simply because they overachieved last season.

Working in their favour though is the fact that teams like the Panthers, Eels and Storm have only potentially got worse this year if you look at the quality of players they have lost.

Maybe something could be made of potential limitations in the halves pairing of Townsend and Dearden, who both seem to play very similar styles of football that may risk making the attack too predictable.

But the Cowboys were anything but predictable last year, willing to even spread it inside their own half while Drinkwater added an extra ball-playing option out the back.

Put simply, this team should be competing for the premiership based on what they achieved last year.

Key player

It all starts with Taumalolo, who creates headlines with his $10 million price tag alone.

When you're being paid that much money it's to be expected that there will be an even greater spotlight on your play - and in the case of Taumalolo, how you are used.

While North Queensland's rampaging lock forward has the size and power to be deployed as battering ram against opposition defences, that simplifies his strengths.

As the Sydney Morning Herald explained late last year, coach Payten has varied Taumalolo's role in the team to open up the Cowboys' attack.

That didn't just mean getting his hands on the ball more. Rather, it meant giving Taumalolo the freedom to add more ball-playing to his game.

Prior to their preliminary final against the Eels, Taumalolo had touched the ball 20.2 times a game in the 2022 season.

It was more than the 18 possessions in 2021 but pretty near on par with his past five seasons, so not much had changed there.

Crucially though, Taumalolo was averaging six passes a game - easily the most of his career according to The Herald - along with five linebreak assists and three try assists.

Opposition defences need to send players at Taumalolo to shut down a man of his size but adding in a passing option only made that mission tougher.

It risked leaving Taumalolo's teammates open with short corridors to run through should he pop the pass - it put the defence in two minds.

Finding more ways to do that with Taumalolo will be key to keeping the Cowboys on top of the table this season.

Rookie to watch

Riley Price and Taniela Sadrugu are the two names to watch up north this season.

While Price is listed as a lock forward on North Queensland's website he also plays at prop, which will come in handy given it is his best avenue to a spot in Payten's 17.

The Cowboys have a few ageing front rowers on their books this year, who will offer valuable experience but could also be usurped later in the season by up-and-coming talent.

Payten had success with giving young players a chance last season and having been promoted to the top 30 squad, Price will get his opportunity to impress at training.

Price played a mix of lock and prop last year for the Townsville Blackhawks, averaging 93 run metres and 26 tackles.

Sadrugu was also promoted to the top 30 squad after agreeing to a one-year extension with the Cowboys last year.

The initial plan was for the former Fijian Rugby Sevens player to feature in the forwards when he first joined but he was instead shifted to the centres.

Sadrugu though is expected to find himself back in the forward pack this year for the Cowboys and could be another breakout star for the club, particularly during the Origin period when depth will be tested.

Sadrugu scored seven tries in 15 games at centre for the Blackhawks, although he also impressed in the forwards while playing for the Fiji Bati at the World Cup.

2023 Cowboys squad

2023 Player Movement

Gains: James Tamou (Wests Tigers), Jack Gosiewski (St George Illawarra)

Losses: Daejarn Asi (Warriors, during 2022), Tom Gilbert, Connelly Lemuelu, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Ben Condon (Manly), Kane Bradley, Brendan Frei, Emry Pere (released)

Best 17

1.    Scott Drinkwater
2.    Kyle Feldt
3.    Valentine Holmes
4.    Peta Hiku
5.    Murray Taulagi
6.    Tom Dearden
7.    Chad Townsend
8.    Jordan McLean
9.    Reece Robson
10. Reuben Cotter
11. Jeremiah Nanai
12. Heilum Luki *
13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Jake Granville
15. Griffin Neame
16. Coen Hess
17.  Mitchell Dunn *

*denotes may not be fit for Round 1 due to injury

2023 Cowboys fixtures

Some statistics courtesy RLP.