Offseason Discussion thread

[Dream]

Opacic is a decent player, he's an upgrade over Shaun Hudson as a depth option. Good enough to play a decent amount of first grade if he can kick on.

We lost four backs last year, who would you guys have signed instead?

 

[BDR]

Can't have a squad full of stars, doubt Opacic sees much first grade this year but we can plug him in to do a job if needed.

Depth is important especially in the outside backs where we have lost a lot of experience

 

[Prince Ernst of Hanover]

Opacic is a decent player, he's an upgrade over Shaun Hudson as a depth option. Good enough to play a decent amount of first grade if he can kick on.

We lost four backs last year, who would you guys have signed instead?

That Allan guy Souths signed. Or the current Gold Coast fullback - Alexander Brimson.

 

[Dream]

That Allan guy Souths signed. Or the current Gold Coast fullback - Alexander Brimson.

We can't just sign whoever we want, it has to be realistic, heaps of clubs would have been after both of those players. They are probably on bigger deals than Opacic too, despite his age.

 

[Jax]

I highly doubt that speed is the only factor assessed in recruiting an NRL back.

This isn't fantasy football you can't just sign anyone.

 

[Minto]

North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo yearns to captain the Cowboys
FEBRUARY 18, 2019

The Courier-Mail can reveal Taumalolo has thrown his name into the captaincy ring following the retirement of the other “JT” – Johnathan Thurston.
Cowboys coach Paul Green is yet to reveal who will captain the 2015 NRL premiers this year.

Thurston and fellow club legend Matt Scott shared the co-captaincy of the Cowboys since 2011.

Scott, 33, is expected to retire at season’s end, leaving Green with a big decision to make.

Townsville’s golden child Michael Morgan is the raging favourite to be North Queensland’s next captain, but Taumalolo has given Green food for thought.

The Cowboys signed the 2016 Dally M medallist to a record 10-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2027.

And the 25-year-old powerhouse said he would be honoured to captain the club which gave him a crack at the NRL.

“It would be a nice gesture to lead the club and team around,” Taumalolo said.

“I go out there and if I’m giving everything I’ve got on the weekend, then I’m happy with that. If the boys want to follow my lead, I like to lead by my actions.

“We’ve still got a lot of players that are capable of (captaining).

“Michael Morgan will be pushing heavily for the captaincy. He is the next captain-in-waiting, obviously being JT’s partner and learning off him.

“The captaincy is locked in for the next few years if Morgo gets it, which will be great for the club as he’s a great role model and leader.

“Morgo, Gavin Cooper, Matt Scott have leadership and experience to lead the team around too. We’ve got plenty of leadership in the club.

“Anyone that does take the captaincy will do the job.”

Green is planning to announce his captaincy selection at North Queensland’s season launch on March 8.

Regardless of which way the coach swings, Taumalolo is desperate to rocket back to his best in 2019.

The destructive forward was, by his own standards, quiet at times throughout North Queensland’s shocking 2018 campaign, where the pre-season premiership favourites failed to make the finals.

But Taumalolo finished the season with a bang and wants to pick up where he left off this year.

“I was disappointed in how we went,” he said.

“There were a few reasons for it. It was a pretty disappointing year as a club and it wasn’t the ideal year for myself.

“The back end of the season I tried to give it a crack, but when we found out our hopes of making the finals were done and dusted you can’t really do much.

“We were pretty much playing for pride. The boys finished well which was a great way to finish the year and lead into this season.”

The Cowboys will play their first trial match of the pre-season on Saturday night against the Gold Coast Titans on the Sunshine Coast.

Green is expected to roll out close to a full strength squad given North Queensland’s pre-season preparations were severely impacted by recent devastating Townsville floods.

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[Cowboy_4_Life]

Greeny mentioned previously he wasnt a fan of the whole dual captaincy thing... but when you have your two marquee players putting their hands up, it would be hard not to seriously consider the dual roles again.

I never really saw Lolo as a big talker tho, more of an action kinda guy, a captaincy might be more of a token guesture wrt him, while Morgo would always play the dominant role (exactly like JT and Thumper in the past)

 

[Spiral]

Personally feel like Morgo has the calmness under pressure to lead the side around as captain, whereas I wouldn't want to be throwing too much extra onto Lolo's plate given the job he does. Just needs to focus on destroying defensive lines rather than dealing with the referees which seems to be such a huge issue these days. Either way, great to see him put his hand up. I think his time with Tonga recently has been massive in going to the next level as far as being an on-field leader goes.

 

[Minto]

Kahu: I'm really excited about the opportunity
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys new recruit Jordan Kahu on making the move north.

Kahu: I'm really excited about the opportunity

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys new recruit Jordan Kahu on making the move north.

www.cowboys.com.au

 

[BDR]

Definitely sounds like he wants to and intends to play fullback first and foremost

 

[Heart]

He doesn’t sound hugely excited to be here to be honest.

However the huge change all of a sudden is probably overwhelming and anxiety inducing.

Must be weird for him also playing all those huge rivalry games against the Cowboys and then just rocking up to training 3 weeks before the season. I imagine it’s a lot to take in.

 

[Rumbo]

Looks like its pretty much confirmed TMM will partner Morgan in the halves

 

[Dream]

Looks like its pretty much confirmed TMM will partner Morgan in the halves

So called supporters on Facebook aren't good at supporting the team, some of them are hoping TMM gets injured in the trial.

The same people would write Clifford of if he had a shaky start.

 

[Spiral]

So called supporters on Facebook aren't good at supporting the team, some of them are hoping TMM gets injured in the trial.

The same people would write Clifford of if he had a shaky start.

Seriously? Far out there are some absolute deadshits in those FB groups. Whoever runs them does a good job but reading the comments can be so cringeworthy.

 

[Rumbo]

Facebook caters for the lowest common denominator

 

[Dream]

Jensen has put on some weight:

Jensen: He's going to bolster the squad

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys prop Corey Jensen on trying to keep on extra weight heading into the 2019 season.

www.cowboys.com.au

 

[Minto]

Could this former Pride gun be the next Taumalolo?
FEBRUARY 20, 2019

DAVID Scott knew Peter Hola would be something special the first time the young forward wore a Northern Pride jersey.

“He will be a 10-year NRL player,” Scott declared.

Signed to North Queensland Cowboys’ National Youth Competition program in 2017, Hola found himself playing for the Pride’s under-20s team for much of last year.

Scott, who coached the side, said he was not surprised to learn Hola signed a four-year deal at the Cowboys earlier this week.

It is a deal which elevates the towering forward to the Cowboys’ 30-man squad, which could allow the Junior Kiwis representative an opportunity to earn an NRL debut this season.

When asked to compare Hola’s playing style and ability to a current NRL player, both Scott and the Pride’s Intrust Super Cup coach Ty Williams nominated wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo.

“He is a similar build to Jason Taumalolo, but he’s got good footwork and a lovely offload which means he moves the ball,” Williams said.

Williams gave Hola a chance to play the Pride’s final Intrust Super Cup game of the season last year, but you wouldn’t have known it was his debut.

“He did more than hold his own in that game,” Williams said.

Scott had an up-close look at the man as the teenager developed into a powerhouse.

He watched him not only play for the Pride, who reached the finals, but saw how he dedicated himself to training and threw himself into any challenge that arised.

Scott is the first to say it won’t be an easy step up to the NRL squad, but he backed Hola to continue to impress Cowboys coach Paul Green, and not just on the field.

“Everyone struggled to contain him,” Scott said.

“He was a little bit raw but he has the footwork, speed, and ability to play big minutes, which helped us enormously.

“I’ve only got good things to say about him.”

Cowboys director of football Peter Parr regards Hola as one of the best young forwards in rugby league.

“To be able to play Queensland Cup last year and hold his own at such a young age in the middle of the field showed us we had a special talent on our hands,” Parr said.

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[Revivous]

Renouf: Granville needs to lift his game for Cowboys to fire
Author
Steve Renouf
NRL.com
Thu 21 Feb 2019, 11:54 AM

North Queensland hooker Jake Granville is the lynchpin of his side and I reckon he needs a major improvement this year if the Cowboys are to get back in the top eight.

With Johnathan Thurston now retired Granville is more of a vital cog in that Cowboys machine than ever and he needs to get them humming.
I've always rated Granville highly but watching him last year I thought he lacked the spark and impact that he's had when the Cowboys won the competition in 2015.

After having a look at some of his stats I noted they were down as well compared to the best hookers in the competition, and well down on his 2015 season. Just as an example, he made on average 3.8 dummy half runs per game and 35.3 metres per game on average. Compare that to Damien Cook who had seven runs per game out of there and made 78.8m on average.
If your numbers are down as a hooker your team is going to feel the pinch.

A few seasons ago Jake Granville was one of the best hookers in the game and when you set that standard there is an expectation that it will at least continue.

That position of hooker is so important. The greats like Cameron Smith run the entire show out of there. Granville has done it before, but even more so now they need him to step up out of there this year.

Smith can get into that playmaking role and play like a half. He speeds up a game and slows it down and maybe Granville needs to look at some old videos of how Smith goes about his business.

Jake has a great running game and can read the game as well. He is a smart footballer. His passing game is there, but for some reason it went awry last season.

You could say that for the entire Cowboys side with the season they have just had.

Paul Green is the man to get the best out of Granville. He did wonders with him at Wynnum-Manly and then took him up to the Cowboys where he developed him from a bit-part player at the Broncos to an NRL regular and premiership winner.

Without Thurston they are all going to have to lift at the Cowboys. You can't underestimate what a loss he will be. It was the same when Allan Langer left the Broncos. Until those greats go you don't realise it. I remember when Alf would miss games we'd think 'we'll be right' but funny enough we always struggled.

A key factor that will help Granville in and around the ruck, where he is so quick, is the forward pack he will play behind. This year they should have a fit Jordan McLean and Matt Scott, Josh McGuire is going to add a lot because he is so mobile and has such a high work rate, then you have got guys like Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess as well.

I think Jordan Kahu is a good signing for the Cowboys as well. Talent-wise he has it all going for him, he can play anywhere in the backline and he kicks goals.

This season is a big challenge for Green as a coach. It will test him. The Cowboys have fired under him since he arrived in 2014 and then last season was a major drop-off. Nothing seemed to go right.

I know he is a stickler for detail and he will have them primed to go, and they need to start winning early this season. They are notorious slow starters and need to get competition points early this year. If Granville fires that will go a long way towards the Cowboys returning to finals footy.

Steve Renouf: Jake Granville needs to lift his game for Cowboys to fire

North Queensland hooker Jake Granville is the lynchpin of his side and I reckon he needs a major improvement this year if the Cowboys are to get back in the top eight.

www.nrl.com

 

[BDR]

No surprises there, this is a crunch year for Jake. At his age another shaky season could be the end of his NRL career

 

[Moggy]

I'd hate to see his 2017 stats then, i thought he was a better last year.
Didn't realize he's 30