Trisha Shetty (Editor)

2008 North Queensland Cowboys season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
NRL Rank
  
15th

Points scored
  
For: 474; Against: 638

Play-off result
  
Missed finals

CEO
  
Peter Parr

2008 record
  
Wins: 5; Draws: 0; Losses: 19

Coach
  
Graham Murray (Resigned on 19 May) Ian Millward (Interim)

The 2008 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 14th season in the club's history. They were coached by Graham Murray and captained by Johnathan Thurston, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2008 Telstra Premiership.

Contents

On 19 May, Murray resigned as head coach after just three wins from the opening 10 games. He was replaced by assistant coach Ian Millward, who took over as interim head coach until the end of the season. The Cowboys finished the season in 15th place, avoiding the wooden spoon by points differential.

Season summary

The Cowboys entered the 2008 season optimistic about the finals chances after a preliminary final appearance in 2007. The club got off to the worst possible start, losing three straight games. They would win their next three but it proved to be a false dawn, as the side went on a club record 13-game losing streak. They finished the season with two wins from their final five games, finishing in 15th place and narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon. The season was plagued by injury, with key players Matthew Bowen, Luke O'Donnell, Matthew Scott and Johnathan Thurston all missing considerable playing time due to injuries.

On April 2, the Cowboys signed former assistant coach and then-Canberra Raiders coach Neil Henry as their head coach for the 2009 season. A month later, Graham Murray re-signed as head coach and was replaced by his assistant Ian Millward as interim head coach for the rest of 2008. Millward's first win as head coach occurred in Round 22, as the Cowboys defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 36-12 at Suncorp Stadium.

Despite the poor season, the club still maintained the fourth highest home crowd average in the NRL with an average of 18,102.

Milestones

  • Round 1: Travis Burns and Ben Harris made their debuts for the club.
  • Round 2: Dayne Weston made his debut for the club.
  • Round 2: Obe Geia made his NRL debut.
  • Round 4: Anthony Watts and John Williams made their debuts for the club.
  • Round 8: Daniel Abraham made his debut for the club.
  • Round 14: Nick Slyney made his NRL debut.
  • Round 15: Greg Byrnes made his NRL debut.
  • Round 16: Brandon Boor and Sam Bowie made their NRL debuts.
  • Round 19: Luke Harlen made his debut for the club.
  • Round 21: The club recorded their longest losing streak with their 13th straight loss.

    • Statistics

    Source:

    Representatives

    The following players have played a representative match in 2008

    League

  • Wally Lewis Medal: Johnathan Thurston

    • Club

  • Paul Bowman Medal: Aaron Payne
  • Player's Player: Aaron Payne
  • Club Person of the Year: Aaron Payne
  • Rookie of the Year: Nick Slyney
  • Most Improved: Brandon Boor
  • NYC Player of the Year: Nick Slyney

    • National Youth Competition

  • North Queensland Cowboys - 16th, Wooden Spoon

    • Queensland Cup

  • Mackay Cutters - 9th, missed finals
  • Northern Pride - 3rd, lost preliminary final

    • References

    2008 North Queensland Cowboys season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA