2024 North Queensland Cowboys season

2024 North Queensland Cowboys season
NRL Rank	7th
2024 record	Wins: 9; draws: 0; losses: 7
Points scored	For: 397; against: 395
Team information
CEO	Jeff Reibel
Coach	Todd Payten
Captain	Reuben Cotter Tom Dearden
Stadium	Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Avg. attendance	19,148
High attendance	20,697 (vs. Dolphins, Round 9)
Top scorers
Tries	Jeremiah Nanai (11)
Goals	Valentine Holmes (51)
Points	Valentine Holmes (134)
←  2023 2025 →

The 2024 North Queensland Cowboys season is the 30th in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden, they compete in the NRL's 2024 Telstra Premiership. Cotter and Dearden captain the club for the first time, replacing Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend. ^[1]

Season summary

Milestones

• Round 4: Reece Robson played his 100th NRL game.
• Round 5: Jake Granville played his 200th NRL game for the club.
• Round 5: Kyle Feldt scored his 131st try, becoming the club's all-time leading tryscorer. ^[2]
• Round 6: Scott Drinkwater played his 100th NRL game.
• Round 7: Scott Drinkwater played his 100th NRL game for the club.
• Round 7: Griffin Neame played his 50th NRL game for the club.
• Round 8: Tom Mikaele made his debut for the club.
• Round 8: Kyle Feldt played his 200th NRL game for the club.
• Round 8: Chad Townsend played his 250th NRL game.
• Round 9: Viliami Vailea made his debut for the club.
• Round 10: Harrison Edwards made his debut for the club.
• Round 10: Jeremiah Nanai played his 50th NRL game for the club.
• Round 11: Braidon Burns made his debut and scored his first try for the club.
• Round 11: Viliami Vailea scored his first try for the club.
• Round 11: Sam McIntyre played his 50th NRL game.
• Round 13: Jaxon Purdue and Jamal Shibasaki made their NRL debuts.

Squad

North Queensland Cowboys 2024 Squad

Top 30 squad – 2024 NRL season						Supplementary list		Coaching staff
Braidon Burns – WG Tom Chester – CE Jake Clifford – HB Reuben Cotter (c) – LK Tom Dearden (c) – FE Rob Derby – WG Scott Drinkwater – FB Tom Duffy – HB Harrison Edwards – LK Kyle Feldt – WG		Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – SR Jake Granville – LK Coen Hess – PR Valentine Holmes – CE Zac Laybutt – CE Heilum Luki – SR Sam McIntyre – LK Jordan McLean – PR Tom Mikaele – PR Jeremiah Nanai – SR		Griffin Neame – PR D'Jazirhae Pua'avase – SR Reece Robson – HK Murray Taulagi – WG Jason Taumalolo – PR Jamayne Taunoa-Brown – LK Chad Townsend – HB Viliami Vailea – CE Semi Valemei – WG		Jodeci Baker-Tiraha – CE Emarly Bitungane – PR Jai Hansen – HK Kaiden Lahrs – PR Jamal Shibasaki – SR Extended squad Jaxon Purdue – HB Wil Sullivan – SR		Head coach Todd Payten Assistant coaches Justin Morgan James Maloney Ben Rauter Paul Bowman (Head of Performance) Ashley Graham (Strength & Conditioning) Mark Henry (Strength & Conditioning) James Moran (Strength & Conditioning) Steve Sartori (Physiotherapist) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Development players [3] Extended squad [4] Updated: 8 May 2024 Source(s): NQ Cowboys

Squad movement

Gains

Player	Signed From	Until End of	Notes
Braidon Burns	South Sydney Rabbitohs (mid-season)	2025	[5]
Jake Clifford	Hull F.C.	2024	[6]
Harrison Edwards	Canterbury Bulldogs (mid-season)	2026	[7]
Tom Mikaele	Warrington Wolves	2024	[8]
Viliami Vailea	New Zealand Warriors	2025	[9]

Losses

Player	Signed To	Until End of	Notes
Jake Bourke	Townsville Blackhawks	2024	[10]
Mitch Dunn	Retired	–	[11]
Brendan Elliot	Released	–	[12]
Jack Gosiewski	Brisbane Broncos (mid-season)	2025	[13]
Ben Hampton	Released	–	[14]
Peta Hiku	Hull Kingston Rovers	2026	[15]
Luciano Leilua	St George Illawarra Dragons	2026	[16]
Sylvester Namo	Castleford Tigers	2025	[17]
Riley Price	Penrith Panthers	2025	[18]
Taniela Sadrugu	CA Brive	2024	[19]
Gehamat Shibasaki	Townsville Blackhawks	2024	[20]
James Tamou	Townsville Blackhawks	2024	[21]
Ragarive Wavik	Canterbury Bulldogs	2024	[22]

Re-signings

Player	Until End of	Notes
Coen Hess	2027	[23]
Heilum Luki	2029	[24]
Sam McIntyre	2026	[25]
Tom Mikaele	2027	[26]

Ladder

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Melbourne Storm	17	14	0	3	3	464	323	+141	34	Advance to finals series
2	Penrith Panthers	17	12	0	5	3	384	266	+118	30
3	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	17	11	0	6	3	442	317	+125	28
4	Sydney Roosters	18	11	0	7	2	530	321	+209	26
5	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	18	10	1	7	2	454	357	+97	25
6	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	17	9	0	8	3	346	283	+63	24
7	Dolphins	17	9	0	8	3	433	387	+46	24
8	North Queensland Cowboys	18	10	0	8	2	437	434	+3	24
9	St. George Illawarra Dragons	17	9	0	8	3	364	420	−56	24
10	Canberra Raiders	17	8	0	9	3	334	425	−91	22
11	Brisbane Broncos	18	8	0	10	2	413	388	+25	20
12	South Sydney Rabbitohs	17	7	0	10	3	388	478	−90	20
13	Newcastle Knights	18	8	0	10	2	318	415	−97	20
14	New Zealand Warriors	18	7	1	10	2	374	408	−34	19
15	Gold Coast Titans	17	6	0	11	3	357	446	−89	18
16	Parramatta Eels	17	4	0	13	3	341	494	−153	14
17	Wests Tigers	18	4	0	14	2	321	538	−217	12

Updated to match(es) played on 21 July 2024. Source: National Rugby League

Fixtures

Pre-season

Main article: 2024 NRL pre-season results

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, 18 February	Trial 1	Brisbane Broncos	BB Print Stadium	20 – 46	Finefeuiaki, Mullany, Purdue, Valemei	Mullany (1/1), Purdue (1/1), Duffy (0/2)	5,332
Sunday, 25 February	Trial 2	Canberra Raiders	Seiffert Oval	36 – 26	Feldt (3), Mikaele (2), Laybutt, Taulagi	Holmes (2/4), Drinkwater (1/2), Laybutt (1/1)	6,048
Legend:   Win  Loss  Draw  Bye

Regular season

Main article: 2024 NRL season results

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Ground	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	N	H	A	H	A	–	A	H	–	H					–
Result	W	W	W	L	W	L	L	L	L	L	W	W	W	L	W	B	W	L	B	W					B
Position	1	2	1	3	2	4	8	9	10	12	12	11	10	12	10	8	7	8	8	8
Points	2	4	6	6	8	8	8	8	8	8	10	12	14	14	16	18	20	20	22	24

Source: National Rugby League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Sunday, 10 March	Round 1	Dolphins	Suncorp Stadium	43–18	Laybutt (2), Dearden, Feldt, Luki, Nanai, Taulagi	Holmes (7/7), Townsend (1 FG)	32,477
Saturday, 16 March	Round 2	Newcastle Knights	QCB Stadium	21–20 ( g.p. )	Dearden, Feldt, Nanai, Townsend	Holmes (3/5), Townsend (1 FG)	18,986
Saturday, 23 March	Round 3	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Netstrata Jubilee Stadium	46–24	Taulagi, McIntyre, Neame, Drinkwater, Finefeuiaki, Dearden, Holmes, Townsend	Holmes (7/8)	9,252
Friday, 29 March	Round 4	Brisbane Broncos	Suncorp Stadium	12–38	Holmes, Drinkwater	Holmes (2/2)	45,793
Sunday, 7 April	Round 5	Gold Coast Titans	QCB Stadium	35–22	Laybutt, Taulagi, Drinkwater (2), Robson, Feldt	Holmes (5/6), Townsend (1 FG)	18,870
Saturday, 13 April	Round 6	Parramatta Eels	CommBank Stadium	20–27	Nanai, Chester, Holmes, Drinkwater	Holmes (2/4)	14,443
Sunday, 21 April	Round 7	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	PointsBet Stadium	6–42	Holmes	Holmes (1/1)	12,415
Saturday, 27 April	Round 8	Penrith Panthers	QCB Stadium	20–26	Valemei, Holmes, Finefeuiaki, Nanai	Holmes (2/4)	20,960
Saturday, 4 May	Round 9	Dolphins	QCB Stadium	26–28	Feldt, Cotter, Nanai (2), McIntyre	Holmes (3/5)	20,967
Sunday, 12 May	Round 10	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium	18–20	Nanai (2), Feldt	Holmes (3/3)	12,125
Saturday, 18 May	Round 11	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Suncorp Stadium	28–22	Burns (2), Dearden (2), Vailea	Holmes (4/6)	50,708
Friday, 24 May	Round 12	Wests Tigers	QCB Stadium	42–28	Feldt (2), Holmes (2), Nanai (2), McIntyre	Holmes (7/8)	15,947
Sunday, 2 June	Round 13	Sydney Roosters	Allianz Stadium	18–16	Burns, Drinkwater, Finefeuiaki	Drinkwater (3/5)	13,811
Saturday, 8 June	Round 14	New Zealand Warriors	QCB Stadium	12–42	Drinkwater, Burns	Holmes (2/2)	19,623
Friday, 14 June	Round 15	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium	34–16	Feldt (2), Luki, Nanai, Holmes, Robson	Holmes (5/6)	9,671
	Round 16	Bye
Sunday, 30 June	Round 17	Penrith Panthers	BlueBet Stadium	16–6	Feldt, Burns, Purdue	Holmes (2/3)	15,777
Saturday, 6 July	Round 18	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	QCB Stadium	20–21 ( g.p. )	Townsend, Cotter, Feldt	Holmes (3/3), Drinkwater (1 2pt FG)	18,787
	Round 19	Bye
Sunday, 21 July	Round 20	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	QCB Stadium
Saturday, 27 July	Round 21	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	QCB Stadium
Thursday, 1 August	Round 22	Wests Tigers	Leichhardt Oval
Saturday, 10 August	Round 23	Brisbane Broncos	QCB Stadium
Saturday, 17 August	Round 24	Canberra Raiders	QCB Stadium
	Round 25	Bye
Thursday, 29 August	Round 26	Melbourne Storm	QCB Stadium
Saturday, 7 September	Round 27	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Accor Stadium
Legend:   Win  Loss  Draw  Bye

Statistics

Name	App	T	G	FG	Pts
Braidon Burns	2	3	-	-	12
Tom Chester	4	1	-	-	4
Jake Clifford	2	-	-	-	-
Reuben Cotter	12	1	-	-	4
Tom Dearden	12	5	-	-	20
Scott Drinkwater	13	6	4	-	32
Harrison Edwards	2	-	-	-	-
Kyle Feldt	12	7	-	-	28
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki	13	3	-	-	12
Jack Gosiewski	5	-	-	-	-
Jake Granville	9	-	-	-	-
Valentine Holmes	12	7	44	-	116
Zac Laybutt |4	3	-	-	12
Heilum Luki	7	1	-	-	4
Sam McIntyre	13	3	-	-	12
Jordan McLean	12	-	-	-	-
Tom Mikaele	6	-	-	-	-
Jeremiah Nanai	12	10	-	-	40
Griffin Neame	13	1	-	-	4
Jaxon Purdue	1	-	-	-	-
Reece Robson	12	1	-	-	4
Jamal Shibasaki	1	-	-	-	-
Murray Taulagi	8	3	-	-	12
Jason Taumalolo	13	-	-	-	-
Chad Townsend	12	2	-	3	11
Viliami Vailea	5	1	-	-	4
Semi Valemei	4	1	-	-	4
Totals		59	48	3	335

Source: ^[27]

Representatives

The following players played a representative match in 2024.

	State of Origin 1	State of Origin 2	State of Origin 3
Reuben Cotter	Queensland
Tom Dearden	Queensland
Valentine Holmes	Queensland
Jeremiah Nanai	Queensland
Reece Robson	New South Wales
Murray Taulagi	Queensland

Feeder clubs

Queensland Cup

• Mackay Cutters
• Northern Pride

References

1. "Cowboys crown new captains". NQ Cowboys. 28 January 2024.
2. "King Kyle claims Bowen's crown as Cowboys salute". NRL. 7 April 2024.
3. Development players train with the Top 30 squad but cannot play NRL until after Round 10
4. Players in the extended squad train with the Top 30 squad but are on train and trial or junior contracts
5. "Cowboys sign Burns". NQ Cowboys. 6 May 2024.
6. "Clifford comes home". NQ Cowboys. 2 August 2023.
7. "Cowboys sign Edwards". NQ Cowboys. 26 April 2024.
8. "Mikaele joins Cowboys". NQ Cowboys. 7 December 2023.
9. "Cowboys sign Vailea". NQ Cowboys. 26 July 2023.
10. "Ex-Cowboy Jake Bourke ditches French club after 10 days to sign with Blackhawks". Townsville Bulletin. 9 January 2024.
11. "Dunn joins coaching ranks". NQ Cowboys. 8 November 2023.
12. "Cowboys to farewell nine departing players". NQ Cowboys. 19 September 2023.
13. "Gosiewski Joins Broncos Through 2025". Brisbane Broncos. 29 April 2024.
14. "Recently departed Cowboys utility surprising new job". Zero Tackle. 29 October 2023.
15. "Hull KR secure Kiwis' star Peta Hiku on three-year deal". Hull KR. 21 May 2023.
16. "Dragons secure Luciano Leilua and extend Corey Allan". St George Illawarra Dragons. 24 February 2024.
17. "Namo is a Tiger". Castleford Tigers. 1 October 2023.
18. "Panthers sign Cowboys forward as club confirms development players". Zero Tackle. 13 September 2023.
19. "French rugby club CA Brive raid Cowboys for Taniela Sadrugu". Townsville Bulletin. 10 August 2023.
20. "Which clubs have signed the nine released Cowboys for 2024". Townsville Bulletin. 25 October 2023.
21. "Cowboys legend James Tamou to play on with Townsville Blackhawks in 2024". Townsville Bulletin. 21 September 2023.
22. "Junior Cowboys fullback reportedly leaves for Sydney club". Zero Tackle. 30 October 2023.
23. "Hess on track to be a Cowboy for life". NQ Cowboys. 31 May 2024.
24. "Luki signs long-term extension". NQ Cowboys. 24 April 2024.
25. "Cowboys re-sign McIntyre". NQ Cowboys. 3 April 2024.
26. "Cowboys re-sign Mikaele". NQ Cowboys. 29 May 2024.
27. "2024 North Queensland Cowboys season". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.