Cowboys 2023 preview: Townsville’s real-deal threats another year wiser

This time last year there were more doubts than hopes circling around Townsville’s footy outfit. Todd Payten hadn’t had long with the Cowboys, there were talks of a spat with monster forward and club leader Jason Taumalolo, and the team’s list wasn’t sizzling on paper.

Every single one of those things fell by the wayside as the Cowboys soared.

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Everything has changed coming into 2023. Expectations now hang heavy on Payten’s North Queensland team and with another year together to build towards his vision, some are beginning to whisper they could be a title threat up against the heavyweight Roosters or back-to-back Panthers. With that, however, comes downside—they won’t be the surprise package this year. Instead, teams will aim up and have more than two dozen premiership games to study to learn Payten’s plans.

Despite all that, you wouldn’t be betting against the Cowboys coming out swinging again in 2023. There’s something building up in the NRL’s northern stronghold and North Queensland remains a must-watch team every week.

Last year’s finish: 3rd, 17 wins and seven losses

Last ten NRL campaigns: 3rd (Prelim), 15th, 14th, 14th, 13th, 8th (Runners-up), 4th (Prelim), 3rd (Premiers), 5th (Semi), 8th (Qualifying)

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Predicted Round 1 lineup

1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Murray Taulagi
3. Peta Hiku
4. Valentine Holmes
5. Kyle Feldt
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Jordan McLean
9. Reece Robson
10. Reuben Cotter
11. Jeremiah Nanai
12. Coen Hess
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Jake Granville
15. James Tamou
16. Griffin Neame
17. Mitch Dunn

Coach: Todd Payten

Biggest losses: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Connelly Lemuelu Biggest gains: Gehamat Shibasaki, Luciano Leilua

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How 2023 is looking for North Queensland

In simple terms, things are looking very, very good in North Queensland.

There will be those footy fans who are hoping for a downfall in Townsville but Payten and the Cowboys never looked like a flash-in-the-pan success in 2022. Instead, they had the fundamentals there, Payten looked for all to see a proper coaching commander, and the stars in the squad lifted to every occasion.

Sure, the Cowboys did eventually lose a shoot-out against Parramatta in the preliminary finals, 24-20, but for the first year of the Payten project that is a very fine place to finish up the season.

That finals run, despite the disappointment, will be a net positive. The squad, both veteran talents like Chad Townsend and Valentine Holmes and younger stars like Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter are another year wiser, have tasted victory and defeat, and can continue applying every lesson from the last 12 months into a stronger game plan this time around.

Bet against the fiery northern Cowboys at your peril. There’s a lot of excitement around them already, not least from the Sporting Base team—these fellas look like the real package.

Predicted 2023 finish: 3rd

First five: Raiders (H), Broncos (A), Warriors (H), Titans (H), Bulldogs (A)

TopSport odds: Premiers $11, Make Top 4: $2.50, Make Final 8: $1.40, Miss The Top 8: $2.85

Pass mark: Replicate last year’s blistering form.

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