Year in Review - VI of XVI

The hustlers of the NRL, the Cowboys have convinced many an innocent tipster that they can actually win big games. But sadly, unlike Midnight Cowboy, the punters are usually left unfulfilled.


League Blog feels the need to balance the next picture

North Queensland Midnight Cowboys

Highlight: Being the only team to beat the Titans at home, the Cowboys showed their potential to challenge the best teams.

Lowlight: Being considered underdogs in their final game against the Roosters.

Most valuable Player: Thurston. The guy is magic with the ball, and Cowboys can't win without him.

Most worthless player: In a slight case of schizophrenia, I am going to also go with JT... Thurston is one of the most chronic 'missed-tacklers' of the NRL, averaging 5 missed-tackles per game over the season. And importantly, in games that Thurston has missed 5 or more tackles, the Cowboys have won 2 from 9. Surprisingly, Kimmorley has missed more tackles than JT, but due to the fact that the Dogs have a more balanced team, other players step up and fill the gap. The Cowboys are so over-reliant on JT that they have no back-up plans when he fails in attack, and don't even back up his known soft defence. Thurston has also made the most errors in his team, and given away the most penalties. But having said all that, I'd still love to see him back at the Bulldogs. They could have Holdsworth - no chance of over-reliance there.

Telling statistic: Thurston is the main kicker at the Cowboys, having kicked 193 times over the season to gain 5211 metres, which my accountant tells me is exactly 27 m per kick. Rovelli has kicked 61 times averaging about 33 metres per kick, while Bowen has kicked 59 times averaging about 35 m per kick. Matthew Scott, however, despite having played as many games as JT, has kicked once for a gain of 50 metres. I know he's a prop, but give him the ball on the 5th more often, goddamit.

Quotes that sum up their year: "It really protects you from getting cuts and nicks and there have been a few times there that I would have been split open had I not been wearing it. For me it helps a lot." Johnathon Thurston's three year, reputed $2m sponsorship deal from Trojan Condoms was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy year.

2010 Outlook: With Bowen already out until the second-half of 2010, things are looking down. But I have a hunch that a reversal of fortune lies with the coach. Neil Henry should obviously change his name to Henry Neil to get the ball rolling.