The North Queensland Cowboys joined the big league in 1995 and have just finished their 30th season.
After a very shaky start, picking up three wooden spoons in their first six seasons, they’ve gone on to prove themselves to be more than competitive, winning a premiership in 2015, finishing runners up in both 2005 and 2017, and making the finals on another nine occasions.
Nearly 340 players have worn the navy, grey and gold jersey in first grade since day one, and there’s been some absolute greats among them, but who makes the Cowboys greatest side of all time?
Here’s my team, and the only selection criteria is that they must have played a minimum of 50 top grade games for the Cowboys.
Fullback: Matt Bowen
Some very good footballers have worn the No.1 jersey for the Cowboys over the last 30 years, including Lachlan Coote, Tim Brasher, Dale Shearer, Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, but none of them get even close to the inimitable Matt “Mango” Bowen, who was one of the best in the business during his 13 years at the club and a try scoring threat from anywhere on the field.
Wingers: Kyle Feldt, Matt Sing
Feldt had his Jekyll and Hyde moments with the Cowboys during his stellar 12-year career, but the club’s highest ever try scorer with 156 tries from 220 games walks into this side. His try scoring feats included 30 try doubles and six trebles.
Joining him on the wing is the classy Matt Sing, who had a remarkable rugby league career, scoring nearly 190 tries across in his 16 years in the game, including 73 in 104 appearances for the Cowboys, and he played 24 Origins for Queensland and 13 games for Australia.
Centres: Valentine Holmes, Brent Tate
Paul Bowman, Kane Linnett, Josh Hannay and Justin O’Neill were all great clubmen, playing nearly 650 games for the Cowboys between them, but none of them had the class of my preferred centre pairing in Valentine Holmes and Brent Tate.
Pound for pound, Tate was one of the toughest players in the game who continually overcame injuries to play 229 NRL games, 23 Origins for Queensland and 25 games for Australia, while Valentine Holmes was, and still is, one of the classiest outside backs in the game and will be sorely missed by the Cowboys in 2025.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Five-eighth: Michael Morgan
Morgan gets the nod here if for no other reason than the uncanny relationship he had with half Johnathan Thurston. When fully fit there was seemingly nothing that Morgan couldn’t do on the field, and he was also equally effective at halfback and fullback. An honourable mention goes to Tom Dearden who looks to have the talent to eventually leave Morgan in his wake.
Halfback: Johnathan Thurston
At the risk of offending the few Chad Townsend fans amongst you, the halfback role goes to the club’s greatest ever player in Johnathan Thurston, end of discussion. Thurston played most games for the club, scored the most points, captained the side to their only grand final win in 2015, played a remarkable 37 games for Queensland and 38 times for Australia, and won just about every individual award there is. An incredible player.
Front rowers: Matt Scott, James Tamou
Maroons and Australian representative Matt Scott is the first starting front rower to be selected. His resume of 16 years and 269 games for the Cowboys, 22 Origins and 22 Tests for Australia says it all. Joining him up front will be fellow premiership winning prop in James Tamou, who also represented both his state and Australia with distinction and spent nine years with the club.
The likes of Scott Bolton, Reuben Cotter, Jacob Lillyman and Carl Webb can fight it out for a place on the bench.
Hooker: Aaron Payne
The Cowboys have been fortunate to have had three excellent hookers over the years – Aaron Payne, Jake Granville and Reece Robson, and while none of them would look out of place in this team, my choice is Payne, who for many years not only held thing together in the middle of the ruck, but also was the perfect foil for the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and co in attack.
Second rowers: Gavin Cooper, Steve Southern
It’s impossible to go past big Gavin Cooper for a place in the back row. He made his debut for the Cowboys in 2006 and then spent the next four years with the Titans and Penrith before returning to Townsville in 2011 where he was to remain for the next decade, forming a lethal left edge combination with Johnathan Thurston and becoming a try scoring weapon in the process.
He’ll be joined by Steve Southern, a Cowboys fan favourite and a tireless, no-frills forward who just got the job done week in and week out.
Lock: Jason Taumalolo
The wealthiest man north of the Tropic of Capricorn… who else were you thinking?
Bench
In selecting the bench I’ve gone for a hooker/utility, a back rower and two front rowers.
Utility – Jake Granville has been a wonderful servant of the Cowboys and has the speed, skill and game awareness to fill-in almost anywhere in the side.
Back row – Luke O’Donnell must be in the side somewhere and is the ideal player to make an impact off the bench. He’s a hard-nosed competitor able to play anywhere in the forwards, played 11 Tests for Australia and five games for NSW.
Front row – Surely no NRL player has started more games off the bench than big Scott Bolton who was selected as a fresh reserve for the Cowboys on 133 occasions, so he must know what it takes to play off the bench. Joining him will be another big bopper in Carl Webb, a player who just loved to mix it with the opposition and who never took a backward step.
Here’s how they line up, showing the number of games they each played for the Cowboys.
1. Matt Bowen (270)
2. Kyle Feldt (220)
3. Valentine Holmes (98)
4. Brent Tate (67)
5. Matt Sing (93)
6. Michael Morgan (169)
7. Johnathan Thurston (C) (295)
8. Matt Scott (269)
9. Aaron Payne (219)
10. James Tamou (176)
11. Gavin Cooper (248)
12. Steve Southern (123)
13. Jason Taumalolo (278*)
14. Jake Granville (210)
15. Luke O’Donnell (117)
16. Scott Bolton (246)
17. Carl Webb (115)
That’s a very handy side by any standard, featuring a first class spine led by Johnathan Thurston, a tough and mobile pack of forwards, try scoring potential everywhere in the backline, and plenty of talent on the bench.
Did I leave anyone out?
Tonyhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/01/29/cowboys-greatest-team-mango-jt-and-morgo-get-the-nod-but-who-misses-out/Cowboys’ greatest team: Mango, JT and Morgo get the nod – but who misses out?
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