With the North Queensland Cowboys celebrating their 30th anniversary against the Wests Tigers tonight, Rugby League Zone looks back at the history of the Cowboys.
1995-2003: A Tough First Decade
North Queensland were introduced into the Australian Rugby League in 1995 along with the South Queensland Crushers, Auckland Warriors, and the Western Reds (with the Cowboys and Warriors surviving the post-Super League reduction of teams). Though the Cowboys struggled in their first decade, picking up three wooden spoons.
Embed from Getty Images2004-2010: The First Grand Final
The Cowboys made their first finals series in 2004 (finishing seventh) and were within a whisker of the Grand Final. They beat Canterbury-Bankstown in the qualifying final, Brisbane in the Townsville semi-final (which was moved from Suncorp Stadium), but lost to the Sydney Roosters in the preliminary final.
They went one better in 2005, finishing fifth and making the Grand Final against the Wests Tigers (which the Tigers won 30-16). In his first year with the Cowboys, Johnathan Thurston played 26 games and scored 78 points (five tries, 28 goals, and two field goals). They made another preliminary final in 2007 (losing to Manly).
Embed from Getty Images2011-2017: Premiership Glory and a Magic Grand Final Run
This was the Cowboys’ most successful era: seven straight finals appearances, a maiden premiership, and two grand finals.
We all know the magic of 2015: the first all-Queensland Grand Final, Kyle Feldt ripping the Broncos’ hearts out with THAT last-second try, Thurston hitting the post with the sideline conversion, Ben Hunt’s drop from the Golden Point kick-off, and Thurston kicking the winning field goal. To quote Ray Warren on the Channel 9 broadcast: “He has gone from…a captain to a legend and probably rugby league immortality.” The Cowboys backed it up in 2016 (continuing their epic rivalry with Brisbane after beating them in an extra time semi-final), but lost the preliminary final to Cronulla-Sutherland.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir second grand final run was done without Thurston, with ‘JT’ playing just seven games. North Queensland slipped into eighth after Canterbury-Bankstown beat St George Illawarra – then beat Cronulla, Parramatta, and the Sydney Roosters to make the Grand Final (which they lost 34-6 to Melbourne).
2018-2024: The Post-Thurston Rebuild
After so much success, Thurston’s final year (2018) was a bottom four finish, though he did win his final game at 1300SMILES Stadium (44-6 against Parramatta) and his final game for the Cowboys (30-26 against the Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium).
The Cowboys returned to the finals in 2022. They finished third and made another preliminary final (with an epic extra time win over Cronulla in the qualifying final), but lost 24-20 to Parramatta.
North Queensland missed the finals in 2023, but enjoyed their biggest win (74-0 over Wests Tigers – a few weeks after the Tigers had beaten them 66-18). They made the finals in 2024 (with Kyle Feldt breaking Matt Bowen’s try-scoring record), losing the semi-final to Cronulla.
Embed from Getty ImagesNorth Queensland Club Legends
Johnathan Thurston
Arguably the GOAT Cowboy, JT played 294 games for North Queensland (and 29 for Canterbury-Bankstown), turned them into a premiership contender, and kicked the winning Golden Point field goal in the 2015 Grand Final. He finished with 2,182 points for the Cowboys (80 tries, 923 goals, and 16 field goals) – holding the club records for most games and most points. He played 37 Origins for Queensland (and was a vital part of the Maroons’ eight straight series wins) and 38 Tests for Australia.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt Bowen
Until 2024, Bowen was the Cowboys’ leading try-scorer (130 from 270 games). His best season was 2007, with 22 tries from 27 games. He also played 10 Origins for Queensland and two Tests for Australia.
Embed from Getty ImagesPaul Bowman
One of the foundation players from 1995, Bowman played 13 seasons for North Queensland (scoring 250 points in 203 games). The Cowboys’ best and fairest player of the season is also named after him (the Paul Bowman Medal) – with Bowman winning it twice himself.
Embed from Getty ImagesKyle Feldt
It’s hard to say what Feldt is remembered most for: breaking Matt Bowen’s try-scoring record or scoring THAT try in the 2015 Grand Final? Feldt finished with 151 tries from 217 games and broke Bowen’s record in Round 5 2024 against the Gold Coast.
Embed from Getty ImagesJason Taumalolo
Taumalolo is playing his 16th season for North Queensland in 2025, and he could be the first Cowboy to reach 300 games. He’s also won the Paul Bowman Medal six times from 2016-2022. He’s played a combined 29 Tests for Tonga, New Zealand, and Tonga Invitational.
