# 2009 North Queensland Cowboys season

The 2009 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 15th season in the club's history. Coached by Neill Henry and captained by Johnathan Thurston, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2009 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 12th place, failing to reach the finals for the second consecutive year.

## Season summary

The 2009 season was an improvement on 2008 for the Cowboys, with 11 wins from 24 games. The closeness of the 2009 season meant the Cowboys finished 12th, just three points behind eventual Grand Finalists Parramatta, who finished 8th.
Neil Henry re-joined the club as head coach in 2009, taking over from interim head coach Ian Millward. Henry was an assistant coach at the club from 2002 to 2006, before moving to the Canberra Raiders in 2007 and winning the Dally M Coach of the Year award in 2008. Renowned strength and conditioning coach Billy Johnstone also returned to the club after a stint at the Gold Coast Titans. The club's key off-season recruits included Australian and Queensland representatives Willie Tonga, Antonio Kaufusi and Shannon Hegarty.
After a slow start to the season, the Cowboys enjoyed a strong run of form that included a four-game winning streak. With five rounds to play, they were sitting inside the top eight in 6th position. The club then endured four-game losing streak to end the season, dropping to 12th place.
2009 saw the debut of James Tamou, who joined the club from the Sydney Roosters under-20's side. Tamou would become an Australian and New South Wales representative at the Cowboys and play integral role in the club's maiden premiership victory in 2015.

### Milestones

* Round 1: Shannon Hegarty, Antonio Kaufusi, Manase Manuokafoa and Willie Tonga made their debuts for the club.
* Round 2: Grant Rovelli made his debut for the club.
* Round 5: Steve Southern played his 100th game for the club.
* Round 5: Steve Rapira made his NRL debut.
* Round 8: James Tamou made his NRL debut.
* Round 15: Michael Bani made his debut for the club.
* Round 17: Luke O'Donnell played his 100th game for the club.
* Round 17: Johnathan Thurston played his 100th game for the club.
* Round 17: Aaron Payne played his 150th game for the club.
* Round 22: Donald Malone made his NRL debut.
* Round 26: Ray Thompson made his NRL debut.

## Squad Movement
### 2009 Gains

| Player | Signed From | Until End of |
| Mitch Achurch | Wests Tigers | 2010 |
| Clint Amos | Gold Coast Titans | 2010 |
| Michael Bani | Manly Sea Eagles (mid-season) | 2011 |
| Shannon Hegarty | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2009 |
| Antonio Kaufusi | Melbourne Storm | 2011 |
| Donald Malone | Ipswich Jets | 2010 |
| Manase Manuokafoa | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2011 |
| David Pangai | Sydney Roosters | 2009 |
| Steve Rapira | Warriors | 2010 |
| Grant Rovelli | Warriors | 2010 |
| James Tamou | Sydney Roosters | 2010 |
| Willie Tonga | Canterbury Bulldogs | 2012 |

### 2009 Losses

| Player | Signed To | Until End of |
| Daniel Abraham | Mackay Cutters | 2009 |
| Daniel Backo | Released | - |
| Greg Byrnes | Northern Pride | 2009 |
| Ray Cashmere | Salford City Reds | 2010 |
| Ben Farrar | Manly Sea Eagles (mid-season) | 2010 |
| Sione Faumuina | Castleford Tigers | 2010 |
| Sam Faust | Central Tigers | 2009 |
| John Frith | Released | - |
| George Gatis | Retired | - |
| Luke Harlen | Northern Pride | 2009 |
| Mark Henry | Salford City Reds | 2010 |
| Keiron Lander | Ipswich Jets | 2010 |
| Jacob Lillyman | Warriors | 2010 |
| Jackson Nicolau | Gold Coast Titans | 2009 |
| Chris Sheppard | Northern Pride | 2010 |
| Justin Smith | Retired | - |
| Ben Vaeau | Easts Tigers | 2010 |

## Ladder

2009 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 548 | 329 | +219 | 38 |
| 2 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 575 | 428 | +147 | 38$^1$ |
| 3 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 514 | 467 | +47 | 36 |
| 4 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 505 | 348 | +157 | 33 |
| 5 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 549 | 459 | +90 | 32 |
| 6 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 511 | 566 | −55 | 32 |
| 7 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 508 | 491 | +17 | 30 |
| 8 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 476 | 473 | +3 | 29 |
| 9 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 558 | 483 | +75 | 28 |
| 10 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 566 | 549 | +17 | 27 |
| 11 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 515 | 589 | −74 | 27 |
| 12 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 558 | 474 | +84 | 26 |
| 13 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 489 | 520 | −31 | 22 |
| 14 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 377 | 565 | −188 | 20 |
| 15 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 359 | 568 | −209 | 14 |
| 16 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 382 | 681 | −299 | 14 |
$^1$ The Bulldogs were deducted 2 competition points after an interchange breach in Round 2.

## Fixtures
### Pre-season

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 21 February | Trial 1 | Warriors | North Harbour Stadium | 28 – 32 | - | - | - |
| 28 February | Trial 2 | Penrith Panthers | Barlow Park | 18 – 18 | - | - | - |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw ||||||||

### Regular season

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 13 March | Round 1 | Brisbane | Suncorp Stadium | 18 – 19 | Bowen, Tonga, Webb | Thurston (3/3) | 45,022 |
| 21 March | Round 2 | Wests Tigers | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 42 – 14 | Bowen, Burns, Kaufusi, Payne, Webb, J Williams, T Williams | Thurston (7/7) | 19,879 |
| 28 March | Round 3 | Melbourne | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 12 – 26 | Bolton, J Williams | Thurston (2/2) | 21,489 |
| 6 April | Round 4 | Canberra Raiders | Canberra Stadium | 18 – 23 | Burns, Farrar, J Williams | Thurston (3/3) | 12,198 |
| 11 April | Round 5 | Gold Coast Titans | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 10 – 14 | Hegarty, Thurston | Thurston (1/2) | 18,123 |
| 19 April | Round 6 | Cronulla Sharks | Hindmarsh Stadium | 34 – 10 | Bowen, Farrar, Hegarty, O'Donnell, Tonga, Tronc | Thurston (5/6) | 8,547 |
| 25 April | Round 7 | Manly Sea Eagles | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 26 – 12 | Bowen (2), Bolton, Farrar | Thurston (5/5) | 16,153 |
| 1 May | Round 8 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Stadium | 18 – 28 | Farrar, Southern, Tamou | Thurston (3/3) | 8,104 |
| 9 May | Round 9 | St George Illawarra | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 24 – 20 | Thurston (3), Tamou | Thurston (4/5( | 16,031 |
| 17 May | Round 10 | Warriors | Mt Smart Stadium | 34 – 12 | Bowen, Farrar, Graham, O'Donnell, Thurston, Tonga | Thurston (5/6) | 16,345 |
| 25 May | Round 11 | Newcastle Knights | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 36 – 10 | Burns, Kaufusi, O'Donnell, Southern, Thurston, J Williams | Thurston (6/7) | 11,892 |
| | Round 12 | Bye | | | | | |
| 6 June | Round 13 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 46 – 12 | Graham (2), J Williams (2), Bolton, Bowen, Payne, Scott, T Williams | Thurston (5/9) | 16,568 |
| 14 June | Round 14 | St George Illawarra Dragons | WIN Stadium | 18 – 32 | O'Donnell, Tonga, T Williams | Thurston (3/3) | 11,374 |
| 20 June | Round 15 | Sydney Roosters | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 24 – 22 | Burns, Payne, Southern, Webb | J Williams (4/4) | 13,486 |
| 26 June | Round 16 | Canterbury Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium | 18 – 30 | Payne, Watts, J Williams | Thurston (3/3) | 13,461 |
| 4 July | Round 17 | Cronulla Sharks | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 24 – 4 | Bowen (2), J Williams, T Williams | Thurston (4/5) | 17,283 |
| | Round 18 | Bye | | | | | |
| 19 July | Round 19 | Wests Tigers | Leichhardt Oval | 14 – 34 | Bowen, Webb | Thurston (3/3) | 18,804 |
| 25 July | Round 20 | Penrith Panthers | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 20 – 28 | Thurston, Tonga, Webb, J Williams | Thurston (2/4) | 14,274 |
| 31 July | Round 21 | Gold Coast Titans | Skilled Park | 34 – 18 | Bowen (2), Bani, Rapira, Tonga, J Williams | Thurston (5/6) | 20,315 |
| 7 August | Round 22 | Melbourne Storm | Olympic Park | 8 – 20 | Tonga (2) | Thurston (0/2) | 10,510 |
| 14 August | Round 23 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 12 – 22 | Thurston, Tonga | Thurston (2/2) | 18,199 |
| 22 August | Round 24 | Newcastle Knights | EnergyAustralia Stadium | 26 – 32 | Thurston (2), Bani, Tonga, Watts | Thurston (3/5) | 15,408 |
| 28 August | Round 25 | Brisbane Broncos | Dairy Farmers Stadium | 10 – 16 | O'Donnell, Tonga | Thurston (1/2) | 24,332 |
| 6 September | Round 26 | Sydney Roosters | SFS | 32 – 16 | Graham, Malone, Thurston, Tonga, Tronc, T Williams | Thurston (4/6) | 10,277 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye ||||||||

## Statistics

| Name | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
| Clint Amos | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Michael Bani | 9 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Scott Bolton | 24 | 3 | - | - | 12 |
| Matthew Bowen | 20 | 12 | - | - | 48 |
| Travis Burns | 20 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
| Ben Farrar | 10 | 5 | - | - | 20 |
| Ashley Graham | 16 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
| Ben Harris | 8 | - | - | - | - |
| Shannon Hegarty | 5 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Antonio Kaufusi | 22 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Donald Malone | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Manase Manuokafoa | 12 | - | - | - | - |
| Luke O'Donnell | 17 | 5 | - | - | 20 |
| Aaron Payne | 16 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
| Steve Rapira | 16 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Grant Rovelli | 13 | - | - | - | - |
| Matthew Scott | 23 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Steve Southern | 20 | 3 | - | - | 12 |
| James Tamou | 12 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Ray Thompson | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Johnathan Thurston | 23 | 11 | 79 | - | 202 |
| Willie Tonga | 19 | 12 | - | - | 48 |
| Shane Tronc | 24 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Anthony Watts | 14 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Carl Webb | 22 | 5 | - | - | 20 |
| Dayne Weston | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| John Williams | 17 | 10 | 4 | - | 48 |
| Ty Williams | 17 | 5 | - | - | 20 |
| Totals | | 98 | 83 | 0 | 558 |
Source:

## Representatives

The following players have played a representative match in 2009
| | City vs Country | ANZAC Test | State of Origin 1 | State of Origin 2 | State of Origin 3 | Prime Minister's XIII | Four Nations |
| Luke O'Donnell | City | - | New South Wales | New South Wales | - | Prime Minister's XIII | - |
| Matthew Scott | - | - | - | - | Queensland | Prime Minister's XIII | - |
| Johnathan Thurston | - | Australia | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland | Prime Minister's XIII | Australia |
| Willie Tonga | - | - | - | Queensland | Queensland | - | - |

## Honours
### League

* Dally M Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston
* RLIF Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston

### Club

* Paul Bowman Medal: Luke O'Donnell
* Player's Player: Luke O'Donnell
* Club Person of the Year: Clint Amos
* Rookie of the Year: Steve Rapira
* Most Improved: Scott Bolton
* NYC Player of the Year: Dane Hogan

## Feeder Clubs
### National Youth Competition

* North Queensland Cowboys - 9th, missed finals

### Queensland Cup

* Mackay Cutters - 12th, Wooden Spoon
* Northern Pride - 2nd, Runners-up