1997 North Queensland Cowboys season

3rd season in the club history June 2020 August 2019 1997 navy white NRL Super League 10th 5 2 11 328 452 Missed finals Coach Tim Sheens Ian Roberts Stockland Stadium 17,539 30,122 (vs. Brisbane Broncos, Rd 6) Luke Phillips (8) Luke Phillips (45) Luke Phillips (122) 1996 1998 The 1997 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 3rd in the club's history. Coached by Tim Sheens and captained by Ian Roberts, they competed in the breakaway News Limited-run competition, the Telstra Cup. Season summary After an improved 1996 season, the club pulled off a major coup in signing three-time premiership winning coach Tim Sheens from the Canberra Raiders, who brought five players with him from his old club, including Australia and Queensland representative hooker Steve Walters. Former Australia and New South Wales prop Ian Roberts was brought in as captain as part of a major off-season rebuild in which 20 players were let go, including a number of foundation players. The club, who were competing in News Limited's breakaway Super League competition, got off to a promising start after defeating the newly formed Adelaide Rams in the opening round of the season. The good times under Sheens and his new signings were short lived, as a four game losing streak followed. A win over the Auckland Warriors in Round 9 was followed by two consecutive draws, which included a 20-all draw against arch-rivals Brisbane, their best ever result against them at the time. Back-to-back wins in Round 14 and 15 had the Cowboys sitting just four points outside the Top 5, but a three-game losing streak to end the season left the club languishing in last place. The Cowboys recorded their second wooden spoon in three seasons, with just five wins from 18 games. Despite the disappointing year, Tim Sheens signed a five-year contract renewal with the club. Owen Cunningham, an off-season recruit from Manly, was named the club's Player of the Year. Towards the end of the season, the club took part in the World Club Championship. The tournament featured all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions and was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres. The Cowboys played home and away games against three Super League clubs; (Leeds Rhinos, Oldham Bears and Salford Reds), winning all but once (a 16-20 loss to Oldham at Boundary Park). Despite the great results, the Cowboys missed out on the finals, while clubs in other pools got through without even winning a game. It would be the last time the club would face a Super League side or play a game in England until the 2016 World Club Challenge. Milestones Round 1: Dion Cope, Owen Cunningham, Jason Ferris, John Lomax, Scott Mahon, Ray Mercy, Luke Phillips, Ian Roberts, Tyran Smith, Bert Tabuai and Steve Walters made their debuts for the club. Round 1: Kyle Warren made his first grade debut. Round 2: Jimmy Ahmat and Mark Shipway made their first grade debuts. Round 4: John Doyle made his first grade debut. Round 6: Luke Scott made his first grade debut. Round 7: Jason Ryan made his debut for the club. Round 7: Adam Warwick made his first grade debut. Round 11: Shane Vincent made his debut for the club. Round 14: Ray Mercy became the first player to score three tries in a match for the club. Squad list In Super League, players were able to choose their own jersey number (regardless of their starting position), which they wore for the entire season. North Queensland Cowboys Super League Squad 1997 navy white #c0c0c0 black 38 WG Jimmy Ahmat  3 CE Paul Bowman 15 PR John Buttigieg  – SR Michael Coorey 25 CE Dion Cope 14 FB Reggie Cressbrook 13 SR Owen Cunningham  9 HK Jason Death 24 FE John Doyle  6 HB Andrew Dunemann 23 FE Ian Dunemann  7 HB Jason Ferris  9 SR Paul Galea  – SR Liam Johnson 21 SR Peter Jones  – PR Aaron Ketchell 10 PR Martin Locke  8 PR John Lomax  5 WG Justin Loomans 22 FB Scott Mahon 34 CE Ray Mercy 32 WG Marshall Miller 27 SR Glen Murphy 28 WG Luke Phillips 31 PR Ian Roberts y  4 SR Jason Ryan 17 SR Luke Scott 20 CE Mark Shipway 35 HK John Skardon 12 SR Tyran Smith 30 CE Bert Tabuai  2 WG Kris Tassell 41 CE Shane Vincent 49 HK Steve Walters  1 LK Kyle Warren 16 WG Adam Warwick Tim Sheens Mark Graham (assistant coach) Squad movement 1997 Gains Player Signed from Dion Cope Cronulla 16 Cronulla Sharks Owen Cunningham Manly 16 Manly Sea Eagles Jason Ferris Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders John Lomax Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders Scott Mahon Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels Ray Mercy Eastern Suburbs 16 Atherton Roosters Luke Phillips Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders Ian Roberts Manly 16 Manly Sea Eagles Jason Ryan South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs Tyran Smith South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs Bert Tabuai Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders Shane Vincent South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs Steve Walters Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders 1997 Losses Player Signed To David Bouveng Halifax 16 Halifax Blue Sox Steve Edmed Sheffield 16 Sheffield Eagles Damian Gibson Leeds 16 Leeds Rhinos Shane Howarth New South Wales 16 Auckland Blues Jason Martin psg 16 Paris Saint-Germain Jamie Mathiou Leeds 16 Leeds Rhinos Willie Morganson Sheffield 16 Sheffield Eagles Willie Poching Hunter Mariners 16 Hunter Mariners Dean Schifilliti Adelaide 16 Adelaide Rams Wayne Sing psg 16 Paris Saint-Germain Tyran Smith Hunter Mariners 16 Hunter Mariners (mid-season) Whetu Taewa Sheffield 16 Sheffield Eagles Adrian Vowles Castleford 16 Castleford Tigers Ladder ladder Fixtures Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance1 MarchRound 1Adelaide 16 Adelaide RamsStockland Stadium24 – 16 Walters (2), Phillips, Smith Phillips (4/5) 17,7387 MarchRound 2Western Reds 16 Perth RedsStockland Stadium20 – 22 Ahmat, Ferris, Roberts Phillips (4/5) 15,74515 MarchRound 3Penrith 16 Penrith PanthersStockland Stadium12 – 19 Phillips, Warren Phillips (2/3) 18,00322 MarchRound 4Hunter 16 Hunter MarinersTopper Stadium10 – 38 Phillips, Warren Phillips (1/3) 6,09031 MarchRound 5Canterbury 16 Canterbury BulldogsBelmore Oval16 – 14 Bowman, Mahon, Shipway Phillips (2/3) 9,8305 AprilRound 6Brisbane 16 Brisbane BroncosStockland Stadium16 – 42 Death (2), Cressbrook Doyle (2/2), Phillips (0/1) 30,12212 AprilRound 7Western Reds 16 Perth RedsWACA4 – 6 Doyle (2/2) 9,70120 AprilRound 8Canberra 16 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium16 – 40 Phillips, Walters, Warren Phillips (2/3) 10,07127 AprilRound 9Auckland 16 Auckland WarriorsStockland Stadium30 – 22 Cressbrook, Jones, Phillips, Scott, Walters Phillips (5/6) 12,4642 MayRound 10Adelaide 16 Adelaide RamsAdelaide Oval14 – 14 Cressbrook, I. Dunemann, Shipway Phillips (1/4) 15,97025 MayRound 11Brisbane 16 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium20 – 20 A. Dunemann, I. Dunemann, Shipway Phillips (4/5) 14,16731 MayRound 12Cronulla 16 Cronulla SharksStockland Stadium10 – 24 Mahon (2) Phillips (1/3) 16,09528 JuneRound 13Canterbury 16 Canterbury BulldogsStockland Stadium22 – 29 Roberts, Tassell, Warren, Warwick Phillips (3/6) 14,1764 JulyRound 14Penrith 16 Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium33 – 26 Mercy (3), Phillips (2), Loomans Phillips (4/7), A. Dunemann (1 FG) 5,33513 JulyRound 15Hunter 16 Hunter MarinersStockland Stadium33 – 14 A. Dunemann (2), Mercy (2), Loomans, Murphy Phillips (4/7), A. Dunemann (1 FG) 11,4809 AugustRound 16Canberra 16 Canberra RaidersStockland Stadium14 – 22 Bowman, Lomax Phillips (3/3) 22,02616 AugustRound 17Cronulla 16 Cronulla SharksShark Park12 – 34 Phillips, Scott Phillips (2/3) 11,64024 AugustRound 18Auckland 16 Auckland WarriorsEricsson Stadium22 – 50 Mercy, Scott, Skardon, Warren Phillips (3/4) 12,000 Legend: #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFBBBB Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #cfecec Bye 1px solid #AAAAAA World Club Championship 1997 World Club Championship The World Club Championship was a mid-season tournament featuring all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions. It was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres from 6 June to 11 October. Pool Play Club Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Diff. Points 16px Hunter Mariners 6 6 0 0 226 50 176 12 16px North Queensland Cowboys 6 5 1 0 228 92 136 10 16px Adelaide Rams 6 4 2 0 170 68 102 8 16px Perth Reds 6 4 2 0 148 104 44 8 Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance7 JuneRound 1Leeds 16 Leeds RhinosStockland Stadium42 – 20 Murphy (2), Cressbrook, Jones, Phillips, Shipway, Tabuai, Warwick Phillips (5/8) 14,56114 JuneRound 2Oldham 16 Oldham BearsStockland Stadium54 – 16 Cressbrook (2), Vincent (2), Walters (2), A. Dunemann, Murphy, Phillips, Shipway Phillips (7/10) 12,60021 JuneRound 3Salford City 16 Salford RedsStockland Stadium44 – 8 Warwick (2), Bowman, Cressbrook, Cunningham, I. Dunemann, Shipway, Tabuai Phillips (6/8) 15,50818 JulyRound 4Oldham 16 Oldham BearsBoundary Park20 – 16 Bowman, Mercy, Phillips Phillips (2/3) 2,69127 JulyRound 5Salford City 16 Salford RedsThe Willows24 – 14 Cunningham, Murphy, Phillips, Skardon Phillips (4/4) 7,4483 AugustRound 6Leeds 16 Leeds RhinosHeadingley Stadium48 – 14 A. Dunemann (2), Phillips (2), Cressbrook, Mercy, Murphy, Shipway Phillips (8/8) 12,224 Legend: #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFBBBB Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #cfecec Bye 1px solid #AAAAAA Statistics NameAppTGFGPtsJimmy Ahmat21--4Paul Bowman Paul Bowman (rugby league)102--8John Buttigieg John Buttigieg (rugby league)5----Dion Cope7----Reggie Cressbrook113--12Owen Cunningham18----Jason Death203--12John Doyle John Doyle (rugby league)12-4-8Andrew Dunemann143-214Ian Dunemann62--8Jason Ferris71--4Paul Galea1----Peter Jones Peter Jones (rugby league, born 1972)151--4Aaron Ketchell3----Martin Locke11----John Lomax151--4Justin Loomans72--8Scott Mahon143--12Ray Mercy66--24Marshall Miller1----Glen Murphy Glen Murphy (rugby league)111--4Luke Phillips17845-122Ian Roberts Ian Roberts (rugby league)172--8Jason Ryan Jason Ryan (rugby league)1----Luke Scott Luke Scott (rugby league)123--12Mark Shipway133--12John Skardon31--4Tyran Smith91--4Bert Tabuai5----Kris Tassell31--4Shane Vincent2----Steve Walters154--16Kyle Warren145--20Adam Warwick61--4 Totals 57 49 2 328 Source:http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/super-league-1997/north-queensland/summary.html Super League 1997 - North Queensland Cowboys - Rugby League Project Representatives The following players played a representative match in 1997. Anzac Test Super League Tri-series End of Year Test SL Test SeriesOwen Cunningham - Queensland - - John Lomax - - New Zealand - Ian Roberts - New South Wales - - Tyran Smith New Zealand New Zealand - - Steve Walters - Queensland - Australia Honours Club Player of the Year: Owen Cunningham Players' Player: John Lomax Club Person of the Year: Ian Roberts References 19 18 58 S 146 42 43 E type:event_region:AU-QLD title Willow Sports Complex Category:North Queensland Cowboys seasons North Queensland Cowboys