2006 North Queensland Cowboys season

National Rugby League team season August 2017 June 2021 navy white NRL NRL 9th 11 0 13 450 463 Missed finals CEO Peter Parr Coach Graham Murray Travis Norton Dairy Farmers Stadium 19,681 24,658 (vs. Brisbane Broncos, Round 20) Matt Sing (13) Johnathan Thurston (49) Johnathan Thurston (142) 2005 2007 The 2006 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 12th in the club's history. Coached by Graham Murray and captained by Travis Norton, they competed in the NRL's 2006 Telstra Premiership. Season summary Coming off the back of their maiden Grand Final appearance, the Cowboys were strong premiership favourites heading into the 2006 season. They looked like they would be living up to those expectations, with a six-game winning streak to start the season. It wouldn't last though, as the club would lose eight of their next 10, including a six-game losing streak which left them outside the Top 8 halfway through the season. A win against arch-rivals Brisbane in the Queensland derby put them into 6th place with six games remaining but they would lose Johnathan Thurston to injury and another losing streak followed, dashing their finals aspirations. Wins over South Sydney and Parramatta ended their season a good note but it wasn't enough, the pre-season title favourites finishing the season in 9th. Despite the disappointing season, 2006 saw the debut of club legend Gavin Cooper, who made his debut in Round 2. Cooper would leave the club at the end of the year, spending two seasons with the Gold Coast Titans and two with the Penrith Panthers before rejoining the Cowboys in 2011. Cooper would become an integral part of the club, starting in their 2015 NRL Grand Final and 2016 World Club Challenge winning sides. 2006 was also the final season for club stalwarts Travis Norton and Matt Sing. Norton, who captained the side from 2004 to 2007, and Sing, who scored 73 tries for the club and rejuvenated his career in the process, were key figures in the club's transformation from cellar dwellers into a credible premiership threat. In 2015, Sing was one of the two inaugural inductees into the Cowboys Hall of Fame. Milestones Round 2: Clint Amos and Gavin Cooper made their NRL debuts. Round 4: Mitchell Sargent played his 50th game for the club. Round 5: Shane Tronc played his 50th game for the club. Round 5: Gavin Cooper scored his first NRL try. Round 7: Steve Southern played his 50th game for the club. Round 7: Ashley Graham made his debut for the club. Round 10: Robert Tanielu made his debut for the club. Round 14: Travis Norton played his 50th game for the club. Round 16: Rod Jensen played his 50th game for the club. Round 16: Ray Cashmere made his debut for the club. Round 17: Mark Henry and Brent McConnell made their NRL debuts. Round 17: Brent McConnell scored his first NRL try. Round 21: Mark Henry scored his first NRL try. Round 22: David Faiumu played his 50th game for the club. Round 22: Matt Sing played his 100th game for the club. Round 26: Josh Hannay played his 150th game for the club. Squad List North Queensland Cowboys NRL Squad 2006 navy white #c0c0c0 black AUS HK Clint Amos AUS CE Brett Anderson AUS WG Jason Barsley AUS WG Brenton Bowen AUS FB Matthew Bowen AUS CE Paul Bowman AUS PR Ray Cashmere AUS SR Gavin Cooper AUS SR Mark Dalle Cort AUS HK David Faiumu NZL FE Brett Firman AUS WG Ashley Graham AUS CE Josh Hannay AUS WG Mark Henry AUS LK Rod Jensen AUS PR Jacob Lillyman AUS SR Ben Lowe AUS HB Brent McConnell AUS FE Shane Muspratt AUS LK Travis Norton y AUS SR Luke O'Donnell AUS HK Aaron Payne PNG PR Mitchell Sargent AUS PR Matthew Scott AUS SR Justin Smith AUS SR Steve Southern ITA SR Daniel Strickland AUS WG Neil Sweeney AUS PR Robert Tanielu AUS HB Johnathan Thurston FJI PR Shane Tronc FJI PR Carl Webb FJI WG Ty Williams Graham Murray Neil Henry (assistant coach) Grant Bell (assistant coach) Kelly Egan (football manager) Billy Johnstone (strength & conditioning coach) Squad Movement 2006 Gains Player Signed From Russell Aitken Cronulla 16 Cronulla Sharks Brett Anderson Parramatta 16 Parramatta EelsTHE PLAYERS: BRETT ANDERSON http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?PlayerID=145 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 en Another of the new boys to the Cowboys for season 2006 Brett is a North Queenslander from Innisfail returning after spending some time with Parramatta in Sydney. https://web.archive.org/web/20060821082752/http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?PlayerID=145 2006-08-21 Ray Cashmere Wests Tigers 16 Wests TigersTHE PLAYERS: RAY CASHMERE http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?playerid=144 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 Ray Cashmere has come to the NQ Toyota Cowboys from the Wests Tigers in Sydney and has had some injuries that have kept him off the playing field in 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20060821094913/http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?playerid=144 2006-08-21 Ashley Graham Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels (mid-season)MATCH PREVIEW http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchPreview.asp?newsid=1341 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 en Former Parramatta centre Ashley Graham will debut for his new club https://web.archive.org/web/20060821083054/http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchPreview.asp?newsid=1341 2006-08-21 Mark Henry Central Comets 16 Central CometsTHE PLAYERS: MARK HENRY http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?PlayerID=158 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 en https://web.archive.org/web/20060819020004/http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?PlayerID=158 2006-08-19 Robert Tanielu Melbourne 16 Melbourne StormTHE PLAYERS: ROBERT TANIELU http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?playerid=146 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 en Robert is another of the new players to the club for 2006 he will be looking to break into the first grade line up. https://web.archive.org/web/20060821095159/http://www.cowboys.com.au/Players_Detail.asp?playerid=146 2006-08-21 2006 Losses Player Signed To Russell Aitken Melbourne 16 Melbourne Storm (mid-season) Rory Bromley Redcliffe Dolphins 16 Redcliffe DolphinsMatch Preview REDCLIFFE v NORTH QUEENSLAND TOYOTA YOUNG GUNS http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchPreview.asp?MatchPreviewID=82 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 en Rory Bromley is the only member of last year's premiership-winning Young Guns side to be playing for another Wizard Cup club this year. https://web.archive.org/web/20060524102350/http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchPreview.asp?MatchPreviewID=82 2006-05-24 Jaiman Lowe South Sydney 16 South Sydney RabbitohsYOUNG GUNS MAKE HISTORY http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 David Myles, Leigh McWilliams and Jaimen Lowe all played their last match in Cowboy colours https://web.archive.org/web/20051201175221/http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 2005-12-01 Micheal Luck New Zealand Warriors old 16 WarriorsYOUNG GUNS MAKE HISTORY http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 Michael Luck, unable to play, was on hand to see this triumph unfold before departing for New Zealand. https://web.archive.org/web/20051201175221/http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 2005-12-01 Leigh McWilliams Retired YOUNG GUNS MAKE HISTORY http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 David Myles, Leigh McWilliams and Jaimen Lowe all played their last match in Cowboy colours https://web.archive.org/web/20051201175221/http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 2005-12-01 David Myles Toulouse 16 Toulouse OlympiqueYOUNG GUNS MAKE HISTORY http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 www.cowboys.com.au 19 April 2026 David Myles, Leigh McWilliams and Jaimen Lowe all played their last match in Cowboy colours https://web.archive.org/web/20051201175221/http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchReport.asp?MatchReportID=129 2005-12-01 Paul Rauhihi Warrington 16 Warrington Wolves Ladder Fixtures Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance12 MarchRound 1Brisbane 16 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium36 – 4 Thurston (3), Bowen, Sing, Sweeney Thurston (6/7) 46,22918 MarchRound 2Manly 16 Manly Sea EaglesDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 16 Sing (3), Firman Thurston (2/6) 23,93625 MarchRound 3Melbourne 16 Melbourne StormDairy Farmers Stadium40 – 8 Thurston (2), Bowman, O'Donnell, Sweeney, Williams Thurston (8/8) 21,34631 MarchRound 4Parramatta 16 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium26 – 18 Sing (2), Faiumu, Scott Thurston (5/6) 15,1317 AprilRound 5Wests Tigers 16 Wests TigersDairy Farmers Stadium32 – 12 Jensen (2), Cooper, Sing, Thurston Thurston (6/7) 20,26216 AprilRound 6Newcastle 16 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium18 – 16 Bowen, Sargent, Thurston Thurston (3/3) 26,04822 AprilRound 7Cronulla 16 Cronulla SharksToyota Park22 – 24 O'Donnell (2), Jensen, Sing Thurston (3/4) 9,02529 AprilRound 8Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney RoostersDairy Farmers Stadium18 – 22 Payne, Sweeney, Thurston Thurston (3/3) 21,1756 MayRound 9Penrith 16 Penrith PanthersDairy Farmers Stadium22 – 6 B. Bowen, Payne, Thurston, Tronc Thurston (3/4) 16,80813 MayRound 10Melbourne 16 Melbourne StormOlympic Park6 – 18 B. Bowen Thurston (1/1) 10,830Round 11Bye27 MayRound 12Canberra 16 Canberra RaidersDairy Farmers Stadium14 – 15 Cooper, Thurston Thurston (3/3) 16,9714 JuneRound 13Wests Tigers 16 Wests TigersTelstra Stadium14 – 24 Bowman, Cooper, Thurston Thurston (1/3) 16,73610 JuneRound 14Cronulla 16 Cronulla SharksDairy Farmers Stadium4 – 26 B. Bowen Hannay (0/1) 16,77818 JuneRound 15Canterbury 16 Canterbury BulldogsCarrara Stadium12 – 20 B. Bowen, Bowman Thurston (2/2) 16,23124 JuneRound 16St George 16 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium14 – 34 Hannay, Sing, Sweeney Thurston (1/4) 13,2891 JulyRound 17South Sydney 16 South Sydney RabbitohsDairy Farmers Stadium16 – 14 Payne (2), McConnell McConnell (1/1), Smith (1/2) 17,506Round 18Bye15 JulyRound 19Penrith 16 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium8 – 17 Southern Thurston (2/2) 8,21222 JulyRound 20Brisbane 16 Brisbane BroncosDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 10 Sing (3), Graham, Hannay Hannay (3/6) 24,65830 JulyRound 21Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium20 – 40 Henry, Graham, Sing Hannay (2/4) 7,6175 AugustRound 22Canterbury 16 Canterbury BulldogsDairy Farmers Stadium14 – 54 Graham, Henry, Scott Graham (1/2), Smith (0/1) 20,48612 AugustRound 23New Zealand Warriors old 16 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium0 – 26 5,42519 AugustRound 24Newcastle 16 Newcastle KnightsDairy Farmers Stadium12 – 19 Smith, Sweeney McConnell (1/1), Sweeney (1/1) 17,89827 AugustRound 25South Sydney 16 South Sydney RabbitohsTelstra Stadium34 – 12 Smith (2), Bowen, Faiumu, O'Donnell, Payne Graham (5/7) 8,9141 SeptemberRound 26Parramatta 16 Parramatta EelsDairy Farmers Stadium22 – 8 Bowen (2), Payne, Sweeney Hannay (3/4) 18,351 Legend: #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFBBBB Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #cfecec Bye 1px solid #AAAAAA Statistics NameAppTGFGPtsClint Amos6----Brenton Bowen74--16Matthew Bowen245--20Paul Bowman Paul Bowman (rugby league)163--12Ray Cashmere6----Gavin Cooper183--12David Faiumu182--8Brett Firman71--4Ashley Graham Ashley Graham (rugby league)1436-24Josh Hannay928-24Mark Henry Mark Henry (rugby league)83--12Rod Jensen123--12Jacob Lillyman15----Brent McConnell312-8Shane Muspratt2----Travis Norton20----Luke O'Donnell164--16Aaron Payne216--24Mitchell Sargent201--4Matthew Scott Matthew Scott (rugby league)222--8Matt Sing2413--52Justin Smith Justin Smith (rugby league)2231-14Steve Southern181--4Daniel Strickland1----Neil Sweeney1361-26Robert Tanielu3----Johnathan Thurston171149-142Shane Tronc211--4Carl Webb20----Ty Williams51--4 Totals 79 67 0 450 Source:http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2006/north-queensland-cowboys/summary.html NRL 2006 - North Queensland Cowboys - Rugby League Project Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2006. ANZAC Test City vs Country State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Tri-Nations World Cup qualifiersMatthew Bowen - - Queensland - - - -David Faiumu New Zealand - - - - - - Josh Hannay - - - - Queensland - -Jacob Lillyman - - - Queensland - - -Luke O'Donnell Australia - New South Wales - New South Wales Australia -Mitchell Sargent - Country - - - - -Matthew Scott - - Queensland - - - -Malo Solomona - - - - - - SamoaJohnathan Thurston Australia - Queensland Queensland Queensland Australia -Carl Webb - - Queensland Queensland Queensland - - Honours League Wally Lewis Medal: Johnathan Thurston Club Player of the Year: Aaron Payne Player's Player: Luke O'Donnell Club Person of the Year: Glen Murphy Feeder Clubs Queensland Cup North Queensland 16 North Queensland Young Guns - 2nd, lost semi final References External links Official North Queensland Cowboys Website 19 18 58 S 146 42 43 E Willow Sports Complex title Category:North Queensland Cowboys seasons North Queensland Cowboys season