2002 North Queensland Cowboys season

June 2020 August 2019 2002 navy white NRL NRL 11th 8 0 16 496 803 Missed finals CEO Denis Keeffe Coach Murray Hurst (sacked on 3 April)Graham Murray Paul Bowman Dairy Farmers Stadium 12,133 24,212 (vs. Brisbane Broncos, Round 1) Matt Sing (16) Josh Hannay (48) Josh Hannay (108) 2001 2003 The 2002 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 8th in the club's history. Coached by Murray Hurst and captained by Paul Bowman, they competed in the NRL's 2002 Telstra Premiership. Graham Murray replaced Hurst after three rounds and helped the club to their highest finish (11th) and most competition points (20) at the time. Season summary The Cowboys underwent another rebuild in 2002 following a disastrous 2001 season. A number of players were moved on, with the key recruit being former Australian and Queensland winger Matt Sing. Sing was an instant success for the club, finishing the 2002 season as the team's top try scorer and being named their Player of the Year. He would later earn his way back into representative sides, becoming a club legend for the Cowboys, being named in their 10th and 20th Anniversary Teams and an inaugural inductee into their Hall of Fame in 2016.https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2016/09/06/cowboys-hall-of-fame-unveiled/ Cowboys Hall of Fame unveiled 6 September 2016https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2015/05/17/introducing-your-20-year-team/ Introducing your 20-year team! 17 May 2015 The 2002 season began with three straight losses and looked to be even worse than the year before. Following their Round 3 defeat to the Melbourne Storm, coach Murray Hurst was sacked and replaced by former Sydney Roosters boss Graham Murray, who had taken the Roosters to the Grand Final just two years earlier.https://www.smh.com.au/sport/if-cowboys-need-help-bennett-is-their-man-20020403-gdf5zw.html If Cowboys need help, Bennett is their man 3 April 2002 Another key piece of their rebuild, Murray would later lead the club to their first finals series and first Grand Final, and was their most successful head coach until the arrival of Paul Green. Although the success was not instant, the signs were there, as the side won three of their first six games under Murray. Five straights losses soon followed, before ending the year with four wins from their final seven games, giving hope for the 2003 season. The club finished the regular season in 11th, their highest ever finish, with 20 competition points, also a record. Off the field, Peter Parr joined the club as football manager for the 2002 season. A former administrator with the Perth Reds and Brisbane Broncos, Parr later held the positions of CEO and General Manager and was instrumental in the club's future successes and bringing players, such as Johnathan Thurston, to the club.North Queensland Cowboys seasonhttps://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/cowboys/peter-parr-is-the-creator-of-the-cowboys-enviable-culture/news-story/1406b89c0ffda792617c66abae7e4ef7 2002 also saw the retirement of club stalwart and foundation player Peter Jones, who held the club's most games record until 2004. Jones, the first player to play 100 games for the club, would remain on the Cowboys football operations staff until the end of 2012.https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/last-of-the-original-cowboys-to-ride-off-into-the-sunset-20020810-gdfj5a.html Last of the original Cowboys to ride off into the sunset 10 August 2002 While one club great retired, another emerged, with Aaron Payne making his debut in Round 12. Payne would go onto play 219 games for the club and start at hooker in their first ever Grand Final appearance in 2005. Milestones Round 1: Ken McGuinness, Matt Sing and David Thompson made their debuts for the club. Round 1: Matt Petersen made his NRL debut. Round 4: Ashley Alberts and Ty Williams made their NRL debuts. Round 5: Jaiman Lowe made his NRL debut. Round 7: Glenn Morrison played his 50th game for the club. Round 8: Nathan Fien played his 50th game for the club. Round 10: Ben Laity made his NRL debut. Round 12: Aaron Payne and Simon Phillips made their NRL debuts. Round 15: Tevita Amone made his debut for the club. Round 19: Derrick Watkins made his NRL debut. Round 21: Paul Bowman played his 100th game for the club. Squad List North Queensland Cowboys NRL Squad 2002 navy white #c0c0c0 black AUS CE Ashley Alberts AUS PR Tevita Amone AUS FB Matthew Bowen AUS CE Paul Bowman y AUS WG Tarin Bradford AUS FB Tim Brasher AUS PR John Buttigieg AUS HK Paul Dezolt AUS HK John Doyle AUS HB Nathan Fien AUS HK George Gatis AUS CE Josh Hannay AUS SR Peter Jones AUS PR Ben Laity AUS PR Jaiman Lowe AUS SR Micheal Luck AUS PR Tim Maddison AUS SR John Manning AUS PR Jamie McDonald AUS CE Ken McGuinness AUS HB Justin McKay AUS HK Leigh McWilliams AUS LK Glenn Morrison AUS SR Chris Muckert AUS HK Shane Muspratt AUS HB Aaron Payne AUS WG Matt Petersen AUS WG Simon Phillips AUS PR Grant Reibel AUS FE Chris Sheppard AUS WG Matt Sing AUS SR Daniel Strickland AUS PR David Thompson AUS SR Shaun Valentine AUS LK Derrick Watkins AUS CE Scott Whiting AUS WG Ty Williams Graham Murray Neil Henry (assistant coach) Squad Movement 2002 Gains Player Signed from Tevita Amone Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs Magpies (mid-season)A NEW FACE AT THE CHR COWBOYS http://www.cowboys.com.au/LatestNews.asp?LatestNewsID=69 www.cowboys.com.au 8 April 2026 Tongan born Tavita Amone has commenced duties at the club, after playing the first part of the season in the NSW 1st Division competition with Wests. 8 December 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20021208095737/http://www.cowboys.com.au/LatestNews.asp?LatestNewsID=69 bot: unknown Ken McGuinness Toowoomba 16 Toowoomba Clydesdales Matt Petersen Newcastle 16 Newcastle Knights Matt Sing Sydney Roosters 16 Sydney Roosters David Thompson Canterbury 16 Canterbury Bulldogs 2002 Losses Player Signed To John Andrews Released Player Index - John J Andrews http://www.cowboys.com.au/team/player/index.asp?player_id=206 www.cowboys.com.au 8 April 2026 9 April 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20010409194902/http://www.cowboys.com.au/team/player/index.asp?player_id=206 bot: unknown Geoff Bell Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers Adam Connelly Castleford Tigers 16 ACT Griffins (rugby union) Brett Hetherington Retired Brian Jellick limoux 16 Limoux Grizzlies Denny Lambert pia 16 Pia Donkeys Trent Leis Redcliffe 16 Redcliffe Dolphins Naipolioni Kuricibi Retired Bruce Mamando Retired Danny Moore Retired Adam Nable pia 16 Pia Donkeys Julian O'Neill Wigan 16 Wigan Warriors Lee Oudenryn Retired Nick Paterson Cronulla 16 Cronulla Sharks Matt Petersen Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels (mid-season) Paul Pensini Released Robert Relf Widnes 16 Widnes Vikings Johnny Rowbotham Released Player Index - Johnny N Rowbotham http://www.cowboys.com.au/team/player/index.asp?player_id=48 www.cowboys.com.au 8 April 2026 9 April 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20010409195943/http://www.cowboys.com.au/team/player/index.asp?player_id=48 bot: unknown Mark Shipway Northern Eagles 16 Northern Eagles Damien Smith Retired Kyle Warren Castleford 16 Castleford Tigers Ladder Fixtures Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance16 MarchRound 1Brisbane 16 Brisbane BroncosDairy Farmers Stadium6 – 42 DoyleHannay (1/1)24,21223 MarchRound 2Newcastle 16 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium18 – 50 Bradford, Petersen, Matt SingHannay (3/3)14,86830 MarchRound 3Melbourne 16 Melbourne StormOlympic Park10 – 38Hannay, MorrisonHannay (1/2)8,8286 AprilRound 4New Zealand Warriors old 16 WarriorsDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 50Morrison (2), Bowen, HannayHannay (2/4)9,65713 AprilRound 5South Sydney 16 South Sydney RabbitohsDairy Farmers Stadium30 – 18Bowen, Bradford, Morrison, Muspratt, WilliamsHannay (5/6)11,01421 AprilRound 6Sydney Roosters 16 Sydney RoostersAussie Stadium12 – 58Fien, SingMorrison (2/2)7,31827 AprilRound 7Penrith 16 Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium28 – 18Fien (2), Bowen, Petersen, WilliamsMorrison (4/5)8.7595 MayRound 8Parramatta 16 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium19 – 20Doyle, Morrison, SingMorrison (3/5), Fien (1 FG)11,17411 MayRound 9Wests Tigers 16 Wests TigersDairy Farmers Stadium40 – 16Bowen (2), Sing (2), Fien, Hannay, McGuinnessHannay (6/9)13,08918 MayRound 10Penrith 16 Penrith PanthersDairy Farmers Stadium8 – 38BowmanHannay (2/2)10,51226 MayRound 11Canberra 16 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium20 – 32Sing (2), Alberts, GatisBowen (2/4)7,1281 JuneRound 12St George 16 St George Illawarra DragonsDairy Farmers Stadium40 – 32Bowman (2), Gatis, Peter Jones, Morrison, Sing, WilliamsMorrison (6/7)10,5619 JuneRound 13New Zealand Warriors old 16 WarriorsEricsson Stadium6 – 34PhillipsMorrison (1/1)14,61616 JuneRound 14Brisbane 16 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium8 – 52Bowen, BowmanBowen (0/1), Hannay (0/1)10,21522 JuneRound 15Cronulla 16 Cronulla SharksDairy Farmers Stadium16 – 46Bowen, Muckert, SingHannay (2/3)13,56829 JuneRound 16St George 16 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium18 – 45Bowen, Fien, SingHannay (3/3)7,987Round 17Bye13 JulyRound 18Northern Eagles 16 Northern EaglesDairy Farmers Stadium12 – 28Bowen, SingHannay (2/2)8,50520 JulyRound 19Canberra 16 Canberra RaidersDairy Farmers Stadium34 – 18Sing (2), Bowen, Bowman, Muckert, Williams Hannay (5/6)8,12128 JulyRound 20Northern Eagles 16 Northern EaglesBrookvale Oval30 – 18Williams (2), Bowman, Dezolt, MaddisonHannay (3/6)6,5203 AugustRound 21Canterbury 16 Canterbury BulldogsDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 34Bowman (2), Dezolt, MorrisonHannay (5/6)12,23110 AugustRound 22Melbourne 16 Melbourne StormDairy Farmers Stadium30 – 40Sing (2), Bowen, Dezolt, Fien, SheppardBowen (3/4), Hannay (0/2)9,238Round 23Bye24 AugustRound 24Cronulla 16 Cronulla SharksToyota Park14 – 36Bowman, Dezolt, WilliamsHannay (1/3)12,65831 AugustRound 25South Sydney 16 South Sydney RabbitohsAussie Stadium36 – 34Williams (3), Bowen, Bowman, Fien, SingHannay (4/7)9,1297 SeptemberRound 26Parramatta 16 Parramatta EelsDairy Farmers Stadium15 – 6Williams (2)Hannay (3/5), Fien (1 FG)14,892 Legend: #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFBBBB Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #cfecec Bye 1px solid #AAAAAA Statistics NameAppTGFGPtsAshley Alberts51--4Tevita Amone3----Matthew Bowen24125-58Paul Bowman Paul Bowman (rugby league)1410--40Tarin Bradford32--8Tim Brasher3----John Buttigieg John Buttigieg (rugby league)16----Paul Dezolt84--16John Doyle John Doyle (rugby league)112--8Nathan Fien247-230George Gatis151--4Josh Hannay19348-108Peter Jones Peter Jones (rugby league, born 1972)181--4Ben Laity1----Jaiman Lowe16----Micheal Luck18----Tim Maddison81--4Jamie McDonald Jamie McDonald (rugby league)12----Ken McGuinness91--4Leigh McWilliams9----Glenn Morrison rugby league15716-60Chris Muckert132--8Shane Muspratt171--4Aaron Payne5----Matt Petersen82--8Simon Phillips Simon Phillips (rugby league)41--4Grant Reibel3----Chris Sheppard rugby league91--4Matt Sing2316--64Daniel Strickland13----David Thompson David Thompson (rugby league, born 1978)21----Shaun Valentine3----Derrick Watkins2----Scott Whiting13----Ty Williams2113--52 Totals 89 69 2 496 Source:http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2002/north-queensland-cowboys/summary.html NRL 2002 - North Queensland Cowboys - Rugby League Project Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2002. State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 John Buttigieg Queensland - -John Doyle Queensland - - Honours Club Player of the Year: Matt Sing Players' Player: Matt Sing Club Person of the Year: Martin Locke Feeder Clubs Queensland Cup North Queensland 16 North Queensland Young Guns - 6th, missed finals References 19 18 58 S 146 42 43 E Willow Sports Complex title Category:North Queensland Cowboys seasons North Queensland Cowboys season