Why North Queensland Cowboys left edge could be in for bumper NRL season

A Cowboys star has predicted big things for the team’s left edge in attack following his “best pre-season” yet. Find out why the rest of the competition and their fans should take notice.

Murray Taulagi of the Cowboys scores a try during round 26, 2023. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi declared this year had been his “best pre-season” yet as North Queensland prepare to launch their redemption campaign.

After scoring 17 tries in a sensational 2022 season – including crossing the chalk in 15 of his 25 appearances – Taulagi only managed nine last year.

Worryingly, that number was inflated by a hat-trick in the Cowboys 74-0 annihilation of the Tigers, and Taulagi failed to score in 14 of his 20 games.

However Taulagi did record a career-best six try assists and his average running metres rose to a career-best 154.

The Samoa and Australian international said returning to training before Christmas had the Cowboys stars in their best shape ahead of their season opener against the Dolphins.

North Queensland Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi trains with his new look haircut during the 2024 NRL pre-season. Picture: Alix Sweeney / Cowboys Media

“I’m feeling really good. I think it’s my best pre-season that I’ve had in my career so far and I think for most of us, we’ve all come back in pretty good shape and (at) our fittest as well.

“We’re very fortunate that most of us came back pre-Chrissy as well, so that helped.

“We’ve all come out firing. We didn’t have the season we wanted last year and for us we have to use that as motivation.”

Not having the season they wanted is an understatement.

North Queensland endured a snail-like start to 2023, finding themselves in 16th place after nine rounds and despite a late charge to the line they missed out on finals for the fifth time since 2017.

The Queensland Maroons winger predicted the Cowboys’ left edge would be a focal point of attack this year with dynamic backrower Heilum Luki expected to dominate his channel inside Valentine Holmes and Taulagi.

“I’m very happy to be outside Val (Holmes), we’ve really formed a good combination in the last two years and I think it’s only getting stronger the more we play together,” Taulagi said.

NQ Cowboys training at Cowboys HQ at the Hutchinson Builders Centre. Heilum Luki. Picture: Evan Morgan

“He’s a first class centre and I’m stoked that he’s on my side.

“Heilum with his barnstorming running, he opened up the space there for me and Val to do our thing. The more Heilum can get the ball in his hands, the better it is for us.”

While the Cowboys had a few defensive lapses in Queanbeyan against the Raiders, Taulagi was confident those issues would be addressed in the next week.

“I felt very comfortable, I just had to trust the (defensive) system there,” Taulagi said.

“I think we got caught there a couple of times but they’re easy fixes for us. I definitely feel comfortable with the way we’re defending now.”

Originally published as Why North Queensland Cowboys left edge could be in for bumper NRL season