Cowboys premiership hero Matt Scott inducted into club Hall of Fame

The Cowboys legend is the fifth player in the club’s 28 year history to receive the honour. Read his reaction to the honour and see the full list of club Hall of Famers.

Cowboys Hall of Famer Matt Scott and Michael Morgan, a player he thanked. Picture: Zak Simmonds

COWBOYS premiership-winning captain Matt Scott has become the first forward in North Queensland history to be enshrined in the club’s hall of fame.

North Queensland’s 268-game warhorse is the fifth player in the club’s 28 year history to receive the honour, joining Paul Bowman, Matt Sing, Matt Bowen and 2015 grand final co-captain Johnathan Thurston.

Born in Longreach and raised in tiny Ilfricombe, 27km to the east, Scott admitted he could never have predicted the journey rugby league would take him on.

“It definitely wasn’t on my radar when I started playing for the Cowboys,” the 37-year-old said.

“Growing up in Ilfricombe, not having much exposure to rugby league, then to be play NRL at all was a huge honour. I had no idea my career would pan out the way it did.

“To be able to play my whole career with the Cowboys and now be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a huge honour.

Matt Scott. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“I really appreciate what those guys (other Hall of Famers) did for the Cowboys and putting the club on the map and I’m just glad I could play a little part in that and continue the early successes those guys had.”

Cowboys football manager Micheal Luck hailed the prop as part of a golden generation that transformed the Cowboys from entertainers into a premiership force.

“He was part of that group of players that led the revolution,” Luck said.

“To be a team that was considered perennial finals contenders, the hard edge that came with it was well and truly driven by Matt.

“Our medical team talk about it now, the duress under which Matt could take the field.

“We try to teach our boys the difference between ‘hurt’ and ‘injured.’ When you’re hurt you can back on and do your job but there’s a difference between being genuinely injured where you have to come off.

“Matt’s threshold for pain and the tolerance he had to play with niggling injuries is unmatched in the club’s history. He’s one of the toughest blokes to ever wear the Cowboys jersey and it is a very, very fitting reward that he received on Friday.”

Matt Scott. Picture: Evan Morgan

Raising the Provan-Summons trophy at Thurston’s side in 2015 remains the peak of Scott’s career but smaller moments along the way made the prop just as proud to be a Cowboy.

Winning the 2005 Queensland Cup alongside future NRL teammates including Gavin Cooper, and a trip to the big dance in first grade that same season as 18th man, solidified what began as a lofty dream into his desire to make it reality.

Scott had many to thank, including teammates Cooper, Brent Tate, Scott Bolton, Jake Granville and Michael Morgan, but none more than his little No.7.

“I played pretty much every NRL game I ever played with JT. Played for Queensland and Australia with him, co-captained with him,” Scott said.

“He was such a big part of my career and just a great player and person to do it with so much enthusiasm. He was a lot of fun.”

Originally published as Cowboys premiership hero Matt Scott inducted into club Hall of Fame