Sunshine switch: The NRL players who turned out for both the Broncos and the Cowboys
With Josh McGuire set to move from the Broncos to the Cowboys, Greg Davis looks at the players who have made the switch between two of the NRL’s greatest rivals
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Yee-haw! Josh McGuire and Ben Barba are about to join an exclusive, rough-ridin’ rugby league club of footballers who have turned out for both the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys.
The players who have donned both the maroon-and-gold and blue-and-gold include Test, Origin and NRL stars.
There’s also hardmen, journeymen and cult hero Scott Minto who have called Brisbane and Townsville home during their NRL careers.
Here’s the pick of them.
SCOTT PRINCE
WITH his skills, speed and post-try celebrations, the Mt Isa-born halfback burst onto the NRL scene with the Cowboys in 1998 and played 53 games for North Queensland to the end of 2000.
He linked with Brisbane in 2001 and endured three injury-riddled years at Red Hill that reaped 28 games.
Led the Tigers to the 2005 title and was the foundation skipper at the Gold Coast Titans before one last fling with Brisbane with 22 games in 2013.
CARL WEBB
THE human wrecking ball backrower with the occasionally interesting haircut barnstormed his way into the Origin arena in 2001 after debuting with Brisbane in 2000.
Was shown the door by the Broncos in 2004 and joined the Cowboys where he played 115 bone-crunching, yard-munching games from 2005 to 2010 in which time he played his sole Test for Australia.
A fan favourite for his raw-boned, old-school aggression.
BRENT TATE
THE flying neckbrace played for Australia before he debuted for the Maroons on the strength of his work with Brisbane where he made the grade in 2001.
Left Red Hill after the 2007 season after 117 games for the Broncos to join New Zealand and brother-in-law Steve Price at the Warriors.
The slick centre saw the light and returned to the Sunshine State in 2011 and went on to play 67 games for the Cowboys.
DALE SHEARER
“ROWDY” is the only player to do the full Queensland tour – Brisbane, South Queensland Crushers, Gold Coast and North Queensland.
The Queensland Origin great starred at Manly in the 1980s before heading to the Broncos in 1990 and 1991 (27 games).
After throwing in a sneaky stint at the Roosters, the utility back had his swansong at the Cowboys in 1998 with 13 games.
SCOTT MINTO
THE Wayne Bennett look-a-like is a rugby league cult figure because, well…he looks like he could have been Bennett’s lovechild.
But he was a more than serviceable winger in his day.
Minto made 39 first grade appearances with Brisbane from 2002 to 2006 before he travelled north for the 2007 season with North Queensland and played 14 NRL games.
JULIAN O’NEILL
THE bad boy could find trouble in a monastery.
The schoolboy star was a premiership winner as a fullback with Brisbane in his five-year tenure from 1991 to 1995 (105 games).
After all manner of off-field indiscretions involving depositing things in shoes and setting fire to a foam-rubber dolphin suit worn by a 13-year-old, he hung up the boots after 47 games in two seasons with the Cowboys in 2000-01.
PAUL GREEN
THE current Cowboys head coach made a few pit-stops in is very handy playing career including two years with North Queensland in 1999 and 2000 after starting and starring with Cronulla.
The one-time Maroons halfback played 35 games for the Cowboys and found his way back to Queensland for one last hurrah with Brisbane in 2004 where he started his coaching career as a kicking specialist.
KEVIN CAMPION
The tough-as-nails backrower won two premierships in three years with Brisbane from 1998-2000 when he played 80 games full of hard yards and big hits.
Never a serious threat of becoming a male model, success followed serial-winner Campion wherever he went.
Joined the Cowboys in 2003 and helped steer the side into its maiden finals appearance in 2004.
BEN HANNANT
The polar bear impersonator had two cracks with Brisbane, winning a title in his first year in 2006. Ended up with 148 games to his name as a Bronco from 2006-08 and 2011-14 with two years at Canterbury in between.
The prop’s golden touch continued at the Cowboys as he was part of their premiership campaign in 2015 before retiring at the end of 2016 after 52 games for North Queensland.
ANTONIO WINTERSTEIN
Got his start with Brisbane in 2009 and played 47 games on the wing before linking with the Cowboys at the start of 2011.
Eight seasons, 167 games and one premiership ring later, injury forced Winterstein to retire this year.
ASHTON SIMS
The Thor look-a-like led the Sims brotherly charge to Red Hill where he spent three years from 2008-10 and played 56 first grade games including one finals clash with Melbourne when he wore the blame for the loss to the Storm.
He put the hammer down and and flew north to play for the Cowboys where he scrubbed up a treat in the super hero round when North Queensland wore Thor-inspired jerseys.
The prop spent four years at the Cowboys for 91 whole-hearted games.
JAKE GRANVILLE
After starring for Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup, the hairy hooker/fullback turned out for 10 games with Brisbane in 2013 and 2014.
He found much greener pastures in the tropics with a spot in the starting side at hooker.
Was the best player on the field in the first half of the 2015 grand final against Brisbane and has clocked up 101 games for the Cowboys where he remains a vital part of their side.
SHANE TRONC
The big prop was part of the Cowboys pack during the club’s rise from cellar-dwellers to finals regulars.
Played 125 games from 2004 to 2009 for North Queensland before 22 games for Brisbane in 2010 and 2011.
AND SOME BRONCO-COWBOY CAMEOS
Nick Slyney: Cowboys 2008 and 2010 (six games), Broncos 2012-13 (six games)
Willie Morganson: Broncos 1991-93 (18 games), Cowboys 1995-96 (12 games)
Robert Tanielu: Broncos 2002 (one game), Cowboys 2006 (three games)
Francis Molo: Broncos 2014-15 (six games), Cowboys 2018 (seven games)
Ben Vaeau: Broncos 2006 (one game), Cowboys 2007-08 (19 games)
AND:
Cowboys football boss Peter Parr who worked in the Brisbane development team before heading to North Queensland.
Broncos assistant coach Jason Demetriou was part of the Cowboys coaching staff for the 2015 premiership win.
Originally published as Sunshine switch: The NRL players who turned out for both the Broncos and the Cowboys
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