Cowboys can go back-to-back if they be the same, but different

MATTHEW JOHNS SCOUTING REPORT: Unlike many defending premiers, the Cowboys still have almost the identical playing squad this year. But they’ll need to be different in 2016.

Cowboys v Broncos

UNLIKE many defending premiers, the Cowboys still have almost the identical playing squad this year.

No side since the Brisbane Broncos in 1997-98 have gone back-to-back. The competition has been so even in the last 10 or so years that it only takes a key injury or a little drop in desire for the premiers to drop back to the pack.

The burnout factor is big, too. The World Club Series in England, as well as facing teams week in, week out who are right up for the challenge to beat the benchmark side, take a toll by mid-year.

The Cowboys have a hard task going back-to-back.

The Cowboys are well and truly capable of winning the title again but can they maintain the hunger?

Souths couldn’t last year. They started brilliantly by demolishing St Helens, winning the Auckland Nines and annihilating everyone in their path in the first few rounds.

But suddenly the momentum slows, there are injuries, opposition teams sense vulnerability, and by July it’s starting to feel like a long, hard campaign.

When the Cowboys experience this, can they muster the desire to lift? Will they find that extra something which got them the trophy 12 months earlier?

In theory the answer is yes, but in practise the challenge will be enormous. To go back-to-back you don’t need to be as good, you need to be better. You need to play slightly differently.

This campaign will invariably be very different from the previous one for North Queensland, and the greatest challenge will come from themselves.

Best of 2015 for Sport - North Queensland Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston celebrates kicking the winning field in golden point to give the Cowboys the NRL premiership defeating the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium. Picture. Phil Hillyard

BEST 13

1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matt Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 James Tamou, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Ethan Lowe, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Rory Kostjasyn, 15 John Asiata, 16 Scott Bolton, 17 Ben Hannant

INS

Shaun Hudson (Gold Coast Titans), Jahrome Hughes (Townsville Blackhawks)

OUTS

Robert Lui (Salford), Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers), Cameron King (Parramatta Eels), Glenn Hall (retirement), Kelepi Tanginoa (Parramatta Eels), Scott Schulte (Parramatta Eels), Hezron Murgha (Townsville Blackhawks)

DRAW

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Originally published as Cowboys can go back-to-back if they be the same, but different