Bourke brothers Jake and Sean have their sights on forging a strong edge combination
He is yet to play alongside or against his younger brother, but Cowboys halfback Jake Bourke is out to make the childhood dream a reality.
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He is yet to play alongside or against his younger brother, but Cowboys halfback Jake Bourke is out to make the childhood dream a reality.
Bourke has taken his first steps towards an NRL career, having begun the North Queensland pre-season on a train and trial basis.
His brother, soon-to-be Ignatius Park graduate Sean, has blossomed into a talented edge forward who the Cowboys have brought to the same Young Guns program that put his older sibling on the club’s radar.
Bourke said there were plenty of brutal backyard games growing up which inspired the pair’s competitive nature, and now they have the chance to transform that family rivalry into a lethal first-grade combination.
“Definitely it’s come across my mind, I’m not sure when that opportunity will arise but there’s definitely been lots of backyard footy at home,” he said.
“I think before he started to fill out I was running all over him, but when he did he was giving it to me a bit. It was definitely very competitive out there, lots of tears and laughs but it was very enjoyable.
“He’s got another year with the under-18s at the Blackhawks so hopefully in a couple of years we can be playing together.”
By his own admission, it took the 20-year-old Bourke time to find his feet in 2021.
While he eventually shone to help guide the Blackhawks under-21s through to the grand final, his early rounds were plagued by a lack of confidence in running the ball.
At the time, coach Dave Elliott called on the young halfback to not fear taking on the line, believing his best asset was in challenging rival defences on his own when the chance presented itself.
The message sparked Bourke’s rejuvenation, scoring five tries in three games.
Between his pre-season with the Cowboys and form for the Blackhawks, Bourke said he was ready to make the jump to senior football when the opportunity arose.
With veteran Townsville halfback Shaun Nona expected to be sidelined through injury until May, that moment could come as early as round one as he contests with under-21s halves partner Aaron Moore for the number seven jumper.
“I came off the season where I think I played three games in about 18 months or something through that Covid period,” Bourke said.
“I started that under 21s campaign off and definitely was not playing good footy. I tried to work on things at training and Dave talked to me and said to back myself.
“I just started backing myself and running the ball, and then I scored a hat trick against the Pride and was full of confidence. From there I started playing way better footy.
“I think it’s definitely healthy competition in the halves at the Blackhawks. Obviously I have to earn my way into that halves role in the QCup side, but I’m up for the challenge and feel like that can be my spot in that team.”
Bourke is determined to capitalise on his pre-season stint with the Cowboys, hopeful of extending his stay beyond a training deal capacity.
Friday marked the return to Cowboys HQ of the North Queensland senior group, including new recruit Chad Townsend.
Bourke said he would be out to sap every piece of information he could out of the Cronulla premiership winner in his bid to advance into the top 30 squad in the near future.
“He’s been around the club for a little bit now. I met him before we started pre-season and he seems like a genuine bloke,” he said.
“Definitely I’d love to hang around here and learn off the likes of Chad Townsend, Scott Drinkwater and Tommy Dearden.
“Obviously I’d love to push my way into a spot, whether that’s in the first grade squad at the Cowboys or if they keep me around just on a full time deal somewhere.”
Cashed strapped: Pay gap still weighing on women
North Queensland fullback Romy Teitzel is calling for the sacrifices made in women’s rugby league to not be in vain, adamant the time has come for a longer NRLW season.
Following the postponement of the 2021 NRLW campaign to February 2022, the elite female players in the game are set to go through 11 months straight of competition and training.
With the QRLW season to begin in April, the another NRLW to take off following that, Teitzel said it would be a struggle for athletes to earn a full-time income.
The 22-year-old was unable to continue her work as a teacher aide when she initially made the move to the Newcastle Knights, only for the delayed competition to send her back home.
While she is expected to return to the ‘Steel City’ in January, Teitzel said she would not be pursuing work next year, instead putting all her efforts into further her rugby league career.
She said for the women’s game to thrive, it was going to take sacrifice from the players to ensure future competitions enabled them to earn a full-time income as athletes.
“I think women’s rugby league is one of the biggest female sports at the moment still making huge sacrifices,” Teitzel said.
“Myself and a lot of the girls are relocating every few months of the year which makes it difficult to uphold employment, study and relationships at home.
“I love North Queensland so I wouldn’t look to permanently relocate with the hope the Cowboys will form a team soon. It’s going to be a big year and a lot of financial sacrifice to play rugby league for 11 months straight when it’s not full time pay.
“I’m actually just going into my fifth year of a four-year degree. I’m struggling to finish that with the commitments I have around rugby league which is my sole focus at the moment. “Absolutely I want to finish my studies but rugby league is my main focus.”
Last year was Teitzel’s first foray into the Queensland State of Origin camp, and now that selection is finally coming with financial perks.
On Thursday the QRL announced the women who pull on a Maroons jumper will be paid $15,000, equal to what the men earnt in their last interstate series.
For Teitzel it is an exciting step in the right direction, however now the game needed to have similar compensation in the NRLW.
To do so, a larger competition — complete with more viewers and televised opportunities — needed to occur from the end of the 2022 competition and beyond.
The forthcoming season will welcome new teams into the fold for the first time, with Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast joining Brisbane, Sydney and St George-Illawarra.
Teitzel said that was where further expansion needed to stop for the time being, and instead a longer format needed to be incorporated.
While the North Queensland Gold Stars captain was hopeful a Cowboys outfit would come into the game soon, the priority needed to be two-rounds of clashes with each team to enhance the skill level of the game and bring in wider audiences to generate further income for the players.
She said from there, a three-game State of Origin series could come to fruition.
“Personally I do think after this coming year and the 2022 season I do think the NRLW is ready to expand,” Teitzel said.
“If that’s more teams, I don’t think so, I think two rounds of rugby league per team and then obviously you’re two semis moving into a grand final. That will build the game while maintaining the talent at the moment.”
How captain and coach drove Cowboys new recruit north
New Cowboys recruit Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has revealed the influence his new coach and captain had on his decision to make the move to Townsville.
After a disruptive 2021 campaign — which included a loan stint with the Dragons — the 24-year-old is eager to settle into the North and learn off arguably the NRL’s best middle forward.
While the barnstorming Jason Taumalolo recorded lesser numbers than what fans are typically accustomed to, the reality is there are few men who strike fear into rival defences in the same manner when he is firing.
Until now, Taunoa-Brown was one of those players.
But now with the chance to learn off the Tongan captain, he said he would be hanging off every word and action Taumalolo left on the field once he returned to training next Friday.
“I’ve played against him a few times and he’s unreal, so to be on the same side as him is pretty exciting,” Taunoa-Brown said.
“I’ve watched him for years now and he’s an unreal player, so to be able to learn off him is something I’m looking forward to.
“Just to see how he conducts himself on and off the field, and he’s obviously strong with the ball so I’ll be looking to get some advice from him on the attacking side.”
A fit and focused Taumalolo will be pivotal to ending the Cowboys four-year hiatus from finals football, however there are already obstacles in his path.
In the 2021 campaign the superstar lock was forced to the sidelines frequently after a string of hand injuries, while positional shifts and a reduction in minutes greatly diminished his output.
His 139 running metres per game was his lowest average figures since 2014, having spent the past four seasons with 186.5m a match to his credit.
The theory from coach Todd Payten throughout the year was to ensure his 10-year marquee man was able to provide quality over quantity for the duration of his illustrious contract.
To do so, Taumalolo needs support around him, which is where Taunoa-Brown could come to the fore.
The former New Zealand Warrior has already developed a relationship with Payten, having worked under him during the 2020 season.
Taunoa-Brown said the coach suited his style of football, and the ease he had communicating with him played into his own quiet demeanour.
Now that he has a chance to settle into a rhythm, he has set about becoming a key pillar in North Queensland’s middle rotation.
Last season the Cowboys languished in 14th for post-contact metres, and Taunoa-Brown’s hulking 114kg frame could go a long way to overturning that statistic.
He said after being on the road with the Warriors and Dragons frequently in the past two years, he was relishing the chance to purely focus on finetuning his game.
“I actually enjoyed it (the loan), being able to adapt to new opportunities and being able to grow as a player and a person,” Taunoa-Brown said.
“I really enjoyed the loan deal and all that last year. Obviously the last two years with the Warriors we’ve been on the road so to be able to come up here and get a base and settle for the next two years is really exciting.
“I’ll try to add where I can, my post contact metres probably haven’t been the best over the last couple of years but I’ll try to work on that this year and bring those metres to the team.”
Neame: ‘We shouldn’t even need that’
With each vicious verbal barrage he receives on the training pitch, Griffin Neame is reminded of how far he has to go to reach the pinnacles of the NRL.
After the campaign the Cowboys endured in 2021, the emerging forward says it is a much needed occurrence.
As North Queensland assistant coach Dean Young led the first group of pre-season trainers through their paces, the former Dragon delivered a string of sprays at the youngsters.
With senior players such as Jason Taumalolo, Valentine Holmes and Jordan McLean not due to return to training until next Friday, Neame said the time was now for the more junior members of the squad to stamp their mark.
But he said the fired up words from coaching staff should not even be necessary. After winning just seven games this year, the 20-year-old said there should be enough motivation to hit top flight without external inspiration.
“It’s what we need, we need something like that to get into us. (But) we shouldn’t even need that, by the time we get on the field we should be ready to go and shouldn’t need a spray,” Neame said.
“Deano loves a spray, but once he sprays us we definitely get going. It’s a lot tougher than last year which it needs to be … we’ve got to start faster in our sessions.
“Coming off last year it’s a real drive for everyone to improve and get better as a team. We’re going to have to come into round one good and get a good streak going.”
Neame’s first foray into the NRL came with some success, averaging 75 running metres off the bench and picking up a rare win — a 38-26 round 24 triumph over St. George-Illawarra.
It was in his debut against Wests Tigers he showcased the abilities which brought him over from the Cowboys’ New Zealand Academy, finishing with 100m and a try assist for fellow debutant Jeremiah Nanai.
Largely the crew who have started the pre-season are the more inexperienced within the squad — the more established players being the likes of Mitch Dunn, Tom Gilbert and Reuben Cotter.
But it has given the chance for rising prospects Ragsy Wavik, Tom Chester and Jake Bourke — members of the Young Guns program — to prove themselves in front of coaching staff.
Neame said he had spent plenty of time reflecting on his initial steps into first-grade, and now felt ready to take his on field presence to a new level with or without the senior figures.
“I loved those three games I played and it just made me way hungrier to get back in here and have a big pre-season. I’ve been dreaming of that moment for a while, so when I got it it was pretty good,” he said.
“Our squad’s not overly experienced really, so us young boys have to step up a bit and keep improving our game each session.
“All those young boys who have come in have really ripped in and actually done really well. “It’s a lot tougher, so they’ve done extremely well and hopefully when the boys come in next Friday they go off the back of us and go to another level then.”
REVEALED: The six games Cowboys fans cannot miss
Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel says the club underwent extensive talks with the NRL prior to the 2022 draw being finalised, in a bid to provide North Queensland fans with home games more accommodating to the travel demands.
Of the 12 matches to be played out of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, seven will take place in the Saturday afternoon and evening time slots.
No Thursday home games will take place.
With 10 per cent of the Cowboys’ fan base travelling more than 400km to Townsville, and a further 30 per cent more than 100km, Reibel said the outcome was just reward given the widespread nature of their demographic.
“We certainly talked to the NRL about that when we have the diverse nature of people travelling,” he said.
“We have our members and fans travel the most in the league so to be able to have them here on a Saturday afternoon or evening seven times out of 12 I think is a positive.
“We talked about that and also other draw priorities. One of them was to get a game during the July school holidays, and we’ve afforded the blockbuster with the Broncos through then.”
The Cowboys will launch their 2022 campaign with back-to-back home fixtures against the Bulldogs and Raiders, while they will not be required to leave Queensland until the round six clash against Canberra at GIO Stadium.
But it will be a Sunday clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in round three which will draw the eye, with the 3.05pm contest the first afternoon contest between the side’s since 2006.
Of their 12 away games, only five will require the team to travel interstate, while they will have no five day turnarounds to contend with.
Reibel said, given how much extra travel North Queensland typically endure each year, the draw they had been presented would do wonders for the squads physical and mental welfare.
“There’s no secret we’re the most travelled team in the NRL, when you’re based in North Queensland you have to be and it’s part of what we do,” he said.
“But to be able to cut that travel down is an important thing for their welfare and recovery, and also no five day turnarounds. That’s something that’s quite important as well.
“We’ve got a game in Bundaberg against Canterbury which is actually an away game, but in regional Queensland and Cowboy territory. And we play the Eels in Darwin, so I think we’ve got a really good travel schedule — no five day turnarounds at all.”
Cowboys memberships are now open for fans to purchase, with the club hopeful of not only matching their 17,500 members in 2021, but also planning more outreach and engagement with those who sign on.
THE SIX GAMES FOR COWBOYS FANS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Round Three vs Brisbane Broncos Sunday 3.05pm March 27 @ Suncorp Stadium and Round 16 5.30pm Saturday July 2 @ Queensland Coutry Bank Stadium
Not since 2006 have the Cowboys and Broncos played their local derby in the afternoon.
On that occasion, North Queensland emerged 34-6 victors, however it was Brisbane who marched to the premiership that year.
The Sunday afternoon clash could well be one of the most highly anticipated and viewed contests of the year.
Later on in round 16, the Cowboys will then host the local derby at 5.30pm on a Saturday, aligning with the ideal time slot for the club’s fan base.
“To have that game in the day, as our game against the Broncos at home will be at 5.30, I think that’s a great outcome for us,” Reibel said.
“Particularly as we prepare to welcome another Queensland team in 2023. It’s going to reinforce what the traditionally derby is, and give us something to move from and a platform for 2023 as well.”
Round One vs Canterbury Bulldogs Sunday 5.15pm March 13 @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium Friday 6pm
The season will launch for the Cowboys on home turf, and they will get the first taste of a new look Bulldogs outfit.
Canterbury have been regular cellar dwellers in most recent campaigns, however a host of new recruits have put life back into the once proud venture.
Fullback Matt Dufty, winger Josh Addo-Carr, premiership winner Matt Burton and propr Tevita Pangai Junior and Paul Vaughan headline the incoming brigade which has given Trent Barrett’s side hope a new era is dawning.
While North Queensland had the wood over the Bulldogs in Townsville last year, it will be a very different prospect this time around to open their account.
Round 11 vs Melbourne Storm 5.30pm Saturday May 21 @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium
While Melbourne have been the powerhouses of the NRL for some time, and the Cowboys have struggled to land a blow on the champions, there is always something about this match up.
North Queensland may have failed to register a win over the Storm since 2015 — their premiership season — but they have regularly been up for the fight.
Last year only four points seperated the teams in Townsville, despite the Cowboys being in the midst of the harrowing losing run.
What let them down in the corresponding clash in 2021 was game management at the death. Perhaps an incoming recruit could change things for the club.
Round 15 vs Manly Sea Eagles 6pm Friday June 17 @ 4 Pines Park
Last year the Cowboys were riding high into the bye round. They had won six of their past eight encounters, and had at last put themselves into finals contention.
Coming out of the week off, Manly gave them a wake up call they never rebounded from.
Despite scoring the first two tries, the Sea Eagles proceeded to put on a clinic even without star fullback Tom Trobojevic, finishing 50-18 victors.
When Trbojevic returned for their next match in Townsville, he put on an absolute show in another thumping — this time 46-18.
Once North Queensland lost that first contest, a dramatic losing streak of 10 games followed.
If they are to turn their fortunes around in 2022, a triumph over Manly at what will be a similar stage in the season could prove decisive.
Round 18 vs Cronulla Sharks 6pm Friday July 15 @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium
This will be the one and only time Cowboys star recruit Chad Townsend will take on his former club.
The halfback won a title in 2016 with the Sharks, and now North Queensland fans will get the chance to see how he responds to challenging his former teammates.
The Cowboys have been crying out for a chief general since the retirement of Johnathan Thurston, a search made all the more difficult following last year’s medical retirement of Michael Morgan.
Townsend has been identified by coach Todd Payten as that man, and he will need to hit his straps long before he faces the Sharks.
With his premiership winning teammate Valentine Holmes also in the side, the pair will be determined to get one over their former club on home turf.
COWBOYS 2022 HOME GAMES
ROUND 1 vs Bulldogs Sunday March 13 @ 5.15pm
ROUND 2 vs Raiders Saturday March 19 @ 6.35pm
ROUND 4 vs Roosters Saturday April 2 @ 6.35pm
ROUND 7 vs Titans Saturday April 23 @ 5.30pm
ROUND 9 vs Knights Saturday May 7 @ 7.35pm
ROUND 11 vs Storm Saturday May 21 @ 5.30pm
ROUND 14 vs Dragons Friday June 10 @ 7.55pm
ROUND 16 vs Broncos Saturday July 2 @ 5.30pm
ROUND 18 vs Sharks Friday July 15 @ 6pm
ROUND 19 vs Tigers Sunday July 24 @ 4.05pm
ROUND 23 vs Warriors Friday August 19 @ 6pm
ROUND 25 vs Panthers Saturday September 3 @ 7.35pm
REVEALED: Reasons behind ‘The Hammer’s’ rapid re-signing
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow says his decision to extend his stay in Cowboys colours was an easy one. For the young fullback it was a matter of clearing his mind, ensuring that is only focus was on lifting North Queensland out of the doldrums.
The 20-year-old penned a one-year contract extension which would keep him in Cowboy colours until the end of 2023, signing before the November 1 deadline which would have allowed rivals to approach the lighting flyer.
Having made his State of Origin debut and showcased his credentials in the number one jumper, despite his side’s poor 2021 record, ’The Hammer’ was likely to be a highly sort after commodity.
However Tabuai-Fidow said he wanted to get a deal arranged swiftly, freeing his mind to put all his efforts into cementing the fullback role and ending North Queensland’s four-year hiatus from finals football.
“I did want to get it over and done with leading into pre-season so I didn’t have to worry about it during the season,” he said.
“I just didn’t want to worry about it during the season. I do want to stay here long term, I love the North. I’m a boy from the North up in Cairns so I would love to stay here for a while.
“This pre-season I do want to cement that fullback role coming into next season. I’m pretty happy to have a big pre-season here and I’m just excited to rip in.”
Tabuai-Fidow joined a group of his teammates in the club’s first day of pre-season yesterday, with more experienced campaigners such as Jason Taumalolo and Valentine Holmes not due to join them for another fortnight.
It will be Holmes where the enigmatic back gets his greatest test for the fullback position he has craved since joining the NRL ranks.
While injury and an emergency appendectomy limited Tabuai-Fidow to just 13 appearances last season, he managed his first extended run at the back, playing four straight games as the Cowboys’ custodian.
North Queensland only salvaged one victory in those matches, however the young man showed enough to suggest he had a long term future in the role — finishing with 156 running metres a game to go with 19 tackle busts, four linebreaks and three tries.
It even inspired coach Todd Payten to shift marquee man Holmes to the centres, a position he said at the end of the campaign he could assume in 2022 and beyond.
Tabuai-Fidow said he expected to train more extensively at the back along with his premiership-winning teammate, and had embraced the forthcoming challenge.
After Payten also alluded to a more physically and mentally gruelling pre-season than veer before, Tabuai-Fidow said it he was bracing for the biggest test of his fledging career.
“He (Holmes) is a good player wherever he plays, so with me and him he will keep me on my feet. But I’m ready and I will pick some stuff from him,” he said.
“With the competition there it’s healthy and I’m keen to try and cement that fullback spot.
“You do feel nervous but excited at the same time. You want to have a good pre-season leading into next season, so with having another pre-season under my belt I’m pretty excited.”
Horror injury cuts short Cowboy comeback
EXCLUSIVE
Cowboys centre Javid Bowen has been forced to call time on his NRL career, the tragic ramifications of a serious knee injury ending his time on the field.
In what was a difficult year for the North Queensland outfit, Bowen’s story of resilience to fight his way back to the top level in 2021 was one lauded by the club’s head of football Micheal Luck as “a shining light for all juniors“ in the region.
Having lost his spot in the Cowboys roster at the end of 2019, Bowen returned to Cairns and forced his way to another chance.
Even when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the 2020 Queensland Cup, he worked on himself and his craft, impressing coach Todd Payten enough for a recall.
But after cementing himself in the starting side through nine consecutive appearances, he suffered both a ruptured MCL and ACL against the Sydney Roosters in July.
Surgery followed, but Luck said the advice they received indicated he would never recover to the point where he could compete at NRL level again.
He said he had officially been cleared for medical retirement, and his presence would be missed around the club.
“He’s a benchmark example for guys who potentially thought the dream was over for them. Javid proved it isn’t and he should be held as a shining light for all juniors in North Queensland,” Luck said.
“Early in the year he came down and made every post a winner and earned his spot in the side. It was a great example to, not only our younger guys about resilience and overcoming adversity, but for guys on the periphery as well.
“The injury was a big one, the surgery was a big one, and the first couple of weeks were really difficult. He worked really hard and he was drained at the end of that initial recovery.
“The feedback was it was going to get to a point he’ll be functional again but he won’t get to a point where he can play in the NRL. That’s a really hard reality to confront for Javid, and then for Todd and the coaching staff.
“I think he’s a fairly level-headed and unemotional guy, but when that was first raised you could see it had a pretty fair impact on him.”
Bowen will end his career with 45 Cowboys appearances and 13 tries to his credit.
Luck said the 28-year-old would take some time off to evaluate his next move, however with an electrician apprenticeship to return to he would have more career options moving forward.
However he said the club would continue to provide any medical and welfare support needed to help Bowen through this transition period, given how difficult the passage can be for players when their careers have ended before they intended.
“He’s got that to go back into, his apprenticeship, which he really enjoyed and challenged him as well,” Luck said.
“That may cushion the blow a little bit, but there’s no doubt it’s a part of your life that for a lot of our guys is their identity. It’s how they’ve defined their value.
“It’s difficult when you have a plan and a timeline in mind. It’s even more so when it’s taken away fairly abruptly.
“We’ve got a lot of plans in place to put support around him and make sure that landing back in the real world is as easy as possible.”
Luck said the Cowboys would accelerate discussions on how to replace Bowen in the squad, with both internal and open market options being considered.
Originally published as Bourke brothers Jake and Sean have their sights on forging a strong edge combination
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