2016 North Queensland Cowboys season
The 2016 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 22nd in the club's history and their first as defending premiers. Coached by Paul Green and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership. In the pre-season the Cowboys competed in the 2016 Auckland Nines tournament, reaching the quarter-finals. The team finished the regular season in 4th, losing in the preliminary final to the eventual premiers, the Cronulla Sharks.Season summary
Milestones
- Round 1: Johnathan Thurston scored his 1,800th point in the NRL.
- Round 3: Lachlan Coote scored his 50th try in the NRL.
- Round 5: Javid Bowen made his NRL debut.
- Round 5: James Tamou played his 150th game for the club.
- Round 5: Javid Bowen scored his first NRL try.
- Round 7: Justin O'Neill played his 100th NRL game.
- Round 7: Johnathan Thurston scored his 1,000th point at 1300SMILES Stadium.
- Round 9: Kane Linnett scored his 50th NRL try.
- Round 10: Ethan Lowe played his 50th game for the club.
- Round 11: Johnathan Thurston played his 250th game for the club.
- Round 12: Jahrome Hughes made his debut for the club.
- Round 12: Jahrome Hughes scored his first NRL try.
- Round 13: Ray Thompson played his 100th game for the club.
- Round 13: Gavin Cooper scored his 50th try for the club.
- Round 14: Jason Taumalolo played his 100th game for the club.
- Round 17: Gavin Cooper played his 150th game for the club.
- Round 18: Josh Chudleigh made his NRL debut.
- Round 18: Josh Chudleigh scored his first NRL try.
- Round 26: Lachlan Coote and Jake Granville played their 50th games for the club.
- Finals Week 1: Ben Hannant played his 50th game for the club.
- Finals Week 2: Justin O'Neill played his 50th game for the club.
- Finals Week 2: Kalyn Ponga made his NRL debut.
- Finals Week 2: Michael Morgan played his 100th game for the club.
- Finals Week 3: John Asiata played his 50th game for the club.
Squad List
Squad Movement
Gains
Losses
Re-signings
Ladder
Fixtures
The NRL Auckland Nines is a pre-season rugby league nines competition featuring all 16 NRL clubs. The Cowboys, whose side featured a returning Matthew Bowen, finished first in their pool before being eliminated by the Melbourne Storm in the quarter finals.Pool Play
Pre-season
Regular season
Finals
Statistics
Representatives
The following players have played a representative match in 2016.
| All Stars match | ANZAC Test | Polynesian Cup | City vs Country | Residents match | State of Origin 1 | State Of Origin 2 | State of Origin 3 | Four Nations |
| John Asiata | - | - | Samoa | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gavin Cooper | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Queensland | - |
| Jahrome Hughes | - | - | - | - | Queensland | - | - | - | - |
| Patrick Kaufusi | - | - | Tonga | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Rory Kostjasyn | - | - | - | Country | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kane Linnett | - | - | - | Country | - | - | - | - | - |
| Michael Morgan | - | Australia | - | - | - | Queensland | Queensland | - | Australia |
| Justin O'Neill | - | - | - | - | - | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland | Australia |
| Matthew Scott | - | Australia | - | - | - | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland | Australia |
| James Tamou | - | Australia | - | - | - | New South Wales | New South Wales | New South Wales | - |
| Jason Taumalolo | - | New Zealand | - | - | - | - | - | - | New Zealand |
| Johnathan Thurston | - | Australia | - | - | - | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland | Australia |
| Antonio Winterstein | - | - | Samoa | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Matthew Wright | World All Stars | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Honours
League
- Dally M Medal: Jason Taumalolo
- Dally M Lock of the Year: Jason Taumalolo
- Rugby League Players Association Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo
- NYC Team of the Year: Gideon Gela-Mosby, Kalyn Ponga, Brandon Smith
Club
- Paul Bowman Medal: Jason Taumalolo
- Players' Player: Jason Taumalolo
- Member's Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo
- Club Person of the Year: John Asiata
- Most Improved: Ethan Lowe
- Rookie of the Year: Javid Bowen
- NYC Player of the Year: Brandon Smith
- Townsville Bulletins' Fan Choice Award: Michael Morgan
Feeder Clubs
National Youth Competition">National Youth Competition (rugby league)">National Youth Competition
