After an improved 1996 season, the club pulled off a major coup in signing three-time premiership winning coach Tim Sheens from the Canberra Raiders, who brought five players with him from his old club, including Australia and Queensland representative hooker Steve Walters. Former Australia and New South Wales prop Ian Roberts was brought in as captain as part of a major off-season rebuild in which 20 players were let go, including a number of foundation players.
The club, who were competing in News Limited's breakaway Super League competition, got off to a promising start after defeating the newly formed Adelaide Rams in the opening round of the season. The good times under Sheens and his new signings were short lived, as a four game losing streak followed. A win over the Auckland Warriors in Round 9 was followed by two consecutive draws, which included a 20-all draw against arch-rivals Brisbane, their best ever result against them at the time.
Back-to-back wins in Round 14 and 15 had the Cowboys sitting just four points outside the Top 5, but a three-game losing streak to end the season left the club languishing in last place. The Cowboys recorded their second wooden spoon in three seasons, with just five wins from 18 games. Despite the disappointing year, Tim Sheens signed a five-year contract renewal with the club. Owen Cunningham, an off-season recruit from Manly, was named the club's Player of the Year.
Towards the end of the season, the club took part in the World Club Championship. The tournament featured all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions and was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres. The Cowboys played home and away games against three Super League clubs; (Leeds Rhinos, Oldham Bears and Salford Reds), winning all but once (a 16-20 loss to Oldham at Boundary Park). Despite the great results, the Cowboys missed out on the finals, while clubs in other pools got through without even winning a game. It would be the last time the club would face a Super League side or play a game in England until the 2016 World Club Challenge.
The World Club Championship was a mid-season tournament featuring all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions. It was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres from 6 June to 11 October.
1997, north, queensland, cowboys, season, club, history, coached, sheens, captained, roberts, they, competed, breakaway, news, limited, competition, telstra, super, league, rank10thplay, resultmissed, finals1997, recordwins, draws, losses, 11points, scoredfor,. The 1997 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 3rd in the club s history Coached by Tim Sheens and captained by Ian Roberts they competed in the breakaway News Limited run competition the Telstra Cup 1997 North Queensland Cowboys seasonSuper League Rank10thPlay off resultMissed finals1997 recordWins 5 draws 2 losses 11Points scoredFor 328 against 452Team informationCoachTim SheensCaptainIan RobertsStadiumStockland StadiumAvg attendance17 539High attendance30 122 vs Brisbane Broncos Rd 6 Top scorersTriesLuke Phillips 8 GoalsLuke Phillips 45 PointsLuke Phillips 122 1996 1998 Contents 1 Season summary 1 1 Milestones 2 Squad list 3 Squad movement 3 1 1997 Gains 3 2 1997 Losses 4 Ladder 5 Fixtures 5 1 Regular season 5 2 World Club Championship 5 2 1 Pool Play 6 Statistics 7 Representatives 8 Honours 8 1 Club 9 ReferencesSeason summary editAfter an improved 1996 season the club pulled off a major coup in signing three time premiership winning coach Tim Sheens from the Canberra Raiders who brought five players with him from his old club including Australia and Queensland representative hooker Steve Walters Former Australia and New South Wales prop Ian Roberts was brought in as captain as part of a major off season rebuild in which 20 players were let go including a number of foundation players The club who were competing in News Limited s breakaway Super League competition got off to a promising start after defeating the newly formed Adelaide Rams in the opening round of the season The good times under Sheens and his new signings were short lived as a four game losing streak followed A win over the Auckland Warriors in Round 9 was followed by two consecutive draws which included a 20 all draw against arch rivals Brisbane their best ever result against them at the time Back to back wins in Round 14 and 15 had the Cowboys sitting just four points outside the Top 5 but a three game losing streak to end the season left the club languishing in last place The Cowboys recorded their second wooden spoon in three seasons with just five wins from 18 games Despite the disappointing year Tim Sheens signed a five year contract renewal with the club Owen Cunningham an off season recruit from Manly was named the club s Player of the Year Towards the end of the season the club took part in the World Club Championship The tournament featured all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions and was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres The Cowboys played home and away games against three Super League clubs Leeds Rhinos Oldham Bears and Salford Reds winning all but once a 16 20 loss to Oldham at Boundary Park Despite the great results the Cowboys missed out on the finals while clubs in other pools got through without even winning a game It would be the last time the club would face a Super League side or play a game in England until the 2016 World Club Challenge Milestones edit Round 1 Dion Cope Owen Cunningham Jason Ferris John Lomax Scott Mahon Ray Mercy Luke Phillips Ian Roberts Tyran Smith Bert Tabuai and Steve Walters made their debuts for the club Round 1 Kyle Warren made his first grade debut Round 2 Jimmy Ahmat and Mark Shipway made their first grade debuts Round 4 John Doyle made his first grade debut Round 6 Luke Scott made his first grade debut Round 7 Jason Ryan made his debut for the club Round 7 Adam Warwick made his first grade debut Round 11 Shane Vincent made his debut for the club Round 14 Ray Mercy became the first player to score three tries in a match for the club Squad list editIn Super League players were able to choose their own jersey number regardless of their starting position which they wore for the entire season North Queensland Cowboys Super League Squad 1997 First team squad Coaching staff 38 Jimmy Ahmat WG 3 Paul Bowman CE 15 John Buttigieg PR Michael Coorey SR 25 Dion Cope CE 14 Reggie Cressbrook FB 13 Owen Cunningham SR 9 Jason Death HK 24 John Doyle FE 6 Andrew Dunemann HB 23 Ian Dunemann FE 7 Jason Ferris HB 9 Paul Galea SR Liam Johnson SR 21 Peter Jones SR Aaron Ketchell PR 10 Martin Locke PR 8 John Lomax PR 5 Justin Loomans WG 22 Scott Mahon FB 34 Ray Mercy CE 32 Marshall Miller WG 27 Glen Murphy SR 28 Luke Phillips WG 31 Ian Roberts c PR 4 Jason Ryan SR 17 Luke Scott SR 20 Mark Shipway CE 35 John Skardon HK 12 Tyran Smith SR 30 Bert Tabuai CE 2 Kris Tassell WG 41 Shane Vincent CE 49 Steve Walters HK 1 Kyle Warren LK 16 Adam Warwick WG Head coach Tim Sheens Assistant coach Mark Graham assistant coach Legend c Captain s vc Vice captain s Squad movement edit1997 Gains edit Player Signed From Dion Cope nbsp Cronulla Sharks Owen Cunningham nbsp Manly Sea Eagles Jason Ferris nbsp Canberra Raiders John Lomax nbsp Canberra Raiders Scott Mahon nbsp Parramatta Eels Ray Mercy nbsp Atherton Roosters Luke Phillips nbsp Canberra Raiders Ian Roberts nbsp Manly Sea Eagles Jason Ryan nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Tyran Smith nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Bert Tabuai nbsp Canberra Raiders Shane Vincent nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Steve Walters nbsp Canberra Raiders 1997 Losses edit Player Signed To David Bouveng nbsp Halifax Blue Sox Steve Edmed nbsp Sheffield Eagles Damian Gibson nbsp Leeds Rhinos Shane Howarth nbsp Auckland Blues Jason Martin nbsp Paris Saint Germain Jamie Mathiou nbsp Leeds Rhinos Willie Morganson nbsp Sheffield Eagles Willie Poching nbsp Hunter Mariners Dean Schifilliti nbsp Adelaide Rams Wayne Sing nbsp Paris Saint Germain Tyran Smith nbsp Hunter Mariners mid season Whetu Taewa nbsp Sheffield Eagles Adrian Vowles nbsp Castleford TigersLadder editPos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 nbsp Brisbane P 18 14 1 3 481 283 198 29 2 nbsp Cronulla 18 12 0 6 403 230 173 24 3 nbsp Canberra 18 11 0 7 436 337 99 22 4 nbsp Canterbury 18 10 0 8 453 447 6 20 5 nbsp Penrith 18 9 0 9 431 462 31 18 6 nbsp Hunter 18 7 0 11 350 363 13 14 7 nbsp Auckland 18 7 0 11 332 406 74 14 8 nbsp Perth 18 7 0 11 321 456 135 14 9 nbsp Adelaide 18 6 1 11 303 402 99 13 10 nbsp North Queensland 18 5 2 11 328 452 124 12 P PremiersFixtures editRegular season edit Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance 1 March Round 1 nbsp Adelaide Rams Stockland Stadium 24 16 Walters 2 Phillips Smith Phillips 4 5 17 738 7 March Round 2 nbsp Perth Reds Stockland Stadium 20 22 Ahmat Ferris Roberts Phillips 4 5 15 745 15 March Round 3 nbsp Penrith Panthers Stockland Stadium 12 19 Phillips Warren Phillips 2 3 18 003 22 March Round 4 nbsp Hunter Mariners Topper Stadium 10 38 Phillips Warren Phillips 1 3 6 090 31 March Round 5 nbsp Canterbury Bulldogs Belmore Oval 16 14 Bowman Mahon Shipway Phillips 2 3 9 830 5 April Round 6 nbsp Brisbane Broncos Stockland Stadium 16 42 Death 2 Cressbrook Doyle 2 2 Phillips 0 1 30 122 12 April Round 7 nbsp Perth Reds WACA 4 6 Doyle 2 2 9 701 20 April Round 8 nbsp Canberra Raiders Bruce Stadium 16 40 Phillips Walters Warren Phillips 2 3 10 071 27 April Round 9 nbsp Auckland Warriors Stockland Stadium 30 22 Cressbrook Jones Phillips Scott Walters Phillips 5 6 12 464 2 May Round 10 nbsp Adelaide Rams Adelaide Oval 14 14 Cressbrook I Dunemann Shipway Phillips 1 4 15 970 25 May Round 11 nbsp Brisbane Broncos ANZ Stadium 20 20 A Dunemann I Dunemann Shipway Phillips 4 5 14 167 31 May Round 12 nbsp Cronulla Sharks Stockland Stadium 10 24 Mahon 2 Phillips 1 3 16 095 28 June Round 13 nbsp Canterbury Bulldogs Stockland Stadium 22 29 Roberts Tassell Warren Warwick Phillips 3 6 14 176 4 July Round 14 nbsp Penrith Panthers Penrith Stadium 33 26 Mercy 3 Phillips 2 Loomans Phillips 4 7 A Dunemann 1 FG 5 335 13 July Round 15 nbsp Hunter Mariners Stockland Stadium 33 14 A Dunemann 2 Mercy 2 Loomans Murphy Phillips 4 7 A Dunemann 1 FG 11 480 9 August Round 16 nbsp Canberra Raiders Stockland Stadium 14 22 Bowman Lomax Phillips 3 3 22 026 16 August Round 17 nbsp Cronulla Sharks Shark Park 12 34 Phillips Scott Phillips 2 3 11 640 24 August Round 18 nbsp Auckland Warriors Ericsson Stadium 22 50 Mercy Scott Skardon Warren Phillips 3 4 12 000 Legend Win Loss Draw Bye World Club Championship edit Main article 1997 World Club Championship The World Club Championship was a mid season tournament featuring all 22 clubs from the Australasian and Super League competitions It was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres from 6 June to 11 October Pool Play edit Club Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Diff Points nbsp Hunter Mariners 6 6 0 0 226 50 176 12 nbsp North Queensland Cowboys 6 5 1 0 228 92 136 10 nbsp Adelaide Rams 6 4 2 0 170 68 102 8 nbsp Perth Reds 6 4 2 0 148 104 44 8 Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance 7 June Round 1 nbsp Leeds Rhinos Stockland Stadium 42 20 Murphy 2 Cressbrook Jones Phillips Shipway Tabuai Warwick Phillips 5 8 14 561 14 June Round 2 nbsp Oldham Bears Stockland Stadium 54 16 Cressbrook 2 Vincent 2 Walters 2 A Dunemann Murphy Phillips Shipway Phillips 7 10 12 600 21 June Round 3 nbsp Salford Reds Stockland Stadium 44 8 Warwick 2 Bowman Cressbrook Cunningham I Dunemann Shipway Tabuai Phillips 6 8 15 508 18 July Round 4 nbsp Oldham Bears Boundary Park 20 16 Bowman Mercy Phillips Phillips 2 3 2 691 27 July Round 5 nbsp Salford Reds The Willows 24 14 Cunningham Murphy Phillips Skardon Phillips 4 4 7 448 3 August Round 6 nbsp Leeds Rhinos Headingley Stadium 48 14 A Dunemann 2 Phillips 2 Cressbrook Mercy Murphy Shipway Phillips 8 8 12 224 Legend Win Loss Draw ByeStatistics editName App T G FG Pts Jimmy Ahmat 2 1 4 Paul Bowman 10 2 8 John Buttigieg 5 Dion Cope 7 Reggie Cressbrook 11 3 12 Owen Cunningham 18 Jason Death 20 3 12 John Doyle 12 4 8 Andrew Dunemann 14 3 2 14 Ian Dunemann 6 2 8 Jason Ferris 7 1 4 Paul Galea 1 Peter Jones 15 1 4 Aaron Ketchell 3 Martin Locke 11 John Lomax 15 1 4 Justin Loomans 7 2 8 Scott Mahon 14 3 12 Ray Mercy 6 6 24 Marshall Miller 1 Glen Murphy 11 1 4 Luke Phillips 17 8 45 122 Ian Roberts 17 2 8 Jason Ryan 1 Luke Scott 12 3 12 Mark Shipway 13 3 12 John Skardon 3 1 4 Tyran Smith 9 1 4 Bert Tabuai 5 Kris Tassell 3 1 4 Shane Vincent 2 Steve Walters 15 4 16 Kyle Warren 14 5 20 Adam Warwick 6 1 4 Totals 57 49 2 328 Source 1 Representatives editThe following players played a representative match in 1997 Anzac Test Super League Tri series End of Year Test SL Test Series Owen Cunningham Queensland John Lomax New Zealand Ian Roberts New South Wales Tyran Smith New Zealand New Zealand Steve Walters Queensland AustraliaHonours editClub edit Player of the Year Owen Cunningham Players Player John Lomax Club Person of the Year Ian RobertsReferences edit Super League 1997 North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League Project 19 18 58 S 146 42 43 E 19 31611 S 146 71194 E 19 31611 146 71194 Willow Sports Complex Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1997 North Queensland Cowboys season amp oldid 1197307120, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
