2004 North Queensland Cowboys season

2004 North Queensland Cowboys season
2004 North Queensland Cowboys season
NRL Rank	7th
Play-off result	Lost preliminary final
2004 record	Wins: 12; draws: 1; losses: 11
Points scored	For: 526; against: 514
Team information
CEO	Denis Keeffe
Coach	Graham Murray
Captain	Travis Norton;
Stadium	Dairy Farmers Stadium
Avg. attendance	17,334
High attendance	25,986 (vs. Brisbane Broncos, Round 6)
Top scorers
Tries	Ty Williams (15)
Goals	Josh Hannay (98)
Points	Josh Hannay (228)

The 2004 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 10th in the club's history. Coached by Graham Murray and captained by Travis Norton, they competed in the NRL's 2004 Telstra Premiership. It was the first time the club had made the finals, finishing the regular season in 7th, falling one game short of the Grand Final.

Season summary

Milestones

Round 1: Rod Jensen, Travis Norton, Luke O'Donnell and Mitchell Sargent made their debuts for the club.
Round 3: Chris Sheppard played his 50th game for the club.
Round 7: Shane Tronc made his NRL debut.
Round 8: Ty Williams played his 50th game for the club.
Round 8: Josh Hannay played his 100th game for the club.
Round 11: David Faiumu made his NRL debut.
Round 14: Steve Southern made his NRL debut.
Round 15: Matt Sing played his 50th game for the club.
Round 19: Matthew Scott made his NRL debut.
Round 19: Leigh McWilliams played his 50th game for the club.
Finals Week 3: David Myles played his 50th game for the club.

Squad List

North Queensland Cowboys NRL Squad 2004
First team squad								Coaching staff
Clint Amos – HK Brenton Bowen – WG Matthew Bowen – FB Paul Bowman – CE Kevin Campion – LK Mark Dalle Cort – SR David Faiumu – HK Nathan Fien – HB Steven Goodhew – HK Josh Hannay – CE Rod Jensen – LK Ben Laity – PR		Jacob Lillyman – SR Ben Lowe – LK Jaiman Lowe – PR Micheal Luck – SR Jamie McDonald – PR Leigh McWilliams – HK Michael Meigan – CE Aaron Morgan – WG Glenn Morrison – LK David Myles – FE Travis Norton (c) – LK Luke O'Donnell – SR		Aaron Payne – HK Paul Rauhihi – PR Mitchell Sargent – PR Matthew Scott – PR Chris Sheppard – FE Matt Sing – WG Daniel Sorbello – FB Steve Southern – SR Daniel Strickland – SR Neil Sweeney – WG Shane Tronc – PR Hale Vaa'sa – CE		Derrick Watkins – LK Ty Williams – WG		Head coach Graham Murray Assistant coach Neil Henry (assistant coach) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Squad Movement

2004 Gains

Player	Signed from
Clint Amos	Norths Devils ^[1]
Mark Dalle Cort	St George Illawarra Dragons ^[2]^[3]
David Faiumu	Central Comets ^[4]^[5]
Rod Jensen	Canberra Raiders ^[6]
Travis Norton	Canterbury Bulldogs ^[7]^[8]
Luke O'Donnell	Wests Tigers ^[9]
Mitchell Sargent	Melbourne Storm ^[10]
Steve Southern	St George Illawarra Dragons ^[11]
Shane Tronc	Redcliffe Dolphins ^[12]^[13]
Hale Vaa'sa	Mt Albert Lions ^[14]^[15]

2004 Losses

Player	Signed from
Jason Barsley	Easts Tigers
John Buttigieg	Retired ^[16]
Luke Cross	Penrith Panthers ^[17]
Dane Campbell	Easts Tigers
Paul Dezolt	Warriors ^[18]
George Gatis	Released ^[19]
Paul McNicholas	Hull F.C. ^[20]
Chris Muckert	Parramatta Eels ^[21]^[22]
Shane Muspratt	Parramatta Eels ^[23]^[24]
Simon Phillips	Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Grant Reibel	Retired
David Thompson	South Sydney Rabbitohs ^[25]
Scott Whiting	Wests Panthers

Ladder

2004 NRL season v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Sydney Roosters	24	19	0	5	2	710	368	+342	42
2	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P)	24	19	0	5	2	760	491	+269	42
3	Brisbane Broncos	24	16	1	7	2	602	533	+69	37
4	Penrith Panthers	24	15	0	9	2	672	567	+105	34
5	St George Illawarra Dragons	24	14	0	10	2	624	415	+209	32
6	Melbourne Storm	24	13	0	11	2	684	517	+167	30
7	North Queensland Cowboys	24	12	1	11	2	526	514	+12	29
8	Canberra Raiders	24	11	0	13	2	554	613	−59	26
9	Wests Tigers	24	10	0	14	2	509	534	−25	24
10	Newcastle Knights	24	10	0	14	2	516	617	−101	24
11	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	10	0	14	2	528	645	−117	24
12	Parramatta Eels	24	9	0	15	2	517	626	−109	22
13	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	9	0	15	2	615	754	−139	22
14	New Zealand Warriors	24	6	0	18	2	427	693	−266	16
15	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	5	2	17	2	455	812	−357	16

Fixtures

Regular season

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
13 March	Round 1	Manly Sea Eagles	Dairy Farmers Stadium	20 – 24	Bowman, Sheppard, Williams	Hannay (4/5)	17,952
	Round 2	Bye
27 March	Round 3	Canberra Raiders	Dairy Farmers Stadium	18 – 19	Fien, Morrison, Norton	Hannay (3/5)	14,138
3 April	Round 4	Wests Tigers	Dairy Farmers Stadium	8 – 18	Sargent	Hannay (2/2)	11,238
10 April	Round 5	Cronulla Sharks	Toyota Park	36 – 10	M. Bowen (2), Hannay, Morrison, Myles, Payne	Hannay (6/6)	9,242
17 April	Round 6	Brisbane Broncos	Dairy Farmers Stadium	12 – 19	Campion, Morrison	Hannay (2/3)	25,896
24 April	Round 7	Melbourne Storm	Olympic Park	6 – 28	Hannay	Hannay (1/1)	6,875
1 May	Round 8	Parramatta Eels	Parramatta Stadium	24 – 20	Norton (2), Myles, Sweeney	Hannay (3/3), Sweeney (1/1)	8,277
8 May	Round 9	Warriors	Dairy Farmers Stadium	16 – 8	Williams (2), Fien	Hannay (2/4)	13,062
15 May	Round 10	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Express Advocate Stadium	20 – 20	Bowman, Campion, Rauhihi	Hannay (4/5)	10,138
22 May	Round 11	Penrith Panthers	Dairy Farmers Stadium	18 – 22	Jensen, Morrison, Sweeney	Hannay (3/5)	13,985
	Round 12	Bye
5 June	Round 13	St George Illawarra Dragons	WIN Stadium	14 – 12	M. Bowen, Faiumu, Williams	Hannay (1/3)	10,524
12 June	Round 14	Newcastle Knights	Dairy Farmers Stadium	30 – 6	McWilliams, Rauhihi, Sheppard, Sweeney, Tronc	Hannay (5/7)	14,974
20 June	Round 15	Warriors	Ericsson Stadium	28 – 26	Sing (2), Myles, Sweeney	Hannay (6/9)	6,793
26 June	Round 16	Canterbury Bulldogs	Dairy Farmers Stadium	18 – 32	Sing (2), M. Bowen	Hannay (3/6)	20,207
3 July	Round 17	Sydney Roosters	Express Advocate Stadium	22 – 32	B. Bowen, Fien, Payne	Hannay (5/6)	16,127
10 July	Round 18	Canberra Raiders	Canberra Stadium	28 – 32	M. Bowen, Hannay, Myles, Norton, Rauhihi	Hannay (4/6)	8,771
17 July	Round 19	Parramatta Eels	Dairy Farmers Stadium	28 – 6	Williams (2), Jensen, Tronc	Hannay (6/7)	13,872
25 July	Round 20	Newcastle Knights	EnergyAustralia Stadium	28 – 24	Norton (2), Myles, Southern, Williams	Hannay (4/5)	14,031
31 July	Round 21	St George Illawarra Dragons	Dairy Farmers Stadium	34 – 10	M. Bowen (2), Williams (2), Bowman, Hannay	Hannay (5/8)	17,262
8 August	Round 22	Canterbury Bulldogs	Sydney Showground	16 – 36	Payne, Rauhihi, Williams	Hannay (2/3)	10,988
13 August	Round 23	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Dairy Farmers Stadium	36 – 22	Hannay (2), M. Bowen, O'Donnell, Southern, Williams	Hannay (6/8)	16,007
21 August	Round 24	Penrith Panthers	Penrith Stadium	6 – 56	Luck	Hannay (1/1)	12,391
29 August	Round 25	Wests Tigers	Campbelltown Stadium	24 – 12	M. Bowen, Hannay, Myles, Williams	Hannay (4/5)	10,296
4 September	Round 26	Cronulla Sharks	Dairy Farmers Stadium	36 – 20	Jensen (2), M. Bowen, Hannay, Payne, Williams	Hannay (6/8)	21,674
Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye

Finals

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
11 September	Qualifying Final	Canterbury Bulldogs	Telstra Stadium	30 – 22	Sing (3), M. Bowen, O'Donnell	Hannay (5/7)	18,371
18 September	Semi-final	Brisbane Broncos	Dairy Farmers Stadium	10 – 0	Myles	Hannay (3/3)	24,989
26 September	Preliminary Final	Sydney Roosters	Telstra Stadium	16 – 19	Williams (2), Bowman	Hannay (2/3)	43,048
Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye

Statistics

Name	App	T	G	FG	Pts
Brenton Bowen	6	1	-	-	4
Matthew Bowen	23	11	-	-	44
Paul Bowman	21	4	-	-	16
Kevin Campion	15	2	-	-	8
David Faiumu	13	1	-	-	4
Nathan Fien	23	3	-	-	12
Josh Hannay	27	8	98	-	228
Rod Jensen	17	4	-	-	16
Jaiman Lowe	6	-	-	-	-
Micheal Luck	11	1	-	-	4
Jamie McDonald	10	-	-	-	-
Leigh McWilliams	20	1	-	-	4
Glenn Morrison	14	4	-	-	-
David Myles	26	7	-	-	28
Travis Norton	21	6	-	-	24
Luke O'Donnell	26	2	-	-	8
Aaron Payne	25	4	-	-	16
Paul Rauhihi	25	4	-	-	16
Mitchell Sargent	27	1	-	-	4
Matthew Scott	1	-	-	-	-
Chris Sheppard	7	2	-	-	8
Matt Sing	12	7	-	-	28
Daniel Sorbello	1	-	-	-	-
Steve Southern	16	2	-	-	8
Daniel Strickland	8	-	-	-	-
Neil Sweeney	15	4	1	-	18
Shane Tronc	18	2	-	-	8
Ty Williams	25	15	-	-	60
Totals		98	99	-	582

Source:^[26]

Representatives

The following players played a representative match in 2004.

	City vs Country	State of Origin 1	State of Origin 2	State of Origin 3	Tri-Nations
Matthew Bowen	-	Queensland	Queensland	Queensland	Australia
Paul Bowman	-	Queensland	Queensland	-	-
Glenn Morrison	Country	-	-	-	-
Travis Norton	-	Queensland	-	-	-
Paul Rauhihi	-	-	-	-	New Zealand
Matt Sing	-	-	Queensland	Queensland	Australia

Honours

League

Dally M Prop of the Year: Paul Rauhihi

Club

Player of the Year: Luke O'Donnell
Players' Player: Paul Rauhihi
Club Person of the Year: Dave Roberts

Feeder Clubs

Queensland Cup

North Queensland Young Guns - 7th, missed finals

References

↑ "Clint Amos". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "DALLE CORT A COWBOY". www.cowboys.co.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Mark Dalle Cort". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "David Faiumu". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "New Cowboy Keen To Impress » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
↑ "Rod Jensen". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Coming to the Toyota Cowboys from Canberra Rod returns to his home area of North Queensland.
↑ "NORTON MOVES HOME TO THE TOYOTA COWBOYS". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Travis Norton". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Luke O'Donnell". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Luke had a quiet season in 2003 at Wests Tigers and as a new lad to the Toyota Cowboys will be looking to cement a regular First Grade spot.
↑ "Mitchell Sargent". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Mitchell is a tough and durable prop who runs hard and hits harder and comes to the Toyota Cowboys after time with the Melbourne Storm.
↑ "Steve Southern". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Comes to the NQ Toyota Cowboys from St George Illawarra Premier League.
↑ "Shane Tronc". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Tronc Becomes A Cowboy » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
↑ "Hale Vaa'sa". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Vaa'sa signs with Cowboys for 2004 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
↑ "Buttigieg retires". ABC News. 25 August 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
↑ "Penrith Panthers Sign Up Young Talent » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "DEZOLT GETS CALL-UP FOR CLASH AGAINST COWBOYS IN TOWNSVILLE". www.warriors.co.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Gatis returns to NRL with Warriors". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 March 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
↑ Cross, Martin (29 August 2003). "Hull hunt down the Huntsman". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
↑ "Parramatta Career Statistics". www.parraeels.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Eels sign Muspratt, McKinnon, lock-up Widders until end of 2004 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 13 April 2026. The Eels, who announced the signing of Chris Muckert yesterday, have added his current Cowboys team-mate Shane Muspratt.
↑ "Parramatta Career Statistics". www.parraeels.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
↑ "Eels sign Muspratt, McKinnon, lock-up Widders until end of 2004 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
↑ "South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - David Thompson". www.ssralmanac.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
↑ "NRL 2004 - 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)

[1] "Clint Amos". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[2] "DALLE CORT A COWBOY". www.cowboys.co.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[3] "Mark Dalle Cort". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[4] "David Faiumu". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[5] "New Cowboy Keen To Impress » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 11 April 2026.

[6] "Rod Jensen". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Coming to the Toyota Cowboys from Canberra Rod returns to his home area of North Queensland.

[7] "NORTON MOVES HOME TO THE TOYOTA COWBOYS". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[8] "Travis Norton". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[9] "Luke O'Donnell". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Luke had a quiet season in 2003 at Wests Tigers and as a new lad to the Toyota Cowboys will be looking to cement a regular First Grade spot.

[10] "Mitchell Sargent". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Mitchell is a tough and durable prop who runs hard and hits harder and comes to the Toyota Cowboys after time with the Melbourne Storm.

[11] "Steve Southern". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026. Comes to the NQ Toyota Cowboys from St George Illawarra Premier League.

[12] "Shane Tronc". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[13] "Tronc Becomes A Cowboy » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 11 April 2026.

[14] "Hale Vaa'sa". www.cowboys.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[15] "Vaa'sa signs with Cowboys for 2004 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 11 April 2026.

[16] "Buttigieg retires". ABC News. 25 August 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[17] "Penrith Panthers Sign Up Young Talent » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[18] "DEZOLT GETS CALL-UP FOR CLASH AGAINST COWBOYS IN TOWNSVILLE". www.warriors.co.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[19] "Gatis returns to NRL with Warriors". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 March 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[20] Cross, Martin (29 August 2003). "Hull hunt down the Huntsman". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[21] "Parramatta Career Statistics". www.parraeels.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[22] "Eels sign Muspratt, McKinnon, lock-up Widders until end of 2004 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 13 April 2026. The Eels, who announced the signing of Chris Muckert yesterday, have added his current Cowboys team-mate Shane Muspratt.

[23] "Parramatta Career Statistics". www.parraeels.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[24] "Eels sign Muspratt, McKinnon, lock-up Widders until end of 2004 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[25] "South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - David Thompson". www.ssralmanac.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[26] "NRL 2004 - North Queensland Cowboys - Rugby League Project".

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