In 2022, the North Queensland Cowboys reached the National Rugby League (NRL) finals for the first time since appearing in the grand final in 2017. After failing to reach the finals between 2018 and 2021, a strong third-placed finish suggests the club is improving, and so a successful 2023 campaign could lie ahead. New acquisitions Jack Gosiewski and James Tamou, signed from the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Wests Tigers respectively, will add experience to the squad, whilst youngsters such as Jeremiah Nanai, Riley Price, and Gehamat Shibasaki will add depth. The North Queensland Cowboys could be a team to watch this season!
2023 Squad
Head Coach
Todd Payten (AUS)
Backs
Jake Bourke (AUS)
Tom Chester (AUS)
Tom Dearden (AUS)
Scott Drinkwater (AUS)
Brendan Elliot (AUS)
Kyle Feldt (AUS)
Ben Hampton (AUS)
Valentine Holmes (AUS)
Peta Hiku (NZ)
Zac Laybutt (AUS)
Jordan Lipp (AUS)
Laitia Moceidreke (AUS)
Gehamat Shibasaki (AUS)
Chad Townsend (AUS) “C”
Murray Tuilagi (NZ)
Forwards
Reuben Cotter (AUS)
Mitchell Dunn (AUS)
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (AUS)
Jack Gosiewski (AUS)
Jake Granville (AUS)
Coen Hess (AUS)
Luciano Leilua (SAM)
Heilum Luki (AUS)
Jordan McLean (AUS) “VC”
Jeremiah Nanai (AUS)
Griffin Neame (NZ)
Riley Price (AUS)
Reece Robson (AUS)
Taniela Sadrugu (FIJ)
James Tamou (AUS)
Jason Taumalolo (NZ/TON) “C”
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (AUS)
“C” = Captains / “VC” = Vice-Captain
2023 Schedule
The North Queensland Cowboys, like all NRL sides, will play 24 regular season fixtures in 2023. Of those 24 fixtures, 12 will be played at home, and 12 will be played away. The Cowboys will play against 8 of their fellow 16 teams twice (once at home, once away), and against the other 8 teams once only. The club’s first match of the 2023 season was a home match against the Canberra Raiders; the final Cowboys game of the regular season will be against the Penrith Panthers on 2 September, at the BlueBet Stadium.
You can find the full North Queensland Cowboys schedule here.
2023 Rivals
In 2023, the North Queensland Cowboys will play against the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Dolphins, Gold Coast Titans, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights, New Zealand Warriors, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters, and the Wests Tigers.
The North Queensland Cowboys share a rivalry with fellow Queenslanders the Brisbane Broncos. The 2 clubs have met in the NRL on nearly 60 occasions, including in the 2004, 2012, 2014, and 2016 finals. In 2015, the sides met in the NRL grand final, with the Cowboys winning 17 points to 16. The Cowboys and Broncos met in round 2 of the 2023 season, with the Broncos coming out on top at the Suncorp Stadium. The teams will meet once more in the regular season:
If both sides qualify for the NRL finals, they may also meet for a third time this season.
2023 NRL Finals
In the 2022 season, the North Queensland Cowboys qualified for the NRL finals after finishing the regular season third in the table. During the finals, the Cowboys beat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30-32 after extra-time, but then lost to the Parramatta Eels, 20-24, ending the club’s finals run. The team’s 2015 grand final victory over rivals the Brisbane Broncos marked the only occasion to date that the North Queensland side has won an NRL premiership.
The 2023 NRL finals will take place across 3 consecutive weeks; it begins in early September, following the conclusion of the regular season, and ends with the grand final, which is provisionally scheduled for 1 October. In total, 8 teams qualify for the finals, with each team knocked-out after 1 or 2 losses, depending on where they finished in the NRL table at the end of the regular season. By the end of the 3 weeks of finals matches, only 2 teams will remain – these sides will contest the grand final.
2023 Tickets & Prices
The Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the home venue of the North Queensland Cowboys, holds a maximum of 25,000 spectators, and during the 2022 campaign the club achieved an average attendance of over 17,000 fans. Whilst ticket prices for Cowboys home matches do vary game by game, the most affordable adult tickets generally start at approximately AUD $25. The average price of an adult ticket for a Cowboys home match is between AUD $40-50, depending on the opposition, though not all 2023 Cowboys home games are on general sale at time of writing.
Standard Tickets
Standard match tickets for North Queensland Cowboys matches at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium can be purchased in the following categories:
- Southern Grandstand – a 2-tiered reserved seating stand behind the posts; typically among the most affordable tickets at Cowboys home matches
- Alcohol Free Zones – reserved family-friendly seating in the Southern and Northern Grandstands; typically among the most affordable tickets at Cowboys home matches
- Northern Grandstand – a single-tier reserved seating stand behind the posts
- Away Supporters Zone (Eastern Grandstand) – dedicated area close to the corner of the pitch for travelling fans to make their voices heard!
- Eastern Grandstand – a 2-tiered reserved seating stand along the sideline
- Western Grandstand – reserved seating along the sideline; typically the most expensive seats at Cowboys home matches
Premium, Hospitality, & VIP Tickets
VIP hospitality packages and premium tickets can be purchased for Cowboys home matches on an enquiry basis. Options include:
- North & South Terraces – reserved Western Grandstand seat and use of a private bar, with food and drink vouchers included
- Silver Corporate Hospitality Box – private hospitality box in the Western Grandstand with food and drink options and a personal waiting service
- Sky Deck – reserved seat in the Western Grandstand “Sky Deck” and use of a private bar, with a premium food and drink package included
- Club Lounge – reserved Western Grandstand seat and hospitality lounge access, with use of a private bar and buffet food included
How to get Cheap Tickets
Home match tickets for North Queensland Cowboys games can vary depending on the visiting team; tickets for matches against close rivals or strong or more famous sides will be more expensive than tickets for matches against non-rivals or lesser opponents. Ticket prices for finals matches are also likely to be more expensive than tickets for regular season fixtures. Koobit compares the prices offered by both official sellers and secondary resellers, to help you find your perfect ticket at the most affordable price.
Where to Buy Tickets
Tickets for North Queensland Cowboys matches can easily be purchased online. Buying tickets online allows fans to easily access tickets as soon as they become available, as well as providing the opportunity to compare prices throughout the stadium, and from different ticketing suppliers. North Queensland Cowboys tickets can be downloaded and then presented digitally at the stadium.
How to Get to a Game
The North Queensland Cowboys play home matches at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. The stadium can be accessed via public transport, as well as on foot from within Townsville. There is also a free park and ride service which operates on match days. Visit the Queensland Country Bank Stadium travel and parking page for more information, or see individual event pages’ travel and parking sections for event-specific travel information.
To stay up to date with the latest schedule and ticketing information for this season and beyond, visit the North Queensland Cowboys page.