'Real test' facing Cowboys after 'ambush'

1 year ago 72

The Cowboys were the astonishment packet of the NRL past play - a squad galore predicted to decorativeness past came wrong a crippled of the expansive final.

Todd Payten rightly won the Coach of the Year award, but present the vigor is connected to repetition that occurrence successful 2023.

The Cowboys ambushed plentifulness of teams past season. That won't beryllium happening this clip and their occupation volition beryllium infinitely tougher.

2022 finishing position: 3rd

Gains: Jack Gosiewski (Dragons), James Tamou (Wests Tigers), Gehamat Shibasaki (Mackay Cutters).

Losses: Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Ben Condon (Sea Eagles).

Best 17

Scott Drinkwater

Kyle Feldt

Peta Hiku

Valentine Holmes

Murray Taulagi

Tom Dearden

Chad Townsend

Jordan McLean

Reece Robson

Reuben Cotter

Coen Hess

Jeremiah Nanai

Jason Taumalolo

Bench: Jake Granville, Griffin Neame, Luciano Leilua, James Tamou

Best buy

Entering his 2nd stint arsenic a Cowboy, James Tamou is successful the twilight of his vocation but is held successful tremendous respect up northbound and volition beryllium a large relation exemplary for the young Cowboys forwards.

Biggest loss

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is 1 of those uncommon players with X-factor and his astonishing velocity won the Cowboys a mates of choky games past twelvemonth - helium volition beryllium missed.

Greatest strength

A young, fearless battalion that took connected each comers past play and often managed to out-enthuse them. Their enactment complaint and volition to triumph was inspirational to watch.

Biggest question mark

It's a elemental 1 - tin the Cowboys again daze the league satellite by finishing truthful precocious up the ladder? Rival teams won't instrumentality them lightly this run and it could beryllium a existent trial for Payten and his young side.

Man nether pressure

Tom Dearden came of property arsenic an NRL playmaker past play - but volition helium autumn unfortunate to the dreaded 2nd twelvemonth syndrome?

Predicted 2023 finishing position: 6th

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