The Cowboys were a far more polished team in 2024 than last year, jumping from an under-achieving 11th place to the second round of the finals. But their performance in the finals was well below their best and leaves Todd Payten with plenty to think about over the summer. They limped over the line against a depleted Knights side in finals week one and then were well and truly outgunned by the Sharks in week two. The Cowboys were too slow out of the blocks last weekend, trailing 24-0 at halftime before a brief rally - but realistically were never going to haul back such a big lead. The team missed 50 tackles - a crazy amount in an elimination game - and several observers raised question marks about the fitness of the squad. The other major worry for the Cowboys is that they are losing their two most experienced backs - and the duo who posted most of their points. After a glittering career at the club, Kyle Feldt is off to St Helens while Val Holmes is joining the Dragons. Together, the pair posted 346 of the Cowboys' 657 points - more than the rest of the squad put together! So Payten is going to have to find players with points in them to replace the prolific duo over the summer. Lack of consistency was another problem - mid-season they lost seven of eight games before getting their act together and scraping into the finals. Fullback Scott Drinkwater had a great year, with 26 try assists, second only to the Dragons' Ben Hunt. He also had most line break assists in the league, popping up all over the field to send his supports away. Throw in the 10 tries he scored and he was the Cowboys' rock. Feldt finished his Cowboys career with an impressive 23 tries, with Holmes not far behind on 16. Feldt's fellow winger Murray Taulagi touched down for 11 tries and often ran his team out of trouble, giving the Cowboys a back three equal to any in the comp. Tom Dearden had his best ever season at five-eighth, running the attack and felling rampaging forwards twice his size week after week. Calm, composed and talented, he is the future of the Cowboys. His halves partner Chad Townsend fell out of favour late in the season and Jake Clifford will be the man in the hot seat in 2025.
Cowboys: 2023 finish: 11th | 2024 finish: 5th
2025 gains: Karl Lawton (Manly Sea Eagles, 2026), Kai O'Donnell (Leigh Leopards, 2026)
2025 losses: Kyle Feldt (St Helens Saints), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (The Dolphins), Jack Gosiewski (Brisbane Broncos), Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra Dragons), Chad Townsend (Sydney Roosters), Jake Granville (TBC).
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