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YEAR 1 – 1995 Massive crowd support buoyed a team composed of young, mainly local players and a few seasoned campaigners from established clubs, most of whom were North Queenslanders originally. The first Cowboys captain was Ingham’s Laurie Spina who had returned home to the cane farm after eight seasons of Sydney first grade football and four years of local league before 1995. Relishing the chance to represent his native North Queensland, Laurie proudly returned to the big league in Cowboy colours. Other seasoned campaigners to join the Cowboys were Australian and Queensland forward Martin Bella, (originally from Sarina), and Tully’s Craig Teitzel, who had enjoyed a strong career in both Brisbane and Sydney football. Also playing for the North Queensland Cowboys was Queensland representative Adrian Vowles, NSW Country Origin representative Ian Russell, Ingham’s Dean Schifilliti and lively North Sydney and Newcastle halfback Jason Martin. Further complications arose during 1995 with off-field dramas affecting the game. The Super League / ARL debate became a major issue for the code and as a result Kerry Boustead left the club after only five rounds of competition. Highlights for the Grant Bell coached 1995 Cowboys included winning two matches, the first against Illawarra Steelers away, while the second was against the Western Suburbs Magpies. This victory, the first at home, produced incredible scenes of celebration, similar perhaps to when Arch Foley’s Townsville side lowered Brisbane’s colours for the first time in 1921. Another highlight for 1995 was the first ‘local derby’ clash between the Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos. It was a hard-fought match setting a benchmark for fierce, healthy rivalry between the two Queensland clubs, reminiscent of the old state championships of yesteryear. A young Tully forward called Peter Jones made his first grade debut, and mid-season a 19-year-old Proserpine footballer called Paul Bowman was also signed by the club. The club's most noteworthy acquisition was Great Britain Test backline star Jonathan Davies, though he did not arrive until May. He produced a few on-field highlights including a spectacular solo try against the Newcastle Knights which was considered the best seen in years. Captains: Laurie Spina, Jason Martin, Adrian Vowles, Bruce Sinclair, Paul Galea, Jonathon Davies. Coach: Grant Bell. Top point scorer: Jonathon Davies – 42 points (1 try, 19 goals, 1 field goal) Principal sponsor: XXXX Castlemaine Perkins. Average home crowd: 21, 678 Representative players/coaches: Kevin Ellis – Wales 1995 World Cup squad. Games Won: 2 (1 home, 1 away) Games Lost: 20 (10 home, 10 away) Points for: 269 Points against: 660 Finished: 20th Player of the year: Wayne Sing External Links Click North Queensland Cowboys History to go back Click North Queensland Cowboys for main Wikipedia page |
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