North Queensland CEO Peter Jourdain has given a favourable report card to the Cowboys 2014 NRL season draw which gives the club a great chance to get off to a fast start to their first campaign under new head coach Paul Green.
>>> View 2014 draw
Three of the Cowboys five matches will be at home at 1300SMILES Stadium, almost the reverse of the 2013 season when they had four away games in their first six.
With their two pre-season trials, along with the Auckland Nines, away from North Queensland, Mr Jourdain said the Cowboys were happy to be at home so often early in the season proper.
In other notable points for North Queensland to come out of the draw released today:
Their home and away clashes with Brisbane come in rounds two (away) and nine (home).
Both 2013 grand finalists will come to North Queensland Roosters in round 10 and Manly in round 26.
Six matches are already locked in on free-to-air TV (Channel Nine/WIN) with the final six rounds yet to be allocated.
There will be back-to-back Monday Night Football matches in round four and five.
The club will be without Origin representatives for round 11 against Canberra and round 17 against St George Illawarra, both away from home.
Four of the final six matches will be at 1300SMILES Stadium, including the Sharks and Sea Eagles in the last two weeks.
Were generally pretty happy with our draw and very happy that the first 20 games have been scheduled," Mr Jourdain said.
"Thats great for our members, our corporates and our fans.
Having five Friday night games, both home and away, is great exposure for our sponsors. Therell be up to around a million viewers for each of those.
Weve also got nine Saturday night Fox Sports games, six at home, and given that Fox has said publicly that that timeslot is for their number one pick of the round now, thats a good sign for us that were up there in their thoughts.
Mr Jourdain said the round eight clash against Parramatta at 1300SMILES Stadium, which will be held the day after Anzac Day, would be a match with special significance.
Obviously Townsville is a garrison city and we do a lot of work with the Army, he said.
Well turn that into a big night.
>>> View 2014 draw
Three of the Cowboys five matches will be at home at 1300SMILES Stadium, almost the reverse of the 2013 season when they had four away games in their first six.
With their two pre-season trials, along with the Auckland Nines, away from North Queensland, Mr Jourdain said the Cowboys were happy to be at home so often early in the season proper.
In other notable points for North Queensland to come out of the draw released today:
Their home and away clashes with Brisbane come in rounds two (away) and nine (home).
Both 2013 grand finalists will come to North Queensland Roosters in round 10 and Manly in round 26.
Six matches are already locked in on free-to-air TV (Channel Nine/WIN) with the final six rounds yet to be allocated.
There will be back-to-back Monday Night Football matches in round four and five.
The club will be without Origin representatives for round 11 against Canberra and round 17 against St George Illawarra, both away from home.
Four of the final six matches will be at 1300SMILES Stadium, including the Sharks and Sea Eagles in the last two weeks.
Were generally pretty happy with our draw and very happy that the first 20 games have been scheduled," Mr Jourdain said.
"Thats great for our members, our corporates and our fans.
Having five Friday night games, both home and away, is great exposure for our sponsors. Therell be up to around a million viewers for each of those.
Weve also got nine Saturday night Fox Sports games, six at home, and given that Fox has said publicly that that timeslot is for their number one pick of the round now, thats a good sign for us that were up there in their thoughts.
Mr Jourdain said the round eight clash against Parramatta at 1300SMILES Stadium, which will be held the day after Anzac Day, would be a match with special significance.
Obviously Townsville is a garrison city and we do a lot of work with the Army, he said.
Well turn that into a big night.
