• New Cowboys member Karrie Webb continues to feel some personal pain from North Queensland’s controversial finals exit last season. The LPGA Hall of Fame inductee had a bet with fellow professional Sarah Kemp on the outcome of the Cowboys v Sharks clash and the time to pay up following the narrow loss came on Tuesday. Sarah, a Sharks fan, arrived with a Cronulla jersey that Karrie had to wear during a practice round for the Ladies Masters at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast. “Fortunately for Sarah the NRL refs counted to seven (tackles) and the Sharks scored. It's been a bit contentious ever since," Webb told the Courier-Mail. “Sarah and I have always bet on State of Origin since she's been on tour in the US. She's been there six years and hasn't won yet.”
• With Matthew Wright signing up as a Cowboy, there are now three members of the 2010 Junior Kangaroos squad playing for North Queensland in 2014. He joins Tariq Sims andCameron King, who were also at different clubs three years ago. The trio, who were reunited at training on Monday afternoon, last played together in a two-Test series against the Junior Kiwis in November 2010. King scored a try in Australia’s 24-16 victory in Wellington before the New Zealanders bounced back with 36-20 win in Rotorua. Wright is living with King and his family as he gets settled in to his new surroundings.
• No wonder Matthew Wright was happy to join the Cowboys – he played us five times as a Cronulla Shark and lost on all five occasions! His last game in the NRL for Cronulla was the 24-4 loss they suffered against the Cowboys in round 16 last season at 1300SMILES Stadium.
• Game day tickets for all Cowboys home games in 2014 are now on sale to the public through Ticketek. To get yours, call 132 849, go online at ticketek.com.au/cowboys or visit a Ticketek outlet. There are more details at cowboys.com.au/tickets.
• This week’s Cowboys birthday boys are our membership ambassador Tariq Sims and the NYC’s all-time leading scorer Kyle Feldt, who turn 24 and 22 respectively on Sunday. Hopefully they’ll be celebrating an NQ win from the previous night’s trial game against Brisbane.
• We’d love to see a big Cowboys contingent at Dolphin Oval for Saturday night’s pre-season clash. Tickets for the game are still available, starting at $23.50 for adults. Go to oztix.com.au or buy in person at the Redcliffe Leagues Club reception.
• The Cowboys will be wearing their new away strip in the Redcliffe game, kicking off at 7.15pm. We’ll have updates throughout the game on our Twitter account @nthqldcowboys and post-game coverage, including coach and player interviews, on cowboys.com.au.
• NYC squad member Jack Kelleher didn’t play against the Pride on Saturday but he still managed to show his support for this teammates by making the 10-hour round trip with them to Cairns. He’ll be back on the bus to Mackay this weekend but this time gets the chance to play as well.
• A couple of former Cowboys are in the news this week. Rod Jensen will return to the playing field as a member of the First Nations Goannas team to face the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium on Saturday. He will come off the bench along with fellow NRL stars Nathan Blacklock and David Peachey. Meanwhile, Glen Morrison is one of four contenders for the New Zealand coaching job, joining Stephen Kearney, David Kidwell and Richie Blackmore. Morrison is currently coaching in the English second division.
• Northern Pride’s Davin Crampton will also represent the Goannas on Saturday after being part of the Cowboys’ pre-season training prior to the Christmas-New Year break.
• There were plenty of sweet tooths at our Community Day on Saturday. Our friends from Baskin-Robbins gave away just short of 1,000 tasting cups of their delicious ice-cream over the two hours.
• Thanks to everyone who participated in our fan survey at Community Day – congratulations to Andrew Strange, winner of the 2014 signed Cowboys jersey.
• North Queensland’s 16-man squad for the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines will be named next Tuesday. You’ll find it first on cowboys.com.au at around 1pm.
