• The XXXX Push Up Boys were confronted with their biggest test yet thanks to the Cowboys’ 64-6 flogging of Wests Tigers on Saturday night. Tasked with producing a push-up for each point North Queensland have on the scoreboard after each try, the Push Up Boys rarely had a chance to catch their breath as the Cowboys raced in 12 tries. The longest gap between tries was just 12 minutes. All up, the Push Up Boys would have been required to do exactly 400 push-ups on Saturday night – 104 in the first half and a massive 296 in the second.
• Matthew Wright set a couple of new career records on Saturday night. Not only did he score a hat-trick of tries for the first time, he has now tallied nine tries for the year – three more than his previous season’s best for Cronulla four years ago. Meanwhile, a double against the Tigers has brought Antonio Winterstein to within two tries of his personal best for most tries in a season. He scored 14 in his rookie year with Brisbane in 2009.
• On the other side of the scoring coin, Ashton Sims has now gone 50 NRL matches without scoring a try and is desperate to bag one before the season is over.
• Remember back to the start of the year when they were some rugby league pundits worried about the Cowboys attack? Fast forward a few months and North Queensland became the first team to reach 500 points for the season when Tautau Moga crossed for our 12th try on Saturday night.
• A special present from our apparel partners ISC arrived at Cowboys HQ today – a framed Thor jersey, and a thank-you letter, for the Cowboys’ own “Thor”, Ashton Sims, who did a fantastic job with all of his promotional work for the Marvel-themed round earlier this month.
• The Cowboys will wear their 2014 Indigenous jerseys in the Close the Gap round clash with Penrith on Monday night. Hopefully our winning luck playing in special jerseys will continue. We’ve had wins in the Women in League, Thor and members’ jerseys already this season.
• Congratulations to NYC vice-captain Corey Jensen who brought up a half-century of under-20s appearances for the Cowboys on Saturday night. The Bowen junior made his debut in the 2012 season and is in his final year with our NYC program.
• Our award winners from Saturday night’s wins against the Tigers were: NRL player of the match – Matthew Wright; NRL play of the day – Robert Lui for his lead-up work in Tariq Sims’s try; NYC player of the match – Josh Chudleigh; NYC play of the day – Samsen O’Neill for his two tries playing with a broken finger.
• Happy birthday wishes this week go to front-rower Sam Hoare, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today. Since coming into the NRL top 17, “Slammer” has established an 80% winning record that he’d love to keep for the rest of his career.
• See what trick shot our co-captain Matt Scott has to offer on the WIN News Locker Room in Wednesday night’s bulletin. It will be on air around 7.15pm.
• With a four-game winning streak, the Cowboys are the big movers in premiership betting with bookmakers bet365.com. Rated as $81 outsiders not that long ago, NQ are now into $11 and are fifth favourite to win the 2014 grand final.
• NRL.com has selected its round 22 Team of the Week and it includes three Cowboys – Jason Taumalolo in the starting forward pack with Michael Morgan and Tautau Moga on the interchange bench.
• Our stats leaders from Saturday night’s NRL victory were – most metres: Matt Scott (197m); most tackles: Matt Scott and Tariq Sims (23); most tackle breaks: Tautau Moga (11); most try assists: Robert Lui and Johnathan Thurston (2); most linebreaks: Michael Morgan (4); most linebreak assists: Robert Lui (3).
• The round 25 NYC match between the Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks has been switched to Saturday night, 29 August and will be played at Brothers in Townsville. Kick off will be at 6pm with admission free.
• Spirit cheersquad member Brittany has made it through to the final eight in the Big League Cheerleader of the Year competition. Thanks to everyone who voted in the second stage. You’ll get another chance in a couple of weeks.
• Cowboys business partnerships manager, and former game development manager, Dean Payne has become a first-time dad following the safe arrival of daughter Tanner on Friday. Congrats to Dean and Bec.
