| Year: | 2003 |
| Team Colour: | navy |
| Font Colour: | white |
| League: | NRL |
| League Rank: | 11th |
| League Wins: | 10 |
| League Draws: | 0 |
| League Losses: | 14 |
| Points For: | 606 |
| Points Against: | 629 |
| Playoff Result: | Missed finals |
| Ceo Title: | CEO |
| Ceo: | Denis Keeffe |
| Coach Title: | Coach |
| Avg Attendance: | 14,892 |
| High Attendance: | 25,242 (vs. Brisbane Broncos, Round 4) |
| Top Tries: | Matt Sing (21) |
| Top Goals: | Josh Hannay (95) |
| Top Points: | Josh Hannay (230) |
| Next Season: | 2004 |
The 2003 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 9th in the club's history. Coached by Graham Murray and captained by Paul Bowman, they competed in the NRL's 2003 Telstra Premiership. Although the club once again finished 11th, they recorded their highest number of wins (10) and competition points (24) in a season.[1]
The rebuild continued for the Cowboys heading into the 2003 season, with 12 players leaving the club. Their key signings included premiership-winning back rower Kevin Campion, New Zealand international prop Paul Rauhihi and journeyman utility David Myles. All three would eventually help the club to their first finals appearance a year later.
Following a solid end to the 2002 season, the new year started brightly for the club, as they won six games from the first 12 rounds to sit inside the Top 8. They picked up three straights win from Rounds 10-12, their first three-game winning streak since 1998. A mid-season slump would soon follow, with eight losses from their next nine fixtures.
The season ended strongly once again, with three wins from their final four games to secure a second consecutive 11th place finish, four competition points outside the Top 8. During the season Matt Sing became the first Cowboy to represent Australia, when selected for their July Test match against New Zealand.
| Player | Signed From | |
|---|---|---|
| Central Comets | ||
| Redcliffe Dolphins | ||
| Warriors | ||
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | ||
| Michael Meigan | Canterbury Bulldogs | |
| Wests Panthers | ||
| Warriors | ||
| Canterbury Bulldogs | ||
| Newcastle Knights |
| Player | Signed From | |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | ||
| Released | ||
| Retired | ||
| Retired | ||
| Retired | ||
| Retired | ||
| Pia Donkeys | ||
| Melbourne Storm | ||
| Retired | ||
| Justin McKay | Wests Tigers | |
| Retired |
| Name | App | T | G | FG | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 6 | 3 | - | - | 12 | ||
| 20 | 9 | 5 | - | 46 | ||
| 16 | 3 | - | - | 12 | ||
| 8 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 24 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 9 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 2 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 23 | 10 | 95 | - | 230 | ||
| 3 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 24 | 2 | - | - | 8 | ||
| 22 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 11 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 7 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 14 | 2 | - | - | 8 | ||
| 2 | 2 | - | - | 8 | ||
| 22 | 7 | 4 | - | 36 | ||
| 23 | 4 | - | - | 16 | ||
| 21 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 24 | 11 | - | - | 44 | ||
| 4 | 2 | - | - | 8 | ||
| 22 | 2 | - | 2 | 10 | ||
| 20 | 21 | - | - | 84 | ||
| 1 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 17 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 7 | 1 | - | - | 4 | ||
| 6 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 22 | 12 | - | - | 48 | ||
| Totals | 99 | 104 | 2 | 606 |
The following players played a representative match in 2003.
| July Test | October Test | Ashes Series | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Bowen | ||||||||
| Paul Bowman | ||||||||
| Josh Hannay | ||||||||
| Glenn Morrison | ||||||||
| Paul Rauhihi | ||||||||
| Matt Sing |