As we count down the return of the greatest game of all, we continue our look at which five club legends we'd bring back. This week it is the North Queensland Cowboys.
See also โ If we could bring back 5 players from: Cronulla Sharks,ย New Zealand Warriors,ย Canterbury Bulldogs, Canberra Raiders
To limit the choices, I've selected only players I have seen play live. i.e. I'm in my mid 30s so I can't comment on players from the 1970s.
We also don't pick players who are still currently playing elsewhere, or retired less than five years ago.
Being that the Cowboys are a newer club, they don't have the history or success of the likes of the Bunnies and Raiders, so this one shapes up very differently.
We weight selections based on achievements at the club. Steve Walters for instance would make the list based on his time in Canberra but probably not his Cowboys stint.
Again, these are players who would slot straight into the side to improve the current squad's chances of a title win, so there's no point in selection five fullbacks, even if they were the best five players available.
5. Aaron Payne
The theme of this list seems to be hugely underrated players with the final selection coming in the form of yet another who doesn't receive the recognition he deserves in Aaron Payne.
The former Cowboys utility could slot into the halves or most likely onto the bench in the new look Cowboys set up, which would make their 14-17 much more dangerous.
A one club player, Payne represented the Cowboys on 219 occasions between 2002 and 2012.
Although he would never represent Queensland, a certain Cameron Smith's presence, is more responsible than anything else. He would represent the NRL All Stars, coincidentally when Smith withdrew.
Payne held a degree-like knowledge of the game throughout his career and transferred into the coaching ranks following his retirement. He's the current Blackhawks (the Cowboys feeder club) coach after spending two years as coach of the Cowboys under 20s side.
Let us know below who you would bring back.
