2005: Grand Finalists
The Cowboys followed their success in 2004 by opening their season with nine straight victories. They finished the 2005 season in fifth place, after 14 wins and 10 losses. The team's performance led to six Cowboys being represented in the Queensland State of Origin team: Paul Bowman, Matt Bowen, Ty Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Sing and Carl Webb. Thurston was also rewarded by winning the NRL's best and fairest player award: the Dally M Medal.
In the first week of the finals the Cowboys travelled to Telstra Stadium where they were defeated by Wests Tigers 50-6. They were more successful in their second and third weeks of the finals, in which they defeated the Melbourne Storm 24-16 and Parramatta Eels 29-0 and qualified for the NRL Grand Final for the first time.
The grand final saw them once more facing the Tigers. Although Matthew Bowen scored the first try of the match, the Tigers were too strong for the Cowboys and won the match 30-16.
Read more about this topic: History Of The North Queensland Cowboys
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