A new dawn is upon the Cowboys after the former king of the north, Johnathan Thurston, ended his 14-season reign.

Despite a lacklustre 2018 campaign in which they finished 13th, there is hope abound that North Queensland can return to premiership contention without JT.

Michael Morgan is the chosen one to take over Thurston’s mantle, and the playmaker has more pressure on his shoulders than ever before.

He is set to be partnered in the halves by Te Maire Martin, with Jake Clifford waiting in the wings for his chance.

The Cowboys’ biggest strength is undoubtedly their forward pack.

Jason Taumalolo, Josh McGuire, Matt Scott, Jordan McLean, Gavin Cooper, Cohen Hess, Scott Bolton, Ethan Lowe and John Asiata… all in the same team.

With a pack that large and mobile, North Queensland should dominate the middle-third of the field this year and lay a solid platform for their back-line.

Powerful ex-Dragons winger Nene Macdonald joins the club and will help North Queensland make yardage out of their own end with his strong frame.

Jordan Kahu looks to be the man to play fullback, having signed with the Cowboys weeks before the season following Barba’s axing.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS PRE-SEASON NEWS

Following the disappointment of last season, Cowboys CEO Greg Tonner resigned after four years at the helm.

Ben Barba signed a one-year contract with the club in September after lighting up the UK Super League for St Helens and winning the Man of Steel award.

But Barba soon found trouble and was punted without playing a game after an alleged domestic violence incident at the Townsville Casino in February, throwing the Cowboys’ plans into disarray.

The fullback copped an effective life ban from the NRL after CEO Todd Greenberg viewed the CCTV footage of the altercation.

Barba was set to compliment the coup of Australian Test prop Josh McGuire, who walked away from the Brisbane Broncos in search of a fresh start having spent 10 seasons at Red Hill.

The hard-nosed McGuire will join one of the NRL’s most fearsome forward packs.

Front-rower Scott Bolton pleaded guilty to common assault in January regarding an incident at a Bondi bar last May.

Bolton escaped conviction and is yet to be formally punished by the Cowboys or the NRL.

However, he copped a 10-match ban and a fine worth five per cent of his contract.

His suspension will be halved to five games if he agrees to address the captains and senior players of all 16 clubs during Magic Round weekend in May.

In the wake of Bolton’s guilty plea, North Queensland coach Paul Green insinuated that players would have minders in public settings going forward to stop similar dramas.

Former Broncos winger Jordan Kahu joined the Cowboys in late February, just weeks before the season, and is expected to play fullback.