As if feeling dudded in last year’s NRL finals was not motivation enough for North Queensland ahead of the 2013 season.
The red mist had only just evaporated at the Cowboys after enduring two dubious tries in a controversial 22-12 semi-final loss to Manly that warranted an apology from then-NRL referees boss Stuart Raper.
And now the fire in the Cowboys’ belly has been stoked further after the club was named along with five others as getting a mention in the Australian Crime Commission’s (ACC) drug probe.
Cowboys boss Peter Jourdain vowed to explore their legal options, claiming subsequent talks with Australian Sport Anti-Doping Authority officials showed the club had no cause for concern.
“The way the whole thing has been handled has been a disgrace,” Henry fumed.
It all but ensures a club that has always embraced the “us against them” mentality from its far northern stronghold in Townsville will come out swinging in season 2013.
Some cynics may suggest North Queensland’s record of a sole 2005 NRL grand final appearance is enough proof that the Cowboys have never dabbled in performance-enhancement.
They have enjoyed back-to-back finals appearances in the past two seasons but the Cowboys are yet to ditch their under-achiever tag.
Boasting the world’s best player – playmaker Johnathan Thurston – and the NRL’s No.1 prop Matt Scott, the Cowboys have made the finals just three times since their 2005 grand final loss.
Their current list oozes premiership potential.
But this may be their last chance together to break the trophy drought.
Coming off contract at the season’s end, Thurston topped a long list of key signatures the Cowboys were sweating on ahead of the 2013 kick-off, along with coach Neil Henry.
Henry is focussed on the season ahead and likes what he sees in his squad.
First there’s the race to partner pivot Thurston in the halves, a battle that only got more interesting after incumbent No.7 Michael Morgan broke his jaw in pre-season trials.
Ex-Wests Tigers star Robert Lui is back from an NRL ban stemming from a domestic assault charge while Ray Thompson is also in the No.7 mix.
“It will be very competitive in the halves,” Henry said.
“But Robert has done a lot of training over the last 12 months. We used him to run around the halves at training to fill in.
“Credit to him that he stuck with it and worked very hard. He is keen to play some good football.”
Then there’s the Cowboys’ forward depth.
Human wrecking ball Tariq Sims adds to the backrow stocks alongside brother Ashton and boom Kiwi Jason Taumalolo.
“And look at forwards like Rick Thorby and Scott Bolton. In our rotation of our top 17 you could see another spot for another front-rower (alongside Test props Scott and James Tamou),” Henry said.
Yet perhaps the biggest puzzle for Henry to solve is at No.9.
Losing Aaron Payne (retired) and James Segeyaro (Penrith) made the Cowboys recruit hooker depth, unwittingly opening another can of worms.
Now Henry must decide between Anthony Mitchell, English import Scott Moore, ex-Melbourne Storm utility Rory Kostjasyn and even Thompson.
“We have got great depth there but it’s something we need to sort out,” Henry said.
But unlike last year’s finals exit and the recent ACC probe, this is a headache Henry is relishing.