The NRL bracket: Cowboys named best premiers of 2000s

Congratulations to the 2015 North Queensland Cowboys who have been crowned the fan's favourite premiership-winning team of the 2000s.

The Cowboys prevailed in NRL.com's knockout bracket pitting all 16 official premiers since 2000 against each other, beating the 2002 Roosters, 2014 Rabbitohs, 2000 Broncos and 2006 Broncos to claim the crown.

Johnathan Thurston's men were dominant in the final round, earning 75% of the votes against Darren Lockyer's Broncos. More than 25,000 votes were cast across the tournament.

The semi-finals featured the closest contest of any thus far. After more than 2500 votes, the 2006 Broncos finished just nine votes ahead of the 2004 Canterbury Bulldogs.

We split up the 16 eligible sides (excluding the Melbourne Storm sides of 2007 and 2009 after they were stripped of their titles for salary cap breaches) into a playoff bracket, with each premiership winner playing off against another until we get the fans' favourite.

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Round 1 results

• 2000 Broncos beat 2017 Storm, 56%-44%
• 2001 Knights beat 2016 Sharks, 57.8%-44.2% 
• 2015 Cowboys beat 2002 Roosters, 68%-32%
• 2014 Rabbitohs beat 2003 Panthers, 67.4%-32.6%
• 2010 Dragons beat 2008 Sea Eagles, 50.8%-49.2%
• 2006 Broncos beat 2011 Sea Eagles, 60.7%-39.3%
• 2005 Wests Tigers beat 2012 Storm, 54.1%-45.9%
• 2004 Bulldogs beat 2013 Roosters, 56.3%-43.7%

Round 2 results

• 2000 Broncos beat 2001 Knights, 56.3% - 43.7%
• 2015 Cowboys beat 2014 Rabbitohs, 61% - 39%
• 2006 Broncos bt 2010 Dragons, 53.9% - 46.1%
• 2004 Bulldogs v 2005 Wests Tigers, 55.2% - 44.8%

Round 3 results

• 2015 Cowboys beat 2000 Broncos, 66.8% - 33.2%
• 2006 Broncos beat 2004 Bulldogs, 50.2% - 49.8%

Grand Final result

• 2015 Cowboys beat 2005 Broncos, 75% - 25%