How Cowboys recruit Thomas Mikaele reignited his love for the game in English Super League
The newest Cowboy revealed how he rediscovered his love for rugby league as the powerful prop plots his fight for a top 30 spot in Townsville. Read why he’s ready to step his game up in 2024.
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Two superb seasons in England were enough for Cowboys recruit Thomas Mikaele to rediscover his love for rugby league as the powerful prop plots his fight for a top 30 spot in Townsville.
North Queensland signed Mikaele to a one-year development list contract but the 25-year old has his sights set on a place in the top squad as he reignites his NRL career.
“I’ve got a lot of experience now, a lot of ups and downs in my career so far, but I signed a development (contract) with the intent of heading into the top 30 as soon as possible,” Mikaele declared.
“That’s my goal – my short-term goal – and that’s what I’m striving towards.
“In the meantime, right now, it’s just getting my bearings and learning everything. Everything’s pretty new this year, so I’m just learning everything from our new defence to our new attack and just getting to know everyone.”
Mikaele has had big wraps on him since he was a student at Keebra Park State High School, where he was selected for the Australian Schoolboys twice before making his NRL debut in 2019 at the Wests Tigers, going on to play 66 games across four seasons for the club.
Mikaele claimed Wests’ rookie of the year award in his breakout season, but admitted to falling out of love with the game before his move to the Super League.
“It sounds pretty cliche but I think my first few years playing, getting a lot of games under my belt when I was young, I sort of got on the mindset of ‘yeah, I’m playing first grade’ and then I slowly didn’t enjoy it,” Mikaele said.
“For me, it was just going over there (to England) to find enjoyment again and enjoy playing and just learn the game again and find that love of the game.”
The Auckland-born forward returned from his Super League stint last year and joined the Gold Coast Titans for one NRL match and eight Queensland Cup games with the Burleigh Bears where he averaged 21 tackles per game at 97.7 per cent efficiency and 141 running metres.
Still hunting for his first NRL try, Mikaele discovered his scoring form with Warrington where he crossed the chalk four times in 24 games.
“At the start of the year I was scoring more tries than some of our backs over there, it was a bit of a joke,” Mikaele said.
“Whether I score or not, it doesn’t really matter, but it’s always nice as a middle. You don’t really score much so it was good getting those tries early in the year.”
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Originally published as How Cowboys recruit Thomas Mikaele reignited his love for the game in English Super League
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