Meet the six Cowboys Young Guns graduates destined for big things
They are the fresh-faced Cowboys recruits with the future at their feet, but for now these Young Gun graduates still have a few lessons to learn. Read more about the six prospects ready for their next step.
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They are the fresh-faced Cowboys recruits with the future at their feet, but for now these Young Gun graduates still have a few lessons to learn.
The latest class of Young Guns graduates is filled with talent across the park, and even includes a blistering playmaker with eight games of NRL under the belt.
The Young Guns program, which was built as the top end of the Cowboys pathways system after Covid, brings the club’s emerging athletes (19-21) together in Townsville for the final years of their development.
It is a program which has a proven track record of developing NRL talent like Dolphins hardman Tom Gilbert, Tom Chester, Heilum Luki and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Meet the latest class of graduates from the program and mark them down as ones to watch out for.
JAXON PURDUE
Age: 19, Pos: Halfback/centre
The talented halfback who helped steer St Patrick’s College, Mackay into the state final of the NRL Schoolboys Cup a little over a year ago has already tasted first grade action after being thrown into the deep end by Todd Payten in 2024.
The young gun proved he can swim in the NRL and has been handed a development contract for 2025, as he enters a three-way battle for the No. 7 jersey.
XAVIER KERRISK
Age: 19, Pos: Hooker
The Mackay-born hooker partnered Purdue in the impressive St Patrick’s College side in 2023. After spending time with the Cowboys NRL squad last pre-season, Kerrisk made his Queensland Cup debut for the Mackay Cutters in 2024, playing 10 games and earning the club’s Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season.
Kerrisk has been signed to a train and replacement contract, and will spend time with the first grade squad in the pre-season.
MASON KIRA
Age: 19, Position: Lock/prop
The Sunshine Coast product is one of the most exciting middle forwards coming out of the Cowboys junior ranks. Kira impressed Todd Payten during a training block with the first grade squad last year and was part of the Queensland Under-19s Origin side this season.
The powerhouse forward played the full season in the Northern Pride Mal Meninga Cup ranks before graduating to the Queensland Cup side at the end of the season.
Kira will be signed to a development contract with the NRL squad in 2024.
MUTUA BROWN
Age: 19, Position: Fullback
The fleet-footed fullback has an impressive instinct on the field. What he lacks in structural play, the Far North Queensland junior makes up for with electric speed and impressive heads-up play.
Brown was a poster boy for the inaugural Dolphins Cup schoolboys’ season at The Cathedral College, and made the Queensland and Australian Schoolboys sides in 2023. He played fullback for the Mackay Cutters side which made the Mal Meninga Cup finals.
Brown made his Queensland Cup debut in 2024 and is expected to be the first choice fullback for the Cutters next season.
HENRY TEUTAU
Age: 20, Position: Prop
Former Ignatius Park College bulldozer, the Kiwi junior has been touted as one of the most skilful big men to come out of the Queensland schoolboys system.
Teutau helped Ignatius Park College to the state final in the 2022 NRL Schoolboys Cup, and has since played eight games in the Queensland Cup after making his debut for the Townsville Blackhawks in 2023.
Teutau will move onto a train and replacement contract with the Cowboys and will do pre-season with the top squad before returning to the Pride in 2025.
JEREMIAH MATAUTIA
Age: 20, Position: Prop
A towering front rower, the Auckland product has been part of the Cowboys pipeline for a number of years coming through the club’s schoolboys nursery at Kirwan State High.
Matautia played eight games for the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup this season, including two as starting prop, after making his debut in the state league last season.
He will join the Cowboys for pre-season on a train and replacement contract, Matautia is expected to return to the Cutters next season as he looks to cement a starting front row role in Queensland Cup.
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