Cowboys: Sean Mullany and Kyle Schneider in contention to replace Jake Granville, updates on half hopefuls
A player from either of the Cowboys’ feeder clubs could be elevated to the top-30 in years to come, as Payten also provides updates on a number of half hopefuls. More here.
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A Cowboys contract could well beckon for Sean Mullany or Kyle Schneider.
That was North Queensland coach Todd Payten’s message before Sunday’s NRL trial match against the Broncos at Mackay’s BB Print Stadium.
A former Australian Schoolboy, Schneider figured in the Cowboys trial match for the second-year running. The dummy-half crossed from the Cutters to Cairns’ Northern Pride ahead of this season, and has made a good impression throughout his pre-season training with the Cowboys.
Similarly, Cutters captain Mullany has turned heads in Townsville throughout pre-season, and flourished as starting hooker in the trial to finish with a game-high 42 tackles and also notch a try. Starting on the bench and rotating with Mullany, Schneider also played a solid hand.
“He works hard, super fit, he’s got good service, under duress he stands up,” Payten said of Mullany, who he has known and worked with for a handful of years.
“We’re excited about his opportunity, he’s had a really good pre-season.”
“We’ve been well aware of (Mullany) and Kyle Schneider for a couple of years with Jakey Granville at the back-end of his contract.
“There’s every chance if he plays well and punches out a good season in the Queensland Cup, there’s every opportunity.”
Despite being a natural hooker, Mullany has spent most of his time in Mackay - having joined the Cutters in 2021 - as a lock.
His versatility excites Payten.
“It’s not gonna hurt him, that’s for sure,” said Payten of Mullany putting in a good performance in the trial match.
“I’ve seen him play lock, I’ve seen him play half, I’ve seen him play hooker, (outside back) at certain times, and this is in the course of the last five or six years.
“He’s quite capable, durable, and he can cover a heap of positions which is a valuable asset to have.”
Payten also provided insight into the progress of starting half hopefuls Tom Duffy and Jake Clifford, who donned the six and seven jerseys respectively on Sunday.
“It’s just his talk and direction around the park, he’s a halfback that’s what they do,” Payten said of Clifford, who captained the trial squad against the Broncos.
“He’s got to be consistent with that, he’s got to make his tackles, and he’s got to kick well.
“They’re the three kinds of areas we need our halves - or game-drivers - to be good at, he’s made some good strides in that area.”
Clifford has 67 Cowboys appearances under his belt, and is looking to crack the North Queensland NRL side for the first time since his departure in 2021, following a two-year stint with Newcastle and 2023 spent plying his trade for Hull in England’s Super League.
Duffy comes into 2024 freshly elevated to the Cowboys’ top-30 off the back of a strong Queensland Cup campaign, and his progress has impressed Payten as he hunts a maiden NRL jersey.
“He got an opportunity this time last year in the (trial) and I thought he handled himself well,” Payten said of Duffy.
“The game was pretty quick for him last year, he’s had another 12 months to develop, he’s filled out around the shoulders and he’s comfortable in the squad.
“The challenge for a lot of those young halves is to feel comfortable barking orders to more senior players and telling them what to do.
“It took a bit of time for Duff, but he got there.”
While Clifford and Duffy are for the now, a name to track in years to come is Jaxon Purdue. The 18-year-old Mackay playmaker was given an opportunity at fullback, notching 50 minutes of gametime and lighting up the final minutes of the clash with a length-of-the-field dash to score.
“He’s a capable kid, he’s fit, he talks well, he’s got a great game sense, we’ve got high hopes for him and we’re really excited about the opportunity he’ll get (on Sunday).”
“Hopefully he develops and grows over the next 12 or 18 months, he’s a long way from being a seasoned first-grader. He’s impressed us all, he’s earned respect the way that he trains, he’s got to keep his head down and work hard.
“Not just me but all the players around him stood up and took notice of what he could do (when training with the NRL squad).
“He didn’t shy away from it.”
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