North Queensland Cowboys name Mackay academy

SOME top players in Mackay's North Queensland Cowboys Academy

QUALITY: The North Queensland Cowboys for 13-17-year-old for this year was launched last night. Photo Chris Lees / Daily Mercury. Picture: Chris Lees

RUGBY LEAGUE: Aaron Payne, who is the North Queensland Cowboys under-20's coach, launched the academy in Mackay on Monday afternoon.

"Here in Mackay, along with our recruitment officers, we just identify sort of the kids who have a bit of above average talent and get them involved in our academy," he said.

The club will hold six sessions during the year with the academy.

Payne said it was about helping junior players continue their progression through the Cowboys' pathway.

He said the players were chosen for their performances on and off the field.

The Cowboys Academy, proudly supported by Toyota and the North Queensland Toyota Dealers, provides a structured pathway to support the development and transition of promising young rugby league players through the playing ranks, from scholarship through to NYC and ultimately NRL.

The Academy focuses on high-school aged players with sessions run in regional centres like Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton.

Local Toyota General Manager Liam Gaskin said Mackay Toyota were excited to support such an important program again this year. 

"Giving our talented juniors the opportunity to develop their skills in such a quality program like this is fantastic.  We are proud to enable programs like these to continue locally," he said.

Payne said the club was starting to see some players who had begun with the academy progress through the club's ranks, like Coen Hess, who made his NRL debut last season.

The coach said the kids "got a buzz" out of being part of the club.

"That's what this club was designed for, right from the start, was to nurture local talent, and for them to be able to represent their region... and not have to leave and go down south to pursue a footy career," Payne said.

Cowboys academy list:
Jye Andersen
James Bassett
Aidan Beard
Michael Bell
Mason Clifford
Thomas Dearden
Phoenix Heke
Tom Irelandes
Jack Johnson
Quinlan Kelly
Will Lansbury
Brodie Little
Kai O'Donnell
Hayden Pace
Ryan Schill
Caleb Sinn
Garrett Smith
Shaun Smith
Msaon Thorpe
Brendan White
Tom Wilson
Nick Williams
Rhett Wood
 

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys name Mackay academy