North Queensland Cowboys sack rising NRL star Wayne Ulugia

COWBOYS sack rising star Wayne Ulugia barely a week out from their opening pre-season trial after a series of conduct breaches.

Young star Wayne Ulugia has been sacked by the Cowboys.

THERE were only so many times the Cowboys could let Wayne Ulugia's indiscretions slide. Yesterday, the club's patience ran out.

North Queensland yesterday terminated the 21-year-old rising star's contract, by mutual agreement, after a series of breaches of the club's code of conduct.

While the Cowboys refused to go into detail about the breaches, chief executive Peter Jourdain confirmed they began when the former Junior Kiwis representative arrived at the Cowboys as teenager.

"It's sad, but it gets to a stage where you've got to make a ­decision that is best for both of us, really,'' he said.

Wayne Ulugia on the attack in round 25, 2013 against Cronulla. Pic Brett Costello

Jourdain said the club had given Ulugia internal and external professional help and would continue to supply ­assistance if needed.

"We invested a bit of time with him, so we haven't taken the decision lightly, but we think it's best that the decision gets made now,'' Jourdain said.

Ulugia moved with his family to Australia from Auckland as a 15 year old and was quickly identified by the Cowboys as an exceptional talent and signed to a scholarship.

A year later he made his National Youth Competition debut, making an immediate and devastating impact. His speed and elusiveness led to 51 tries in 88 games.

In 2012, Ulugia was fined $500 after being convicted of punching a nightclubber, ­although he later said he was provoked by being spat on.

His life appeared to be back on track last year when a teammate's injury opened the door for an NRL debut.

Ulugia played four games and scored six tries.

"There's no doubt he has enormous talent as a footballer and we have seen that develop through his time at the Cowboys, but we have a code of conduct that has to be followed,'' Jourdain said.

With just a week before the Cowboys' first trial against Brisbane in Redcliffe, it is hardly ideal timing but Jourdain was confident it would not affect the team's premiership preparations.

"Everybody at the club is professional and they understand the reason for this decision," he said.

Ulugia did not return calls yesterday.