NRL 2021: Cowboys join hunt to land in-demand Broncos flyer Xavier Coates for 2022 and beyond

First it was Melbourne, now 19-year-old rising star Xavier Coates has attracted a fresh suitor as he looks to settle his future for 2022 and beyond.

Queensland Origin flyer Xavier Coates has become one of the NRL’s most sought after signatures, with the Cowboys officially joining Melbourne in the fight for the rising Broncos star.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten has confirmed he is looking to lure Coates to Townsville to bolster the Cowboys’ backline stocks.

Coates met with Payten and Cowboys football chief Michael Luck in Townsville last month. He was then spotted on the Gold Coast meeting with Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

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Xavier Coates scored two tries during the Origin series in 2020.

After making his NRL debut in 2019, Coates enjoyed a meteoric rise last year despite the Broncos collecting the wooden spoon in a shocking season for the club.

He made his State of Origin debut for Queensland, scoring two tries in two games before missing the Maroons’ decider victory with a groin injury.

Still only 19, the athletically gifted Coates has tremendous upside and could develop into one of the NRL’s most potent attacking weapons.

He has already drawn comparisons with Queensland great Greg Inglis, prompting at least the Storm and Cowboys to launch poaching raids on the Red Hill rocket.

Coates is off-contract at the end of the 2021 season and Payten admitted he would like to lure the Papua New Guinea international north.

“He is a good player and we’ve had a conversation but that’s as far as it’s gone at the moment. He has had a look around up here,” Payten said.

Coates met Craig Bellamy recently.

“It would be for 2022 and beyond. He is an Origin player and did really well.

“I would imagine he has got several clubs chasing him and rightly so. He is a pleasant young kid who has aspirations to do really well in his career.

“We’re one of many I’d imagine.”

While Coates is shopping himself around, that doesn’t mean he is desperate to leave the Broncos and the arrival of new Brisbane coach Kevin Walters could play a decisive role in his future.

Coates is understood to be willing to give Walters and the Broncos time to show the club is on the improve following the disaster of 2020 before he makes a decision on his future.

Coates has played most of his 15 NRL games on the wing but the Cowboys view him as a possible strike centre as he continues to develop.

Can the Broncos hang on to one of their prized assets?

Payten said the Cowboys’ 2021 roster was mostly settled, with train and trial player Javid Bowen a possibility of snaring the club’s final spot if he recovers well from shoulder surgery.

“We’ve got one spot left and not much money,” he said.

“We will look for an outside back. If Javid does the right things and his shoulder responds we will make a decision on whether it’s him or we go to the market. We are open minded at the moment.”