Cowboys have signed Storm forward Jordan McLean on three-year $2m deal

THE Cowboys have completed their poaching raid on Jordan McLean, securing the giant Storm prop on a multi-year deal worth up to $2 million.

THE Cowboys have completed their poaching raid on Jordan McLean, securing the giant Storm prop on a multi-year deal worth up to $2 million.

North Queensland’s epic defeat of the Broncos on Friday night had a glorious postscript, with the Cowboys sealing the deal with McLean until at least the end of 2020.

The Cowboys have had McLean on their radar for the past six months as a replacement for James Tamou and the Storm fought desperately to retain the hulking bookend.

But McLean will be a Cowboy in 2018.

Cowboys football operations chief Peter Parr finalised talks with McLean’s management in a move that has robbed Melbourne of their most promising young forward.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is refusing to give up hope and has an opportunity under the NRL’s contractual 10-day cooling off period to talk McLean into staying in Melbourne.

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Jordan McLean will be a Cowboy in 2018.

But The Sunday Mail understands McLean, 25, has made up his mind.

The Cowboys are expected to formally announce McLean’s signing this week, with coach Paul Green privately beaming over one of the most important signings in the club’s history.

At 196cm and 115kg, McLean, who has played 68 NRL games, is one of the biggest players in the code and rated a future NSW Origin enforcer.

The Cowboys hope to partner him in the engine room with Maroons hardman Matt Scott, who is tipped to shun interest from the Knights and sign one final deal to finish his career in Townsville.

The Cowboys have discussed a three-year deal with McLean but are willing to entertain a fourth season. On average, McLean’s Cowboys deal is worth $500,000 annually, with incremental upgrades to reflect the increase of the NRL salary cap from next season.

Parr was tight-lipped but is confident of clinching one of the most important signatures since Johnathan Thurston joined the Cowboys in 2005.

“We’re hopeful when Jordan finalises his decision it will fall our way,” he said.

“We’ve had some chats with his management. The discussions have been positive.

“We are happy with our squad and we haven’t gone to the market for a while, but we see Jordan as a guy who can potentially take over from James Tamou in our front row.

“He is at a great age, but he plays for a very strong club and it’s traditionally hard to get a quality player out of Melbourne.”

Jordan McLean will be a Cowboy in 2018.

The Storm have privately conceded defeat on McLean. Instead, they are distributing funds elsewhere and will announce the retention of McLean’s forward cohorts Christian Welch, Dale Finucane and Felise Kaufusi this week.

Cowboys wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo said McLean would be a smash hit alongside him in Townsville.

“I’ve played against him a few times,” he said.

“He is a big body. That’s what you want in teams. A front-rower with a good work ethic who is even harder to tackle.

“He will definitely be an asset to the team next year.

“I’m sure he’s enjoyed his time in Melbourne, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be looking forward to a fresh start in north Queensland.”