Ex-Cowboy Jake Bourke ditches French club after 10 days to sign with Blackhawks

A former Cowboy and Emerging Maroons playmaker has revealed the circumstances that led him to walk out on a contract in French rugby league after just 10 days. What he experienced:

Former Cowboy Jake Bourke during the 2023 pre-season trial with Dolphins at Barlow Park in Cairns. Picture: NRL Imagery

Former Cowboys and Emerging Maroons playmaker Jake Bourke spent just 10 days in France before walking away from his new club to return to the Townsville Blackhawks.

Bourke, 21, was released by North Queensland after two seasons on the club’s NRL roster and is already back in the region after experiencing culture shock at his new team, Limoux, on the Franco-Spanish border.

Bourke said although he had felt homesick, it was the difference in culture, surrounded by limited to no-English speakers, that convinced him to call time on his French experiment early.

“It was a little bit of homesickness but it was more that it wasn’t what I thought it would be like,” Bourke said.

“It sounds a bit silly but it was just a different culture that wasn’t what I expected. I should have known that before I went over but these things happen. I couldn’t wait to get back.”

Cowboys Jake Bourke during the 2023 pre-season trial with Dolphins at Barlow Park in Cairns. Picture: NRL Imagery

The five-eighth has swept into favouritism to partner Kyle Laybutt in the Blackhawks halves after impressing coach Terry Campese with his fearless ballplaying at the line.

Campese, who played more than 150 NRL games in Bourke’s same position for Canberra, declared the youngster had the ability to return to the elite level.

Jake Bourke takes on Norths Devils on 20 March 2022. Picture: Alix Sweeney / MENDI Blackhawks Media

“He has definitely been the shining light through this pre-season so far,” Campese said.

“I haven’t seen a half play it to the line the way he does in our opposed sessions so I’m glad he didn’t like France. He didn’t get jet lag because he wasn’t over there long enough but he’s been a great addition to our squad. I think he can still be an NRL player and he should be on an NRL roster from what I’ve seen so far.”

Blackhawks operations manager Adrian Thomson said the warning signs that Bourke was unhappy in France had sounded very early on.

Bourke’s father called Thomson to gauge whether the Blackhawks were interested in signing his son if he felt he could not stomach an entire season away from home.

Cowboys Jake Bourke during the 2023 pre-season trial with Dolphins at Barlow Park in Cairns. Picture: NRL Imagery

“His dad rang me saying that he wasn’t liking it in France initially and that he may come home in the next few days,” Thomson said.

“I had said to Jake last year that if he was staying around here we’d love you to play so he knew that from the start.

“On a selfish level I’m glad he’s come home. He’s been one of the standout guys in our pre-season. I think this is the best environment for Jake to be in right now. He’s a homely lad and he’s showed that. I haven’t seen a happier Jake Bourke than I have for a few years than when he came back. He’s played enough Queensland Cup now to really take a stranglehold on it and take over our team.”

Cowboys Jake Bourke during the 2023 pre-season trial with Dolphins at Barlow Park in Cairns. Picture: NRL Imagery

Campese said he was excited to work with Bourke because he had innate skills the former Kangaroos and State of Origin half could not teach.

“I was never that brave (playmaking at the line), and if I was in his shoes I’d still be in France drinking red wine and eating caviar,” Campese joked.

“I think it’s very hard to teach what I’ve seen Jake do during this pre-season. Hopefully he continues and that goes out into his game because sometimes what you see on the training paddock doesn’t transfer, but from what I’ve seen he is very impressive.”

Bourke said that feedback from a coach as experienced as Campese was good to hear and boded well for their partnership this season.

“He’s played at the highest level and to have someone like that help me improve my footy, help me get better on and off the field, that’s going to be pretty special,” Bourke said.

“The NRL dream is still burning but I just want to get back to enjoying my footy and see how the year goes.”

Bourke has aligned with Charters Towers in A Grade on a dual contract.

Originally published as Ex-Cowboy Jake Bourke ditches French club after 10 days to sign with Blackhawks