Cowboys livewire Scott Drinkwater has shunned outside interest as he fights to stay in Townsville

He is one of the Cowboys most exciting gamebreakers and this off-contract star has made his intention clear in a fight to remain at the club.

SCOTT Drinkwater has declared he wants to remain a Cowboy after this season despite being expected to move back to his less preferred role as a fullback.

The skilful ballplayer is off-contract at the end of the season and was discussed as an option to replace the rugby-bound Roger Tuivasa Sheck at the Warriors.

But Drinkwater has professed his love for North Queensland and is not ready to move on from the club that gave him a chance in the top grade.

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His manager Chris Orr has opened communication lines with the Cowboys as they aim to get a deal done that will keep the 23-year-old in Townsville beyond the end of this season.

“I love it up in Townsville. I love the people and love the club, it is a nice relaxing, chilled out town and it suits me,” Drinkwater said.

“(My manager) has had one or two (chats) with them at the moment, it started up last week when the boxing was on. He came up and had a chat with them. It was just getting talks started.

NRL; North Queensland Cowboys pre-season training at Willows Sports Complex. Scott Drinkwater . Picture: Alix Sweeney

“I have only spoken to him once at The Ville and that was letting him know that my (preference) would be to stay here. But you need to reach out to all your options.”

The Cowboys have confirmed talks with Drinkwater’s management are in the preliminary stage with the club opting to see players in action before making a decision.

“We have a lot of big decisions to make over the next six or seven months with what our squad looks like and we want to have a chance to see some players on the field before we make those decisions,” Cowboys head of football Micheal Luck said.

Drinkwater will have a chance to prove himself to Cowboys officials this weekend when he runs out for a trial against the Broncos.

It is expected he will spend time at both fullback and in the halves despite training at the back for most of the pre-season.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has suggested Drinkwater is in a two-man shootout for the number one jersey with Valentine Holmes while young gun Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is also in the picture.

Scott Drinkwater of the Cowboys runs the ball during the round 16 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the North Queensland Cowboys. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Drinkwater, who was once seen as the heir apparent to Billy Slater in Melbourne, moved into the halves last year and finished with 19 try-assists to be ranked fifth in the Telstra Premiership despite a difficult campaign for the Cowboys.

But his defence in the front line came under fire last season, his 56 missed tackles was the worst for the Cowboys and 16th in the competition.

While he has made it clear publicly he would rather play in the halves, Drinkwater was not going to let an opportunity to make the top-17 pass him by.

NRL; North Queensland Cowboys Vs Sydney Roosters at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Scott Drinkwater . Picture: Alix Sweeney

“It is always a good challenge to start up a new position again. Last pre-season I was in five-eighth, but now I am back at fullback for a bit,” he said.

“There is a lot more running. I have had to really push myself in fitness areas to get up to that elite fitness of a fullback.

“(This weekend is) definitely a good opportunity. I have got to put my best foot forward to make that round one 17, wherever I play. I need to have a good game this weekend to make sure I get into the team. The fullback role is where more of my chance is, when I am back there I will be doing my best.”

While his contract negotiations will be looming over his head this season, Drinkwater said it would not be a distraction to his on-field performances.

“In a way yeah you do (feel the pressure), you want to get the contract. I will back myself, and over the past years when I have been off contract is when I have played my best footy like a lot of people do,” he said.

Tabuai-Fidow appears likely to line up in the centres for the trial at Redcliffe this weekend after spending time there during this morning’s contact session while Valentine Holmes was spotted splitting his time between fullback and the left wing.

Originally published as Cowboys livewire Scott Drinkwater has shunned outside interest as he fights to stay in Townsville