NQ Cowboy Robert Derby’s memorable 2025 continues with engagement announcement
North Queensland Cowboys superstar Robert Derby’s year keeps getting better, adding an engagement announcement to his streak of NRL tries. See more pics of the happy couple.
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North Queensland Cowboy’s young gun Robert Derby’s 2025 hot streak is continuing, with him adding a beautiful engagement announcement to his try scoring rampage in the NRL over the last month.
Derby recently proposed to his partner Waverley, sharing an image on social media of the happy couple showing off the engagement ring saying, “our story, to us and forever”.
The image was re-shared by the North Queensland Cowboy’s account, who offered “a big congrats to Rob and Waverley on their engagement”, attracting thousands of likes and congratulatory messages.
Born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Derby also lived in Mendi, Goroka, Mount Hagen and Vietnam before moving to Cairns when he was eight years old.
A hulking winger also blessed with speed, Derby scored 20 tries in 32 Queensland Cup games over the 2022 and 2023 seasons and registered four appearances at international level for PNG, including the 2023 Pacific Bowl victory over Fiji.
He made his NRL debut in Round 13, 2023, but a leg injury ensured that it was the only top-grade appearance he played that season.
2025 has turned out to be his breakout year.
After snaring his first NRL hat-trick against Gold Coast in April, he’s now racked up six tries in his last four games.
The 23-year-old threw his support behind the Cowboys in February, inking a deal to remain with the team until the end of 2028.
He is eligible to play for Queensland and Papua New Guinea, and was expected to be a major recruitment target of the PNG club when it joins the NRL that year.
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Originally published as NQ Cowboy Robert Derby’s memorable 2025 continues with engagement announcement