North Queensland Cowboys confirm five player exodus on finals eve

The North Queensland Cowboys have been the surprise packets of the NRL in 2022 but despite finishing third the club is making changes.

The Cowboys will survive. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The North Queensland Cowboys have confirmed five players will leave the club at the end of the season, including the runner up in the club’s player of the year award.

The club paid tribute to the five players which includes 2022 Origin forward Tom Gilbert, Connelly Lemuelu, Kane Bradley, Emry Pere and Morgan McWhirter.

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There could also be a sixth as prop Jordan McLean, who very nearly made his Origin debut for NSW before injury ruled him out, is still without a contract for 2023.

Gilbert and Lemelu have got deals in place for next season at the Dolphins, but Bradley, Pere and McWhirter are all unsigned. Pere is the only one among the trio who has debuted, having played two matches off the bench in 2020.

Gilbert signed with the Dolphins in July but was already farewelled by the Cowboys in April, wanting to return to Brisbane on “compassionate grounds” as his family lives in Brisbane.

Tom Gilbert is a hell of a signing for the Dolphins. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

He finished in equal second alongside Valentine Holmes in the Cowboys’ player of the year award, the Paul Bowman Medal, which was taken out by captain Jason Taumalolo for a record sixth time.

“There were two decision that came with it – footy and personal life, and I had to weigh up what was more important,” Gilbert said via the Dolphins website.

“I’ve enjoyed my time with the Cowboys and it was never that I didn’t want to stay there.

“There are just more important things at home that I wanted to make sure I was there for.

“When the opportunity was there to be back at home with my family, I couldn’t say no.”

Although the quintet of departures may be considered a blow for the team, the side, which finished third on the NRL ladder and will face a Saturday night clash with the Sharks in Sydney, have resigned a host of players this season, including announcing the five-year extension for Scott Drinkwater.

The Cowboys fullback has 14 try assists and 10 tries this season and has made the No. 1 jersey his own.

Scott Drinkwater’s here to stay. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Cowboys football GM Micheal Luck was chuffed by the signing.

“Drinky is an extremely talented footballer with a skill set not many players in the competition possess,” Luck said.

“He has been fantastic for us this year and today’s announcement is a show of faith that we believe he will be an integral member of our spine for a long time.

“We were thrilled with how he responded to Todd and our coaching staff’s challenges to him over the off season and he has now become one of the better ball players in the competition whether he is playing fullback or five-eighth.

“We have tried to build our squad around good people and Drinky is just that. His energy and enthusiasm lift any room he walks into and we’re excited he will be playing out the majority of his career in a Cowboys jersey.”

The Dolphins were said to be hunting Drinkwater.

But it’s not all bad news for the expansion club as Queensland Cup flyer Trai Fuller signed a train-and-trial deal.

Fuller has scored 15 tries from 17 games this season in the QLD Cup for the Redcliffe Dolphins.

“He is an example of the kind of player we are trying to open up pathways for – a young man from the North Burnett region who has moved to Brisbane and been given a chance to play at Hostplus Cup level for the Dolphins,” Dolphins boss Terry Reader said.

“Now he will get the chance to learn from a great coach in Wayne Bennett and train alongside some of the best professionals in the game.”