Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote a recruitment target of Manly, Penrith and Dragons

COWBOYS fullback Lachlan Coote’s management has flown to Sydney to begin sourcing offers from rival clubs headlined by Manly, Penrith and the Dragons.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Lachlan Coote of the Cowboys makes a break during the round two NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the North Queensland Cowboys at Pirtek Stadium on March 12, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

BRONCOS legend Darren Lockyer has warned the Cowboys could rue losing Lachlan Coote as the Sea Eagles prepare to swoop on the classy fullback.

North Queensland’s grip on Coote is slipping, with the premiers baulking at his $600,000 asking price on the eve of Friday night’s blockbuster against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Coote’s management flew to Sydney on Wednesday to begin sourcing offers from rival clubs headlined by Manly, Penrith and the Dragons.

The Cowboys would prefer to keep Coote, but are reluctant to agree to a major upgrade under the salary cap as they look to blood young gun Kalyn Ponga next season.

Coote’s importance to North Queensland’s offence was illustrated yet again last week, scoring a try and setting up two others in the Cowboys’ 40-0 demolition of the Roosters.

The odds of the 25-year-old staying in Townsville are increasingly slim and Lockyer fears the Cowboys may only realise Coote’s value when he is gone.

Coote is being shopped to Sydney clubs as a fullback or five-eighth and champion playmaker Lockyer said his left-foot kick made him a fine option at No.6.

Lachlan Coote during a Cowboys training session. Picture: Wesley Monts

“Unfortunately when you win a premiership or make a grand final everyone’s worth goes up a bit,” Lockyer said.

“The word on the street is that they think there is someone (Ponga) coming through who can replace him but will they be the same player as Lachlan?

“He doesn’t make errors and his left-foot kicking game takes pressure off Johnathan Thurston.

“I know as a fullback that when you are against a kicker like Thurston but you are also against a good left-footer you have to hedge your bets.

“He’s got a good kicking game. He (Coote) makes the Cowboys a more dangerous prospect.”

Coote’s current deal with the Cowboys is worth around $375,000 a season, meaning the premiers would have to agree to a 60 per cent pay rise to satisfy the fullback’s demands.

It is understood the Sea Eagles are monitoring Coote closely, while he has also been linked with a return to his former club Penrith under ex-Broncos coach Anthony Griffin.

Cowboys prop James Tamou can empathise with Coote. He went close to quitting the club to join Canberra last season before deciding to remain at the Cowboys and he hopes Coote stays loyal.

“It’s a great club and I know Lachlan likes it here, he gets on well with the boys and we like him so I hope he doesn’t go anywhere else,” Tamou said.

“He gives ‘Jonno’ (Thurston) and ‘Morgs’ (Michael Morgan) a bit of space, he runs a bit wider and becomes another attacking option for Jonno.

“He has taken a lot of pressure off them and is just getting better and better.”

Originally published as Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote a recruitment target of Manly, Penrith and Dragons