Next Gen Cowboys: Six Cowboys Young Guns to watch in Northern Pride trial in Tully

Move over Wally Lewis - the new Emperor of Lang Park is actually a Cowboy.

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 26: Kyle Feldt of the Cowboys smiles after winning the NRL Trial match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos at BB Print Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

KYLE Feldt’s quest to overtake Matt Bowen as North Queensland’s top NRL tryscorer will return to one of the winger’s favourite hunting grounds and one of his favourite victims on Sunday.

Bowen scored 130 tries in 270 matches for the Cowboys between 2001 and 2013 but is in grave danger of losing his club record to Feldt, who in 113 fewer matches has crossed for 106 tries.

Still under contract through 2024, Feldt has set his sights on scoring at least another 25 to relieve the Cowboys great of his tryscoring crown.

Feldt sees Sunday afternoon’s clash with the Broncos and opposite wing Corey Oates as a gilded chance to chip away at Bowen’s lead.

In seven derby matches at Suncorp Stadium Feldt has scored six tries, an 85 per cent strike rate among his best on any ground in the NRL.

When matched up against Oates in their past eight meetings Feldt’s strike rate improves to 100 per cent.

“I’d like to score a few tries. I’ve got to catch Mango (Bowen)’s 130 so if I can get there I’ll be happy,” the 30-year-old said.

“We (Oates and Feldt) have been around the game a long time now and he’s just got his 100th try last week – he’s finally in the illustrious crew like me. He’s a good bloke, I’ve had a lot of games against him and I always look forward to playing him.”

Corey Oates and Kyle Feldt compete for the high ball. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Feldt will dine out on the 2015 Grand Final try he scored on Oates’ wing forever but the Cowboys and Broncos have split the 12 matches since six wins apiece – eight of them by one score or less.

Adding intrigue, both clubs are coming off wins for the first time since meeting in that famous decider six years ago.

The annual home and away series against Brisbane are the first matches circled on the Feldt household calendar each year for good reason.

“It’s always a big game,” Feldt said.

“It’s got a very rich rivalry about it and it’s always a good spectacle to watch, too.

“The intent of the game goes up a little bit more. It’s something I enjoy and I enjoy both sides, getting tackled and trying to tackle someone a little bit harder.

“It’s going to be a really good game, attack and defence. I know personally that both teams have worked really hard on their defence and it’s showed in the first rounds.”

‘THAT’S WHAT I PAY HIM FOR’: AGENT SILENT ON MCLEAN FUTURE

FORMER Cowboys captain Jordan McLean’s management refused to answer questions about the prop’s future at the club as rumours of North Queensland’s interest in signing Manly enforcer Marty Taupau swirl.

McLean, 30, could reach 100 games for the Cowboys if his contract is extended beyond this year but said any questions about his 2023 plans needed to be directed to his manager.

Stephen Moses of Sydney’s Cove Agency did not respond to repeated inquiries.

The former Melbourne Storm prop is one of the NRL’s most expensive middle forwards, having signed with the Cowboys in 2018 for a reported salary of $700,000 per season after playing in the side that beat North Queensland 34-6 in the 2017 grand final.

McLean missed 14 games in his debut season with foot surgery but the former Kiwi international has played 62 of a possible 79 matches in Cowboys’ colours since.

Asked this week about his future with the club in light of reported interest in Taupau, 32, McLean redirected questions to his management.

“I’m not too sure yet,” he said.

“I’ll leave that up to my manager to see where I stand here. “As for Marty (Taupau) I haven’t heard too much about the club talking to him so not too sure what’s happened there.

“At the end of the day I’ve just got to go out there and play my best footy and hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”

McLean confirmed he would be happy to stay with the Cowboys with his family well settled in Townsville.

“Yeah. I love it up here in Queensland, so up here in Townsville my boys go to school. We’ll see what happens.”

The prop, named to start this week and potentially for the next month after recruit Jamayne Taunoa-Brown succumbed to a hamstring injury, said his manager would have to clarify where he stands with the Cowboys.

“That’s a question my manager should take because that’s what I pay him for. That’s his job to have them questions with the club,” he said.

“Hopefully it gets sorted out and I know what I’m doing in the future.”

Wayne Bennett has already signed three of McLean’s grand final winning Storm teammates from 2017 for the Dolphins in forwards Felise Kaufusi and Bromwich brothers Jesse and Kenny while five-eighth Cameron Munster is another target.

Next Gen Cowboys: Every emerging player to watch in trial

The Cowboys Young Guns development program have named an exciting 21-man squad to take on the Northern Pride in a showcase of the region’s brightest emerging talent.

Many players will earn the first minutes in a Cowboys jersey of their playing career.

Their journeys toward the NRL begin in earnest on Saturday night in Tully.

Of the 21-man squad six stand out as players of particular promise.

TEAM LIST

1. Tom Chester
2. Robert Derby
3. Zac Laybutt
4. Jordan Lipp
5. Brenton Baira
6. Jake Bourke
7. Tom Duffy
8. Morgan McWhirter
9. Jai Hansen
10. Mia Pua’avase
11. Kulikefu Finefeuaki
12. Adam Mitchell
13. Tyson Chase
14. Ragarive Wavik
15. Emarly Bitungane
16. Joedeci Baker-Tiraha
17. Lewis Mene
18. Matua Robinson
19. Matt Hunter
20. Braythen Porter
21. Zack Lamont

TOM DUFFY — HALFBACK

He enters the Cowboys Young Guns fresh off earning the Michael Morgan Medal as last year’s Aaron Payne Cup player of the year.

Now it is time for Ignatius Park graduate Tom Duffy to take his game to the next level.

His high school coach, Steve Lansley, was watched the emerging halfback for the past five years and immediately saw unique qualities in the teenager.

Lansley said it was in Duffy’s composure and ability to mark definitive decisions at such a young age which has stood out as he rose through the ranks.

He said the experience the former Blackhawks under-18s star would gain working alongside current Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend, as well as Young Guns coach and former half Ben Jeffries, would accelerate his development.

“Tom just had time, he was a kid who wasn’t ever flustered or panicked. He had time and was calm and made good decisions even at a young age,” Lansley said.

“It’s harder to find, rare is probably the word in a young kid. There were times in games where if Tom saw a weakness in the opposition he knew how to exploit it.

“He’ll stay at it, he showed signs last year he could really pick teams apart. He’s got the ability to be clam and clear and that’s what you want in a half.”

TOMAS CHESTER — FULLBACK

He may be lining up at fullback for this trial, but Tomas Chester could play absolutely anywhere.

While the Brothers junior grew up as a halfback, he has since showcased his skills at lock, hooker and now is ready to assume the number one jumper.

His former club coach, Roy Baira, first saw Chester as a 12-year-old while conducting junior development sessions at Brothers.

A few years later when the utility was making his accent to senior football, Baira remembers thinking “that’s that annoying little fella”.

It was not that Chester ever frustrated Baira, quite the opposite. He had chirp, a little bit of niggle, and had such high energy which translated to some sublime performances on the field.

When Brothers lost star halfback Ty Carucci in the 2020 season, Chester was thrust into the mix and was insturmental in guiding the bretheren to the grand final.

Baira said it was his toughness and resiliance which would make him such an asset when his chance in the NRL came.

“I liked his energy when he was a kid, he was fun. He always messed around and was loud, but he was a real typical halfback,” Baira said.

“Tommy is very tough, he can take a lot of really good hits from bigger men and doesn’t give up. I think that’s the way he attacks everything, it’s the way he is as a player and a person. “He doesn’t get fazed, he just wants a spot in the team. If he sees something we don’t put him in a box. We let him play whatever is in front of him.”

JORDAN LIPP — CENTRE

There was a time when Jordan Lipp thought his career was over before it began. Now he is on the cusp of a Cowboys debut.

The towering centre endured a horrific injury run before moving to Townsville, a pair of severe shoulder concerns plaguing his development.

But now, not only is he a member of the Young Guns program, he has been elevated to a development contract with the North Queensland outfit.

“Once my manager said the Cowboys were interested in having a look at me even though I was coming off my second reconstruction it was massive. It gave me a lot of hope for the future,” Lipp told the Townsville Bulletin in December.

“I thought that could possibly be the end of the road. I might’ve been stuck playing local footy. But it was definitely a kick in the right direction that gave me that next level of motivation to get my recovery done.

“I want to show that’s in the past and there’s still a possibility for me.”

JAKE BOURKE — FIVE EIGHTH

Jake Bourke has been making waves ever since he first donned the Centrals Tigers colours as a junior.

Long earmarked as a future Cowboy, he now gets his chance alongside fellow Tiger, Duffy, to prove it.

Bourke was dominant for the Blackhawks under-21s last year, despite a sluggish start to the campaign.

Then coach Dave Elliott called on the youngster to trust his running game more. He did, and with that Townsville were on a one-way trip to the grand final.

Such as been the way Bourke and fellow rising stars in Chester and Ragsy Wavik have impressed, Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne believes they will have big roles to play in the Queensland Cup this year.

“I certainly think they’re players of the future and I think they’ll have a big role in our season,” Payne said.

“I think they’re all certainly good enough to play Queensland Cup, all three of them I think will play Queensland Cup (and) the thing I like about it is there’s a lot of young kids snapping at these older blokes heels.”

MORGAN MCWHIRTER — PROP

Life in the North began as a challenge for Morgan McWhirter, but now his dedication is paying off.

The Terrigal product signed on with the Cowboys on the cusp of the pandemic in 2020, putting the brakes on his rise.

He admits himself there were times he thought his chance may have been taken from him.

“It was pretty hard to stay motivated with no footy around. I came from school being from a rugby union background and I came up here fresh, I was relearning the game again, and then it all got taken away,” McWhirter told the Townsville Bulletin in December.

“I was feeling a bit sorry for myself thinking it was average timing. (But) I did a bit of training with the Blackhawks, and even though we weren’t playing I was training with the QCup side and it was a good environment.

“That kept me a little bit motivated, but my goals started ticking through my head when I made the transition into Young Guns.

“That hit the boxes, and I started knuckling down a bit more.”

McWhirter had intended to simply make his Queensland Cup debut last year, but instead became a regular member of the Mackay Cutters pack.

He has become well equipped to exceed expectations, and he will be out to do the same in 2022.

RAGARIVE WAVIK — INTERCHANGE

With his sights set on representing Papua New Guinea at this year’s World Cup, Ragsy Wavik will be out with a point to prove.

The versatile playmaker was a star for the Kirwan Bears, and went on to be named as the Mal Meninga Cup’s best player last year.

Wavik told the Bulletin last year working alongside the Cowboys had already transforme his game, revealing a 10-second conversation with Johnathan Thurston which elevated him instantly.

Now he wants to pull on the Kumuls colours, and this trial clash will be his first chance to prove he belongs.

“I really want to represent the Kumuls if I can, it’s one of my goals to represent my motherland and I really am striving towards that,” he said.

“It would mean the world to me and my family, moving away for a better opportunity here in Australia and giving back to PNG is one of my main goals.”

COWBOYS YOUNG GUNS THRUST INTO LIMELIGHT AFTER RECRUITMENT TWIST

The Cowboys have abandoned hope of luring Wests Tigers enigma Luciano Leilua to North Queensland on an early release, providing the region’s emerging backrowers 12 months to prove their NRL credentials before his arrival.

Faith in the future will epitomise how the Cowboys select their back row this season before Leilua can add much needed starch and depth to their edge forward stocks in 2023.

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Until then Payten’s squad is concerningly short on experienced players in the second row, with young guns Jeremiah Nanai and Heilum Luki set to be thrown in the deep end in 2022.

Both showed immense potential upon making their NRL debuts last year, however with just 15 first-grade appearances between them the jury is still out on whether they can become 80 minute figures each week.

Luciano Leilua appears set to stay at Wests Tigers for 2022, with the Cowboys withdrawing their pursuit for an early release. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Payten said that would be their biggest challenge, particularly given they and fellow rookie Ben Condon are the only genuine edge forwards in the squad.

While he said there was a period the Cowboys attempted to snare Leilua ahead of time, ultimately the pandemic forced them to withdraw that rush.

“A while back (yes), and then the Covid outbreak has probably — I wouldn’t say scared — but made clubs apprehensive about releasing players because we don’t know what’s going to happen moving forward,” Payten said.

“That’s been put on the back burner, I think from our point of view we’d love to have him, but we haven’t pressed any further in that regard.

“It’s going to be the challenge for both of those guys. They’re kids still, they’re still adapting to the week in week out grind of NRL competition.

“It’s the consistency we’re working on from a day to day point of view. Back row is probably a position where we lack a bit of experience, we’ve got enough numbers there, but in terms of NRL games and experience it’s one position we’re a little light on.

“But what I’m excited about is their potential, and it’s our job (as coaches) to equip them as quickly as possible.

“They’re two of our local kids and I’m excited that hopefully we can get them to stick around long term for us moving forward.”

Jeremiah Nanai can expect a far greater role for the Cowboys in 2022. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Should injuries hit either of the emerging pair, and North Queensland find themselves short on the edge, players within the feeder clubs could well be called upon.

Payten alluded to the fact that Covid-19 had thrown a spanner in the way in which the season would proceed, believing inevitably members from outside the club’s top 30 will be called upon from round 10 onwards.

The second-year coach said those who already had NRL experience would likely be the ones called on at short notice.

That could open the door for the likes of Townsville Blackhawk Patrick Kaufusi to force his way back into the reckoning and add to his 31 NRL caps should injuries hit the NRL side and the 27-year-old impress in the early stages of the Queensland Cup..

While Cowboys players Tom Gilbert and Connelly Lemuelu have been training in the second row throughout the pre-season, Payten said those on the fringe needed to be prepared to step up at a moment’s notice.

“I think all players in those feeder clubs should have the understanding that at any given stage they could be called into an NRL game,” he said.

“I have spoken to certain players as individuals about being ready, I can’t tell them when that may happen or if it may happen, but as a code we are expectant we will have to dip outside our top 30 throughout the season.

“Guys with NRL experience absolutely, there are a couple of other younger guys we’re keeping our eyes on as well. There’s three or four at each club who could potentially do a job for us.”

Originally published as Next Gen Cowboys: Six Cowboys Young Guns to watch in Northern Pride trial in Tully