Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue lifts lid on stunning NRL debut

Purdue enjoyed an unbelievable debut on Sunday, going toe-to-toe with a 300-game NRL veteran and coming away with a victory against all odds. Read the inside story on his stunning first game.

Joseph Manu is tackled by Jaxon Purdue and Jordan McLean of the Cowboys. Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Mackay junior Jaxon Purdue became Cowboy No.318 on Sunday afternoon in an unbelievable debut, going toe-to-toe with 300-game NRL veteran Michael Jennings in an unfamiliar position and coming away with a victory against all odds.

Just 12 months ago Purdue was leading St Patrick’s College through an undefeated Aaron Payne Cup campaign, finishing as the competition’s top tryscorer.

Since making his Queensland Cup debut in round 5 this season, he has scored a try in all but one of his six appearances.

A year earlier in 2022, Jamal Shibasaki was one of the most feared Ignatius Park College forwards as the famous rugby league nursery won the Payne Cup.

Now they are both NRL players – and winners at that.

Jaxon Purdue was literally half the age of his direct adversary Michael Jennings but showed no signs of nerves as he played his confident brand of attacking footy. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Purdue said it was an unbelievable moment that still hadn’t properly sunk in by Monday afternoon, but he was glad to share it with a good mate.

“It’s crazy to think that I played NRL yesterday,” Purdue said.

“After the game one of the lads researched it and I was two years old when (Jennings) debuted. It’s pretty crazy to go up against someone that has done everything in the game to be honest.

“It’s all been happening pretty fast but I’ve been loving it. I had family and friends come down which was awesome.

“I always used to remember versing (Shibasaki), he was one of the best in the schoolboy comp. It was pretty awesome to be able to debut with him, we’ve known each other for a while now through school footy and during the younger Cowboys camps.”

The 18-year-old rookie was literally half the age of his direct adversary Jennings but showed no signs of nerves as he played his confident brand of attacking footy.

Jaxon Purdue was two years old when Michael Jennings made his NRL debut. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Purdue made one costly error at marker in the first half that led to Dom Young’s try in the corner but he learnt from his mistake and made a game-saving tackle from marker on 2022 Golden Boot winner Joey Manu to keep the Cowboys in the fight late in the game.

“I just reacted and grabbed the ball, then I remember he lifted it up and planted it over the line. I was thinking surely that’s not a try,” Purdue said.

“In the last 15 minutes we felt on top and all we had to do was complete our sets and kick to the corners.

“We said to ourselves no one’s really expecting us to win this so let’s go out there and put on a show – let’s just stick to our game plan and we can come away with a win.”

Joseph Manu runs the ball during round 13. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Rugby league prognosticators south of Sarina gave North Queensland zero chance of upsetting the Roosters in their home pen in Sydney but the plucky Cowboys proved everyone wrong.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said it was a win built on a combination of grit, determination, discipline, belief and a desire to compete.

Payten lauded both his 18-year-old rookies for their debuts, especially Purdue who was playing his first-ever game at centre.

Coach of the Cowboys Todd Payten arrives prior to the round 13 NRL match between Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

“He’s super fit and I think he’s impressed everyone here at our club since he’s come in,” Payten said.

“He’s done a couple of days here and there in the pre-season, he’s done some things in those moments where coaches and players stand up and go wow.

“If he keeps his head on his shoulders and keeps working hard, he’s going to be a very, very good player.

“He (Shibasaki) is one of those natural footballers, what I like about him going back and playing for the Mackay Cutters is that winning means something to him – he celebrates the small wins and the big wins, it was great for his family to experience that (debut) and he’s come a long way in six months.”

The Cowboys host the Warriors on Saturday evening, kick-off at 5.30pm.

TEEN’S ‘SURREAL’ NRL CALL-UP

Patrick Woods, May 31

The Cowboys will unveil their latest homegrown NRL player when Jamal Shibasaki makes his debut against the Roosters on Sunday.

Shibasaki, 18, was just three years old when Sydney enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves made his NRL debut in 2009, but the pair could well find themselves toe-to-toe at Allianz Stadium.

The Ignatius Park College graduate has been knocking on the door of an NRL call-up all season, dominating much more experienced players in the Queensland Cup with seven tries and six linebreaks in 10 games for the Mackay Cutters.

He said he was left speechless when North Queensland coach Todd Payten dropped the selection bombshell this week.

“It was unreal, to be honest. Funny story, I was on my way to lunch and Toddy (Payten) called me over and said he’s got some good news for me,” Shibasaki said.

“I didn’t know what to expect at the time and when he said I’d be making my debut I was shocked. I didn’t know how to respond, to be honest – I was speechless. It was surreal.”

North Queensland Cowboys rugby league players Kaiden Lahrs and Jamal Shibasaki standing in front of a new ‘Nhinhinhi’-inspired Toyota Coaster. The 22-seat Coaster, donated by Toyota, provides daily transport for NRL Cowboys House boarding students. Picture: Supplied

Shibasaki represented the Queensland under-19 team last year in State of Origin and was named the Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s) player of the year.

A younger brother of former Cowboys player Gehamat Shibasaki, he can play in the middle of the park or as a backrower.

He said he had soaked up as much advice as possible from the likes of older heads Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean, as well as young guns Jeremiah Nanai and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

Townsville Blackhawks v Northern Pride action in Under-18s (Mal Meninga Cup) at Jack Manski Oval, March 2023. Blackhawks Jamal Shibasaki scores try. Picture: Evan Morgan

McLean said he was glad to see the boom forward given an early opportunity in the NRL.

“He’s been playing really well and gets his opportunity,” McLean said.

“I’m stoked for him and I was lucky enough to play alongside his brother here as well so I know how stoked his family will be for the occasion.

“If you’ve been watching his games in Cup there, he doesn’t mind scoring tries so hopefully he can bring a couple up here. I don’t score many so maybe he’ll score one for me.”

Shibasaki said running out and seeing veteran players James Tedesco and Waerea-Hargreaves would be a surreal feeling.

“I was talking to Jase and some of the other boys about it … I watched all these players growing up and now I get the chance to take the field with them so it’s pretty unreal.”

Originally published as Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue lifts lid on stunning NRL debut