Cowboys win race for A Grade Rookie of the Year favourite Assariah Lenoy

The Cowboys have won a race against rival clubs to sign the brilliant teenage outside back from Palm Island, who has burst onto the senior scene in A Grade.

The Cowboys have won the race for breakout Charters Towers outside back Assariah Lenoy, signing the Year 12 student to a Young Guns contract.

The Palm Island product captained Columba Catholic College to NQISSRL and Confraternity Cup Division II glory earlier this year, while also representing the North Queensland Schoolboys and Charters Towers in local A Grade.

Lenoy’s mother said the family had deliberated for more than a month before choosing which club the fullback or winger would sign with.

“There is a reason why he chose the club he signed with,” Ivy Rose Sam wrote on social media.

“Yes we had other clubs but decided to go local as it was the best for him and for his community.

NQISSRL grand final man of the match Assariah Lenoy. Picture: Supplied.

“Gosh I had to hold my tears in the room, didn’t want to cry like a baby.

“Son, you’ve made me so proud and you’ve come a long way to get where you are today.

Charters Towers coach Shaun Casey said the ease in which Lenoy had transitioned to senior football hinted at far greater potential.

“He’s handled playing against grown men with ease,” Casey said.

“His carries out of our end, it’s not all about glory seeking and scoring tries, he’s rolling up the sleeves and doing the dirty work.

“He’s got two or three man of the match awards for us (in nine games). He’s probably the favourite for our Rookie of the Year honour at this stage but most importantly, he’s a great kid.”

His school coach Rohan Dixon said the team had voted Lenoy captain by the highest margin he had ever seen.

The boarder is also the College’s residential leader.

Lenoy joins a talented junior nursery in North Queensland.

Six Cowboys players were named in the Maroons Under-19s playing next week: fullback Mutua Brown, halfback Zack Lamont, edge backrowers Wil Sullivan and Mason Kira, middle forward Jamal Shibasaki and centre Kai Simon.

Originally published as Cowboys win race for A Grade Rookie of the Year favourite Assariah Lenoy