Tom Duffy set to join Broncos after Jake Clifford agrees to new deal with Cowboys

Jake Clifford has won the battle for scrumbase contracts at the Cowboys - and it is set to deliver a former Australian schoolboys playmaker to the Broncos.

Jake Clifford has agreed to terms on a new deal with North Queensland in a move that will see boom playmaker Tom Duffy forced out of the Cowboys.

Clifford has won the battle for scrumbase contracts at the Cowboys with the 27-year-old inking a one-year extension to remain at North Queensland for the 2026 season.

But the Cowboys’ decision to hand Clifford a new deal has ramifications for rising playmaker Duffy, who remains off-contract with an asking price the club can’t afford under the salary cap, with this masthead revealing Duffy’s mooted Broncos move on Sunday.

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has held talks with Duffy’s management ahead of Friday night’s crucial clash against Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.

Reynolds will lead the Broncos into battle against his former Souths club this week but the battle for the Brisbane No.7 jumper is wide open when the champion halfback retires, most likely at the end of next season.

Tom Duffy will depart the Cowboys. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The Broncos have tabled a one-year offer for Duffy and have a playmaking spot on their roster for next season after Reynolds’ current understudy, Jock Madden, inked a two-year deal with the Tigers on Friday.

Speaking exclusively to this masthead, Maguire confirmed his interest in bringing Duffy to Red Hill as he plans for life after Reynolds.

“We’re looking at him,” Maguire said. “The deal isn’t done, but he’s on my radar.

“We’ve identified Tom for a reason.”

Cowboys junior Clifford’s NRL career appeared to be over when he left the Knights at the end of 2022 to join English club Hull FC in the Super League.

But Clifford returned for a second coming at the Cowboys last year and the Cairns junior has shown greater playmaking maturity in 18 games for the club over the past two seasons.

Clifford is currently sidelined with a quadriceps injury but Cowboys coach Todd Payten is backing him to join forces with Tom Dearden or play a support role in the halves if Jaxon Purdue is moved to five-eighth.

Jake Clifford has inked a one-year extension with the Cowboys. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“Jake loves the club and loves the region and we love having him here,” Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck said.

“He came back from England on the understanding he would be here competing for a spot and he has done well to impress the coaches in the pre-season.

“When he has been fit, he has been in the side more than he hasn’t, so it’s a testament to his attitude and persistence.

“Jake has one of the bigger boots in the NRL, he is a dangerous runner of the football and he is a strong defender.

“He is a proud north Queenslander with a young family and indicated his preference was to stay at home.”

Duffy started the season in the No.7 jumper alongside Dearden, but was axed after just two games, opening the door for Clifford to take his chance in the halves.

The Tully Tigers product has amassed 85 NRL games since his Cowboys debut in 2018 and this 12-month extension gives Clifford the chance to chalk-up a century of NRL matches.

There are question marks over whether Clifford can run an NRL team on a long-term basis but Luck is adamant the former Australian Schoolboys playmaker can be a regular match-winner for the Cowboys.

“He has shown over a long period of time that he has what it takes to be an NRL player,” Luck said.

“He has a great kicking game and good running game and he’s a good defender.

“His edge is always pretty solid when he’s defending in the three-man spot.

“Every player can always improve and for ‘Cliffo’ it’s around his consistency and game week to week.

“To cement that spot in the NRL team, that’s his challenge to be able to produce NRL-level performances every week.”

Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck said Duffy is a genuine NRL playmaker who could flourish at the Broncos.

“His attitude is first class,” Luck said.

“I can’t fault him. He is a great young man from a good family who tries his best every day.

“He definitely has potential to be a starting half in the NRL.

“Tom is very smart and understands the game. He works hard and has a good kicking game and gets his body in front defensively, so he ticks a lot of boxes for any future club.

“We have salary-cap pressures like any club and you can’t keep everyone.

“We wish Tom all the best for his future career.”

Originally published as Tom Duffy set to join Broncos after Jake Clifford agrees to new deal with Cowboys