Cowboys.com.au are providing an in-depth positional analysis of the 2022 North Queensland Toyota Cowboys squad. We continue the series with the outside backs, headlined by Valentine Holmes, Kyle Feldt and recruit Peta Hiku.
The players are ranked by their NRL experience with their career numbers of games in brackets next to their name.
>>> 2022 squad analysis: Fullback
>>> 2022 squad analysis: Halves
Kyle Feldt (154)
Feldt led the Cowboys in tries for the sixth consecutive season in 2021. The 29-year-old became the 17th player to appear in 150 games for the club in Round 20 last season and next year enters his landmark 10th season in Cowboys colours.
Peta Hiku (153)
One of the Cowboys high-profile recruits for 2022, Hiku has enjoyed a terrific career across nine NRL seasons with Manly, Penrith and the Warriors. Able to play any position in the backline, Hiku looks set to open the season in the centres.
Valentine Holmes (137)
He spent the majority of 2021 at fullback, but both Holmes and Todd Payten have indicated the 26-year-old will begin the season in the centres. Holmes made his first career appearance at the position in the Round 24 victory over the Dragons.
Ben Hampton (114)
Hampton played some of the best football of his career in the halves last season, but the Mareeba product has spent the majority of his Cowboys career in the outside backs. Equally at home in the centres, wing or fullback, Hampton will provide quality backs depth upon his return from a hamstring injury in the opening rounds.
Murray Taulagi (30)
Taulagi solidified his spot as an NRL regular in 2021, scoring 10 tries in 20 games, including a memorable primetime hat-trick against Newcastle in Round 11. The 22-year-old played the majority of the season on the left wing, but also has the ability to handle centre duties.
Connelly Lemuelu (20)
Lemuelu has split his pre-season between centre and second row, but has played the majority of his career to date as an outside back. A physical runner of the ball, Lemuelu is in his third season at the Cowboys.
Daejarn Asi (10)
Equally at home in either the centres or five-eighth, Asi is one of the Cowboys most versatile outside backs. The skillful 21-year-old has made four of his 10 career appearances at centre and will provide crucial depth at the position in 2022.
Kane Bradley (2)
Shot from the clouds to secure an NRL debut in 2021, Bradley left a lasting impression from his two appearances last season. The 21-year-old scored a try and had another disallowed on debut before playing 70 minutes with a broken hand against arch-rivals Brisbane the following week.
Laitia Moceidreke (1)
Despite never playing a game above under 20s level, Moceidreke claimed the unlikeliest of NRL debuts in 2021. A mid-season recruit from the Bulldogs, Moceidreke became Cowboy No.299 against the Eels in Round 23 and scored a fairytale try on debut.
Jordan Lipp (0)
One of the youngest members of the Cowboys 2022 squad, Lipp spent last season in the Cowboys Young Guns program and starred for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Hastings Deering Colts. A rangy centre, Lipp is on a Development Contract and will look solidify a spot in the Blackhawks Queensland Cup side early in the season.
