Cowboys.com.au are providing an in-depth positional analysis of the 2023 North Queensland Toyota Cowboys squad. We continue the series with the centre/wing positions including Test stars Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi and Peta Hiku as well as winger Kyle Feldt.
The players are ranked by their NRL experience with their career numbers of games in brackets next to their name.
>>> Cowboys 2023 NRL squad analysis - fullback
Peta Hiku (179)
Hiku produced a brilliant first season in North Queensland. The 30-year-old played all 26 games for the Cowboys in 2022 and finished the campaign with the fourth-most runs in the NRL. Hiku appeared in both the mid-year Test and World Cup for the Kiwis and again shapes as a key piece of Todd Payten’s back five again in 2023.
Kyle Feldt (174)
The second-highest try-scorer in Cowboys history, Feldt has a chance to surpass Matt Bowen’s club record of 129 tries in 2023. The 30-year-old has scored at least 11 tries in seven consecutive seasons, including 11 in 2022.
Valentine Holmes (161)
The reigning Dally M Centre of the Year enjoyed a remarkable 2022 campaign. In his first full season as a centre, Holmes was named the NRL’s best in the position alongside Joey Manu. He also led the competition in points scored and starred for both Queensland in the remarkable Origin series victory and Australia in their World Cup triumph.
Brendan Elliot (69)
Elliot arrived in North Queensland late in the 2022 pre-season and instantly impressed with his professionalism and work ethic. Elliot appeared in three games for the Cowboys last season and shapes as one of the top back-ups to both the centre and wing positions.
Murray Taulagi (55)
Taulagi has emerged as one of the NRL’s most exciting young outside backs over the previous two seasons. Taulagi led North Queensland with a remarkable 17 tries in 2022 and earned debuts for both state and country by the end of the season. The 23-year-old signed a three-year contract extension in September and will again form a lethal left-edge combination with Holmes in 2023.
Gehamat Shibasaki (27)
The Townsville junior returned home in 2022 after stints with Brisbane, Newcastle and in Japanese rugby. Shibasaki joined the Cowboys on a train and replacement contract for the back end of last season and earned a Top 30 contract for 2023.
Laitia Moceidreke (1)
After an unlikely NRL debut in 2021, Moceidreke spent 2022 honing his craft on the wing with the Mackay Cutters. Standing at a towering 197cm, Moceidreke is also blessed with elite speed.
Jordan Lipp (0)
Entering his second season in the Cowboys’ top squad, Lipp will be looking to solidify a full-time Queensland Cup position to start 2023. A rangy centre, Lipp has also spent time on the wing and in the halves in recent seasons.
Robert Derby (0)
A PNG International, Derby made his Queensland Cup debut for his home-town Northern Pride in 2022. A hard-running winger, Derby made his international debut for the Kumuls in the mid-year Test against Fiji.
Ragarive Wavik (0)
A 2021 Australian Schoolboy fullback, Wavik shifted to the centres for the Townsville Blackhawks under 21s last season. The 19-year-old enters his first season in the NRL squad in 2023.
