Ahead of Sunday's first Pre-Season Challenge against The Dolphins in Cairns, we take a closer look at some of the young North Queensland Toyota Cowboys named in Todd Payten's 21-man squad.
Rob Derby
A hulking outside back from Cairns, Derby spent the 2022 season in the Queensland Cup with his hometown team the Northern Pride. His brilliant debut senior season culminated in a PNG Kumuls debut in the mid-year Test against Fiji.
Tom Duffy
A 19-year-old former Australian Schoolboys halfback, Duffy is in his first season with the Cowboys NRL squad after coming through the Young Guns program. Born and bred in Townsville, Duffy attended renowned rugby league nursery Ignatius Park College.
Kyle Schneider
A former Parramatta Eels lower grades player, Schneider is contracted to the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup. A crafty dummy-half, Schneider was a member of the 2017 Australian Schoolboys side alongside David Fifita and Zac Lomax.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
A 19-year-old Kiwi born second-rower, Finefeuiaki has turned heads in his first pre-season with the NRL squad. Aggressive in defence and a powerful ball-runner, Finefeuiaki impressed as an 18-year-old in the Queensland Cup last season.
Mia Pua’avase
Another teenager who received Queensland Cup experience in 2022, Pua’avase is a towering middle forward. The 19-year-old is a graduate of the Cowboys Young Guns program, which he joined after moving to Australia in 2019.
Sylvester Namo
Namo has joined the Cowboys on a training contract for 2023. The 22-year-old prop has spent the previous two seasons in the Queensland Cup with the PNG Hunters and also appeared for the Kumuls in the recent World Cup.
Emarly Bitungane
A member of the Cowboys Young Guns program, Bitungane has been called up for the trial against The Dolphins. An athletic middle forward, Bitungane trained with the NRL side in the pre-Christmas block.
Julian Christian
Contracted to the Cairns-based Northern Pride, Christian was one of the top fullbacks in the Queensland Cup in 2022. A former Kirwan State High School student, Christian impressed in a pre-Christmas training block with the Cowboys.
Zac Laybutt
The brother of former Cowboys half Kyle, Laybutt is a skilful centre who made his Queensland Cup debut in 2022. A Bundaberg product, Laybutt has spent the pre-season training fulltime with the NRL squad.
Adam Cook
A Townsville product, Cook is currently contracted to the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup. A versatile half or fullback, Cook played one NRL game for the Raiders in 2020.
