The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have agreed to a four-year contract extension with homegrown second-row sensation Jeremiah Nanai, running through the end of the 2027 season.
Nanai has emerged as one of the top edge forwards in the NRL despite not yet celebrating his 20th birthday. In just his second NRL season, Nanai represented both Queensland and Australia in 2022.
The 19-year-old came through the Cowboys’ Cairns Academy before joining the NRL squad straight out of high school ahead of the 2021 season.
Nanai made a try-scoring NRL debut in Round 21 of the 2021 season, foreshadowing a record-breaking start to his first grade career.
The Cairns Kangaroos junior has appeared in 27 games in his first two NRL seasons, scoring 18 tries, including 17 in 2022, the most in a single season by a forward in Cowboys club history.
Nanai appeared in all three games in Queensland’s State of Origin series victory and two Tests for Australia in their successful World Cup campaign.
“Signing Jeremiah to a long-term extension is fantastic news for our club,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
“Aside from securing one of the best young talents in the NRL, we now have the key pieces of our team across the park under contract for multiple seasons.
“Jeremiah is going to be integral to the success of this club moving forward. His progression under Todd and the coaching staff last season was remarkable. He can do things in games very few other players in our game have the ability to do. He is a point of difference for us with the ball and defensively he reads play exceptionally for someone of his age and experience level.
“Jeremiah has shown faith in our club by signing a long-term extension and we are excited to watch his continuing development over the coming years.”
