Jaxon Purdue and Lily Peacock have been named 2024 Cowboys NRL and NRLW Rookies of the Year.
Purdue enjoyed a remarkable rise from schoolboy star to the NRL stage in 2024.
He burst onto the scene during a pre-season trial against the Broncos in his home town of Mackay, scoring a length of the field try late in the game.
Purdue would rise through the grades quickly, starting in Mal Meninga Cup for the Mackay Cutters before moving to the Queensland Cup and finally the NRL in Round 13 against the Roosters.
The 19-year-old finished the season with eight top-grade appearances, scoring two tries, including the match-winner against the Bulldogs in Round 20.
Peacock emerged as one of the best forward prospects in the NRLW in 2024.
Prior to the NRLW season, she starred in the BMD Premiership-winning campaign for the Cutters and appeared for Queensland in the under 19s Origin. She was also in the Maroons extended squad for Game 3 of the Women’s Origin series.
In eight appearances for the Cowboys, Peacock made 225 tackles at an astonishing 98.2 per cent efficiency and averaged 123 running metres.
