CLIFFORD’S SECURE
Former Tully Tigers junior’s future locked in at the Cowboys
JAKE Clifford has secured his Cowboys future after agreeing to a one-year contract extension.
The NRL club announced the deal yesterday, which will keep the Tully product at Townsville until the end of the 2021 season.
Clifford has played 21 NRL games since the end of 2018, but his biggest supporter would love to see him be a Cowboy for life.
JAKE Clifford is only 21 games into his NRL career but his biggest supporter wants to see him eventually become a oneclub man.
Clifford yesterday signed a one-year contract extension which will keep him at the Cowboys until the end of the 2021 season.
The former Tully junior is a graduate of the Northern Pride’s development system and the Cowboys Academy program and made his NRL debut at the end of 2018.
His father, Matt, himself a legendary Tully rugby league player and coach, told the Cairns Post he would love to see Clifford remain a Cowboys player for life.
“We’d love for him to be a one-club player at the Cowboys,” Matt said. “They’ve shown a lot of faith … they’ve always looked after him.
“It’s great for him to have this sorted before Christmas. It means he can go out there next season and he won’t have all of that extra pressure on him.”
Matt moved to Townsville when Clifford first signed for the club at the end of 2015 to support the young charge as he progressed through the ranks.
They watched as Clifford earned Player of the Year honours in the last National Youth Competition season in 2017, and supported him through his Intrust Super Cup Rookie of the Year-winning season for the Pride last year.
The Clifford family will continue to support the 21year-old as he tries to make the Cowboys’ No.7 jersey his own.
“He’s got big shoes to fill but it’s little steps,” Matt said.
“We (moved to Townsville) because of the pressure. Not so much playing but when you’re injured or find yourself out of the team, but he’s come through it and I think he’s ready to have a good year. “We’re very proud of him.” Cowboys director of football Peter Parr said the club had no doubt Clifford would grow into a top-level halfback.
“We wanted to ensure we gave Jake some time to keep developing his game,” Parr said in a club statement.
“It’s often difficult for young halves coming into first grade given the pressure on the position they play and we think this extension will allow everyone to be patient while Jake continues to develop his game.
“We have no doubt he will develop into a really top-level NRL halfback and have a long career at the Cowboys.”