Cowboys rounding up two rising stars

NORTH Queensland have been buoyed by the re-signing of two of the region’s brightest young prospects.

Mackay products Mitch Dunn and Reuben Cotter have both put pen to paper with the Cowboys, signing one-year deals to take them through to the end of 2020.

Cowboys’ football director Peter Parr said he believed both were long-term prospects, and celebrated the club’s commitment to the region.

“They are both from the Mackay region and both have come through our pathways program,” he said.

“We are delighted they have agreed to stay for another year, and I am sure if they produce what they are capable of next year, both will be long-term players at the Cowboys.”

Cotter, 20, made his debut for the Cowboys earlier this season and has gone on to play five games coming off the bench in rotation with starting hooker Jake Granville.

It was a determined effort for the young dummy-half who had undergone three knee reconstructions before taking the field in top grade.

But the Cowboys stuck by the junior through his setbacks after seeing plenty of potential.

“He has had a lot of bad luck with his knee injury,” Parr said. “He is now getting back in the groove and he is playing how we always thought he was capable of.

“There is no doubt he is going to get better and better as time goes on. We are excited about him getting another full preseason under his belt and then putting his best foot forward next year. We see him as a longterm prospect, he is still a risk medically with what has happened with his knee.”

Dunn is currently on the sidelines undergoing rehabilitation on a shoulder injury he sustained earlier this season, but had shown plenty of potential in the opening 13 rounds.

But whether he will feature for the Cowboys come round one next season is still up in the air according to Parr.

“We have to be really careful with Mitch,” he said. “He has had multiple reconstructions on both shoulders so we have to be careful. The medical staff are confident with the latest surgery that he will come back bigger and better than ever.

“He is very professional and he is very diligent so I imagine he will be giving himself every chance to be available round one.”