Cowboys add depth to dummy half ranks
NORTH Queensland’s roster makeover has continued with the recruitment of experienced hooker Kurt Baptiste for the 2019 season.
Baptiste has played 70 NRL games for the Broncos, Raiders, and Roosters and was primarily a back- up to Jake Friend for the premiershipwinning Roosters side this year.
The 27- year- old gives the Cowboys another genuine dummy half option after the club parted ways with promising hooker Josh Chudleigh following an injury- riddled few years in Townsville.
It could also free up bench utility Ben Hampton to take on a bigger role, with the Mareeba product one of the few bright sparks for the Cowboys last season in his stints at fullback and centre.
First- choice hooker Jake Granville has struggled to recapture the form that propelled the Cowboys to the 2015 title and director of football Peter Parr felt Baptiste would provide the perfect foil.
“We are delighted to secure the services of Kurt Baptiste as we believed we needed a genuine hooker to work in tandem with Jake Granville,” Parr said.
“Kurt’s form during his tenure at Canberra was excellent and I thought he was impressive this year for the Roosters in limited opportunities.”
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have also confirmed the signings of centres Tom Opacic and Dan Russell on two- year deals while Javid Bowen has agreed to one- year contract extension at the club.
Bowen, who grew up in Cooktown in far north Queensland, was an under- 20s star for the Cowboys and has played 29 NRL games since debuting in 2016.