Cowboys calling up next wave of talent

RISING star Hamiso TabuaiFidow headlines a crop of rising young guns that have been promoted to the North Queensland Cowboys’ NRL squad in 2020.

Tabuai-fidow, who was named in the Australian Schoolboys side earlier this season, has capped off a stellar 2019 with a call-up to the Cowboys’ development ranks.

The towering 17-year-old has speed to burn and an impressive athletic ability that has many at the club believing him to be a future first grade player.

The Cairns product has had a massive season on the league fields and scored 15 tries in just six Mal Meninga Cup games to start the season before graduating to the under-20s Hastings Deering Colts, where he crossed eight times in five games.

Tabuai-fidow is one of five rising stars to be promoted to the NRL squad next year alongside fellow Townsville Blackhawks Colts Ben Condon and Wiremu Greig.

Condon and Greig are two hard-hitting forwards who starred for the Blackhawks under-20s in their run to the Hastings Deering Colts semifinals.

Mackay Cutters youngster Garrett Smith has also earned the call-up after being part of the Cowboys’ junior system since he turned 15.

A workhorse middle forward, Smith was a member of the Queensland Under-18s side in 2018 and has already had a taste of Queensland Cup despite only being 19 years old.

The most exciting young prospect is New Zealand native Tukimihia Simpkins, who will bypass the Cowboys’ development squad and immediately join the top 30 roster.

Simpkins was signed by the Cowboys after being spotted at the 2016 New Zealand Under-15s Rugby League National Championships. A towering 17-year-old backrower, Simpkins was one of the top schoolboy rugby union prospects across the ditch.