Young gun plans to keep his cool

NORTH Queensland is set to blood the future of their forward ranks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Exciting young firebrand Tom Gilbert will make his debut from the bench after starring in the Queensland Cup for Townsville Blackhawks last season.

Gilbert was crowned Queensland Cup rookie of the year after leading the Blackhawks to within one game of the grand final.

Off the field, the Brisbane Grammar alumni is a quiet contemplator, but when he crosses the stripe the switch is flicked. On the field he is an aggressive lock with a take no prisoners approach.

But during the coronavirus break he was determined to meld his Jekyll and Hyde personalities together.

“In my mindset at times I need to be careful, there’s a fine line between being a lunatic and playing smart and using it to your advantage,” Gilbert told the Townsville Bulletin earlier this year.

The young forward was one of the major talking points coming out of the Cowboys pre-season after showing a fearless approach during opposed sessions even against the most feared forward in the competition, Jason Taumalolo.

Ironically it is an injury to the Tongan powerhouse that has handed Gilbert his opportunity.

But according to Cowboys’ coach Paul Green it was the youngster’s professional approach to the training paddock that earned him it.

“The thing about Tom is each time he has gone a step up in his career he has always handled it really well.”