CLIFFORD WANTSTS OUT
CLIFFORD ON ROCKS AS COWBOYS MAKE COACH PLAY
NORTH Queensland has made a play for experienced assistant Steve Georgallis in a move that will finalise Todd Payten’s coaching staff.
Georgallis is expected to be the final piece to the puzzle of the Cowboys football department overhaul with Paul Bowman expected to return to his high performance role after the departure of Michael Dobbin.
But it is not expected to be exactly smooth sailing into pre-season for the Cowboys with gun young halfback Jake Clifford wanting out.
Representatives for the 22-yearold have approached the club for a release, but it is believed the club will put up a fight for their junior.
NORTH Queensland officials would not be drawn on the status of emerging halfback Jake Clifford despite reports the 21-year-old had asked for a release.
The Tully product has struggled to maintain a place in the first-grade squad, making 35 appearances since his NRL debut in 2018.
In the absence of Cowboys captain Michael Morgan, Clifford stepped up to partner Scott Drinkwater in the halves in 2020, playing 14 games.
He showed glimpses of the brilliance that had him dubbed a child prodigy running around the cane fields of Tully, saving his best game for a Sunday afternoon win over the Knights in Round 7.
But it is understood Clifford’s management have approached the Cowboys to release him from the final year of his contract despite signing a one-year extension last off-season to remain until the end of 2021.
It is understood there could be an spot for Clifford at the Knights.
Cowboys head of football Michael Luck would not be drawn on the talks but declared the young halfback was part of the ethos of the club.
“Jake Clifford was what this club was set up for in the first place, so players from North Queensland could play top level rugby league in North Queensland,” Luck said.
The Cowboys farewelled five players from their extended NRL squad at the end of the 2020 season including premiership winners John Asiata and Gavin Cooper. Neither has confirmed their next move.