Young gun shows he’s a future star for Cowboys
It’s the 79th minute of a preseason trial, 32 degrees on a scorching Mackay afternoon in front of over 5000 locals. The Brisbane Broncos had named a near full strength side against a team of North Queensland Cowboys’ young guns. Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo light up BB Print Stadium but it’s that play in the 79th minute from a young local kid, that should have Cowboys fans enthralled about the future. Enter, Jaxon Purdue.
A grubber lands in the 18 year old’s lap just 10m out from his own line. He props off his left foot to sidestep Tristan Sailor (his dad Wendell claims he would’ve made that tackle) and then burns the Broncos’ outside backs for pure speed and runs 90m to score the most electric try of the NRL pre-season. The smile from Todd Payten and company in the coaching box said it all, this kid has our attention.
Purdue is a proud product of St Patrick’s College in Mackay and after winning the Aaron Payne Cup grand final last year, he has been fast tracked to competing with the big boys after spending the pre-season with the North Queensland senior squad. Speaking to those in camp, this kid is fearless, relentless and it’s not a question of if he will play first grade, but when. The question is, where is his best position?
A fullback in high school, Purdue trained in that spot in the pre-season but with a pretty handy bloke by the name of Scott Drinkwater in front of him, you’d think that’s not where he will play in first grade. Currently plying his trade for the Mackay Cutters, Purdue has come off the bench as essentially a middle forward running rampant when there’s fatigue in the game but most recently he slotted in to the halfback position where his running game (73m, three tackle breaks and a line break) was certainly a feature.
Is that the way Payten and his staff
th“... is kid is fearless, relentless and it’s not a question of if he will play first grade, but when.
Elliott Lovejoy
are looking? Maybe not for 2025 but for seasons beyond as Purdue matures, grows into his body and becomes ready for first grade, is he a future half for a club that’s had a few blokes that go all right in the six and seven jerseys?
It would not come as a shock to me to see Purdue and Tom Dearden as the five-eighth and halfback of the future for the Cowboys.
A great local talent with a heck of an upside.