Former Cowboy considers contract

BLACKHAWKS coach Aaron Payne has left the door wide open for former Cowboys forward Scott Bolton to make his return to the Queensland Cup.

The club has made no secret of their hunt for the NRL veteran who left the Cowboys at the end of last season after 13 years in the top grade.

Bolton (below) has yet to make a decision on his playing future, but made it clear his final season for the Cowboys was not going to be his last in the sport.

A Cowboys life member, the Innisfailborn prop sits fourth on the club’s all-time appearances list with 246 games and was a key cog in their maiden premiership in 2015.

Payne said the Blackhawks had made an approach to Bolton.

“Scott Bolton knows there is a contract for him when he has finished pig hunting and fishing in his off-season,” Payne said.

“A lot will depend on his work situation as to whether he goes around for another year. We aren’t concerned about him being late for preseason. That is one thing about Bolts, he has always kept himself in good physical shape.”

The Blackhawks remain in the hunt to fill several spots left open in their roster for the 2020 season. Payne said the club had short-listed several players, but was not ready to reveal their targets.

“We are still actively chasing a couple of guys, our squad is a lot smaller in terms of numbers than it has been in previous years,” he said.

As part of their connection with the Cowboys, the club will be given several allocations from the first grade squad that will be determined closer to the season.

Last season middle forwards Corey Jensen and Tom Gilbert both made an impact for the Townsville side, but it is unclear whether they will return in 2020.

But Payne said the club refused to rely on its NRL contingent.