Molo’s gamble on joining Blackhawks gains reward
FORMER Townsville Blackhawks forward Francis Molo has been signed by the North Queensland Cowboys on a one- year deal.
Molo, who shifted to the Blackhawks this season before the mid- season transfer deadline, regularly trained with the Cowboys and impressed coaching staff enough to be handed another NRL oppor- tunity. Molo, a former Brisbane Broncos player, is the third Blackhawks player to earn an NRL contract in the past two years, with Corey Jensen signing last season and Carlin Anderson earning a contract earlier this year.
“He took a chance before the June 30 deadline to come up to us and part of the deal was the Cowboys would give him some training,” Blackhawks operations manager Adrian Thom- son said. “He’s done the right thing and put in the effort, so it’s worked out well.”
Thomson said Molo’s move to Townsville had helped take his career in a new direction.
In 2015, Molo was involved in a tackle that led to the death of Sunshine Coast player James Ackerman, leading to an inquest earlier this year.
He then moved to Townsville and made his Queensland Cup debut against the North- ern Pride in Round 19, going on to play in all of the Blackhawks’ remaining games.
“The main focus for Frank was getting away from Brisbane and starting fresh,” Thomson said.
“He left his newborn and partner at home and he missed them badly and it took him a while to acclimatise up here.
“But he put in the work and it’s a great story. He’s come through a lot of problems and hopefully he’s come out other side.”
Molo joins Jordan McLean ( Storm) and Anderson ( Blackhawks) as the latest inclusions in the first- grade squad, which will also feature under- 20s products Jake Clifford, Emry Pere, Enari Tuala and Mitch Dunn. Molo will have to try to force his way into a Cowboys’ team that reached the NRL grand final despite a heavy injury toll. the