The North Queensland Cowboys Under-20s team have had a boost heading into their Round 11 clash with the Sharks with news that classy centre Enari Tuala will join the club’s full-time NRL squad next year.
Cairns product Tuala, 18, follows current Cowboys National Youth Competition teammate Jake Clifford into the club’s main squad from next season, the teenager agreeing to a two-year deal.
“It’s always pleasing to see your players perform well enough to earn an NRL contract, and with Jake and Enari, Greeny [Cowboys head coach Paul Green] is getting two very talented young men with bright futures,” Cowboys NYC coach Aaron Payne said.
“With these blokes signing, it’s also a huge tick for our Elite Pathways program.
"In these two cases, we’ve brought two North Queensland products into our system, guided them, developed their talent and now they’ve earned NRL contracts.
“Both young men have a journey ahead of them and they’ll be looking to repay that faith shown in them by the club with continued strong performances for the remainder of the 2017 NYC season and beyond.”
