Latest news with #JakeClifford
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys set to part ways with playmaker as NRL rivals poach exciting young talent
North Queensland coach Todd Payten has confirmed the Cowboys are set to lose one of their playmakers and club juniors at the end of the season. It comes amid reports the Eels have poached a talented schoolboy out of the Broncos' system, who has been touted as one of the most exciting teenage forwards emerging out of Queensland. Payten's Cowboys host the Dragons in Townsville on Friday night hoping to arrest a worrying form slump that's seen them lose six of their last seven games to fall further out of NRL finals contention. The North Queensland coach has handed Tom Duffy a rare start at halfback after revealing that Jake Clifford is still not ready to return from injury, but says one of the local juniors is set to leave the club after this season. 'Ideally we would (like to keep both), but it's not going to happen,' he told . Payten did not specify which playmaker was poised to re-sign but revealed the deal was 'close' to being finalised. But he's generally preferred to start with Clifford in the halves when he's been available, and suggested that may have been the case for Friday night's game if he wasn't still troubled by a quad issue. 'Cliff' is probably another week away, I've spoken about that, (he was) touch-and-go for this week,' the Cowboys coach added. "But we need him to be able to do all parts of his game, which is kicking and running at top speed. Duff's coming back from injury. I think Jaxon (Purdue) in the centres allows us some more speed on the edges, and Duff's clear and calm when he talks and directs the team around, which is an advantage.' Payten has made it clear that he views Purdue as the Cowboys' long-term five-eighth to play alongside halfback Tom Dearden. But Clifford is arguably more suited to the utility role than Duffy and could find himself filling that slot for the Cowboys moving forward, while also providing a handy alternative option in the halves. Both players are North Queensland juniors and have been hoping for an extension beyond this season. Duffy was the 2024 Queensland Cup Halfback of the Year and started the NRL season in the halves for the Cowboys, with Clifford out injured. But Duffy failed to lock down the No.7 jersey and Clifford took his opportunity when he returned. The 27-year-old Clifford - who has been linked with a move to the English Super League - has four tries and five try assists in 10 games this season and it may be enough for him to earn a new deal. RELATED: Kevvie vows to act as three stars consider walking away from Kangaroos Madge spills family detail that has Walsh and Broncos primed for finals Panthers fans divided after Ivan Cleary forced to axe grand final hero Eels coach Jason Ryles signs gun QLD schoolboy forward Meantime, Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has reportedly signed another promising young star after raiding the Broncos for schoolboy sensation, Jackson Koina. The teenager was part of the Maroons side that won last week's national schoolboy championships and took out the award for Queensland's best player of the carnival, earning him a spot in the Australian side. The year 12 student - who is the son of former Eels player Nathan Koina - is part of the Broncos system. But reports that he's agreed to join the Eels on a three-year deal at the end of the season, in a move that will eventually see Koina transition into Parramatta's NRL squad. It's the latest move from Ryles to focus on youth at the Eels, having recruited Panthers junior Isaiah Iongi to replace former captain Clint Gutherson at fullback this season. Iongi has been a revelation in the No.1 jumper and is being tipped to have a bright future in the NRL. The Eels have also released fellow veterans Ryan Matterson and Bryce Cartwright as part of the club's overhaul, with Koina's signing another exciting addition to Parramatta's squad.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys told to worry about fixing errors, not Titans
Todd Payten has gone back to basics and told North Queensland players they must fix up their errors if they are to arrest their mid-season form slump. Sunday's clash with the last-placed Gold Coast looms as crucial in North Queensland's year, with the Cowboys in a freefall after entering the round in 12th. Payten's men have won just one of their last seven matches, letting in an average of 36 points per game and inviting pressure on themselves with errors in yardage. North Queensland have completed at above 75 per cent just twice in those seven games, while letting in 100 points alone in the past fortnight. Payten said he had made a point to not focus much on the Titans this week, instead putting it on his players to get their own house in order. "It seems like the more we talk about it the more it keeps happening," Payten said. "We burrow down on fundamentals, do some extra work at the start of training and individual stuff at the end of training. "It's about the individual, it's their responsibility when they have the ball and concentration. "This week it's been less information, just more around effort areas. And not a lot of vision. It's narrowing down on us rather than the opposition." Payten has recalled Jake Clifford to partner Tom Dearden in the halves for Sunday, moving Jaxon Purdue back to right centre. The Cowboys won only one of five since Purdue's move to the halves last month, but Payten suggested the switch back to centre was to fix issues out wide. Clifford is off contact at the end of this year, but won four of seven games and had one draw when partnered with Dearden in the halves earlier this year. "I want him to kick well and defend well," Payten said of Clifford. "It's a very similar message week to week with our halves and we know he can do both of those well."
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Crawls ‘shocked' at Clifford axe-ing
NRL: The AFL 360 panel discuss North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten's decision to drop Jake Clifford for Jaxon Purdue.
West Australian
13-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Cowboys axe halfback to take chance on gun teen
North Queensland have sensationally axed halfback Jake Clifford to give impressive young gun Jaxon Purdue his first chance in his position of choice. Mackay product Purdue will start at five-eighth against Manly on Saturday night in place of Clifford, who missed two shots at a game-winning field goal in the 30-30 draw with Penrith last weekend. Purdue, 19, has been a revelation in the centres for the Cowboys this season, but played in the halves as a junior. He could remain there for another week if co-captain Tom Dearden is selected for Queensland in the State of Origin series opener on May 28. Purdue's promotion means Dearden shifts to halfback and Zac Laybutt comes into the outside backs for his first game of the season. Clifford has been solid this year after impressing on return to the first-grade side late last season, but lines up as replacement player. Out-of-sorts Brisbane have made a halves change of their own, recalling Ezra Mam for his first game of the year in place of the injured Ben Hunt. Mam, who served a nine-game ban for drug-driving, made his return to the field through reserve grade last week and will partner Adam Reynolds against St George Illawarra. Elsewhere, incumbent NSW winger Zac Lomax will have one last chance to push his Origin case provided he can clear a final fitness test for Parramatta's trip to Newcastle. The clash would be the gun recruit's first alongside Eels halfback Mitch Moses, who missed the start of the season with his own foot issue. A knee injury to Greg Marzhew has left the Knights to name debutant Fletcher Hunt on the wing as they look to recover from a demoralising loss to Gold Coast. Kieran Foran is in line to play his first game of the season, with the Titans naming their veteran playmaker to return from a biceps injury against Canberra. Alex Johnston will resume his push for the all-time try-scoring record when he returns from a hamstring injury for South Sydney's clash with Wests Tigers. Tigers coach Benji Marshall resisted the urge to make mass changes after his side's humiliating 64-0 loss to Melbourne. But Fonua Pole's knee injury has forced a reshuffle that leaves Tallyn Da Silva in the reserves. Storm hooker Harry Grant is listed in the reserves, so may have one last chance to return from a hamstring injury and push his Origin case against Cronulla. James Fisher-Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have both been named to return for the Warriors in their clash against the Dolphins.
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Cowboys axe halfback to take chance on gun teen
North Queensland have sensationally axed halfback Jake Clifford to give impressive young gun Jaxon Purdue his first chance in his position of choice. Mackay product Purdue will start at five-eighth against Manly on Saturday night in place of Clifford, who missed two shots at a game-winning field goal in the 30-30 draw with Penrith last weekend. Purdue, 19, has been a revelation in the centres for the Cowboys this season, but played in the halves as a junior. He could remain there for another week if co-captain Tom Dearden is selected for Queensland in the State of Origin series opener on May 28. Purdue's promotion means Dearden shifts to halfback and Zac Laybutt comes into the outside backs for his first game of the season. Clifford has been solid this year after impressing on return to the first-grade side late last season, but lines up as replacement player. Out-of-sorts Brisbane have made a halves change of their own, recalling Ezra Mam for his first game of the year in place of the injured Ben Hunt. Mam, who served a nine-game ban for drug-driving, made his return to the field through reserve grade last week and will partner Adam Reynolds against St George Illawarra. Elsewhere, incumbent NSW winger Zac Lomax will have one last chance to push his Origin case provided he can clear a final fitness test for Parramatta's trip to Newcastle. The clash would be the gun recruit's first alongside Eels halfback Mitch Moses, who missed the start of the season with his own foot issue. A knee injury to Greg Marzhew has left the Knights to name debutant Fletcher Hunt on the wing as they look to recover from a demoralising loss to Gold Coast. Kieran Foran is in line to play his first game of the season, with the Titans naming their veteran playmaker to return from a biceps injury against Canberra. Alex Johnston will resume his push for the all-time try-scoring record when he returns from a hamstring injury for South Sydney's clash with Wests Tigers. Tigers coach Benji Marshall resisted the urge to make mass changes after his side's humiliating 64-0 loss to Melbourne. But Fonua Pole's knee injury has forced a reshuffle that leaves Tallyn Da Silva in the reserves. Storm hooker Harry Grant is listed in the reserves, so may have one last chance to return from a hamstring injury and push his Origin case against Cronulla. James Fisher-Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have both been named to return for the Warriors in their clash against the Dolphins.
