The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys actively encourage player development on and off the footy field.

While it is the responsibility of the coaching staff to ensure development of skills and character on the field, we look to our player development team for building life and personal skills off the field.

We know from experience that a balanced player off the field goes a long way towards a better performance on the field. Our players are not only professional athletes – they are part of the Cowboys family, and although they arrive in good shape already, we like to think they leave as even better people.

The Cowboys assist our NRL players with planning for life after football – this ranges from organising courses, to researching opportunities and qualifications relevant to a player's chosen field, to applying for NRL funding for training and professional development.

All National Youth Competition (NYC) players are required by the Cowboys to be in work or study to be eligible to play in the Toyota Cup.

This policy introduces our young men into the workforce and creates life skills outside of rugby league, and with the help of sponsors and supporters, the club has found positions for almost all of this year's NYC players.

All players who choose to undertake tertiary study (TAFE or university) are entitled to an NRL subsidy, which greatly assists players with obtaining qualifications and job readiness when their time for transition from rugby league arrives.

All new National Youth Competition (NYC) players attend an NRL induction course at Griffith University each December, in the lead up to the following year's competition.

The two-day course covers many facets of off-field player behaviour including money management, drug and alcohol awareness, media, cultural awareness and gambling awareness. Some of the presenters are ex-NRL players who speak from experience, which certainly helps with conveying the messages.

The Cowboys home-stay program provides NYC players living away from home with a regular home life and a support base with their home-stay families.

A home-stay family receives a living-away-from-home allowance from the player to offset living costs, with guidelines set out for both parties to ensure a harmonious living arrangement.

Kevin Marty, Player Development Manager
Tel: 4773 0764 or 0400 269 269
Email: martyk@cowboys.com.au