Eight Toyota Cowboys who have already made their NYC under-20s debuts are among the 16 players representing the club at this weekend’s Rookie Camp on the Gold Coast.
Joined by coach Todd Payten and assistant coach Steve Sheppard, the North Queenslanders will be introduced to the NRL’s values of excellence, inclusiveness, courage and teamwork via a series of seminars and workshops across three days.
The Cowboys who have headed south include first-year Cowboys Taha Tutavake, Kurt De Luis, Brandon Smith, Ross Bella and Trey Kemp, as well as Akeripa Tia Kilifi, Regan Grieve, Coen Hess, Viliame Kikau, Ty Carucci, Bill Cullen, Jordan Kenworthy and Yamba Bowie who played their first under-20s games last year.
Rounding out the NQ contingent are Sam Smith, Nick Brown and Jess Pomare-Anderson, who are starting their second year with the Cowboys.
The other clubs attending this weekend’s camp at Griffith University are Gold Coast, Melbourne, New Zealand and Brisbane.
The event begins on Friday night with sessions on social media, careers and cultural awareness.
Sessions on Saturday include media training, responsible use of alcohol and respectful relationships involving former NRL players Brett Kimmorley, Darren Smith and Matt Geyer plus Wests Tigers back rower Dene Halatau. There is also a session on concussion.
On Sunday there will be sessions on personal brand (Alan Tongue) and finance (Tony Caine) plus a presentation from Michael Crocker from the Rugby League Players’ Association.
