The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have agreed to two-year contract extensions with starting centre pairing Zac Laybutt and Viliami Vailea, running through the 2027 season.
A product of Bundaberg and brother of Cowboy No.265 Kyle, Laybutt joined the Cowboys Young Guns program in 2021 before graduating to the NRL squad in 2023.
Laybutt made his NRL debut in Round 13 of the 2023 season and secured a spot in the Cowboys’ Round 1 side the following season, scoring three tries in four games before an ACL injury in Round 5 cruelly ended his campaign.
The 23-year-old returned to the NRL in Round 11 of this season and has again been named at left centre for Friday’s clash with the Melbourne Storm.
Vailea joined the Cowboys from the Warriors prior to the 2024 season and has quickly emerged as the club’s first choice right centre.
Still just 22-years-old, Vailea is in his fifth NRL season and has appeared in 28 Cowboys games over the course of a season and a half.
“We are glad to have locked up two young key components of our backline in a period where there is significant competition for talent in the NRL. We look forward to Zac and Viliami continuing their development in Cowboys jerseys,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said
“We got a taste of what Zac was capable of last year before he was injured. He is a classy ball player who could also potentially play in the halves if needed and we believe he will have a long and successful future at our club.
“Viliami has made the right centre spot his own over the past 18 months. He has a great carry out of his own end, reads defence well and has improved his ability to put his winger away.”
