Mackay’s home spun rugby league sensation Jaxon Purdue gave a glimpse to the
future with an eye-catching debut for North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL
Pre-Season Challenge last weekend.
Lining up at fullback against the Brisbane Broncos at BB Print Stadium, the
ground where he cut his teeth in the Mackay Junior League, the versatile
rookie showed his class in a 46-20 trial loss.
The St Patrick’s College graduate had the local crowd in raptures after
swooping on a loose ball and scooting 90 metres to score a spectacular solo
try in the dying moments.
Purdue, an emerging half who represented Queensland Schoolboys and the
Junior Maroons last season, is one of a batch of Mackay juniors contracted
to the Cowboys club.
Head coach Todd Payten had no hesitation in blooding the talented colt in
the Cowboys opening trial and tips a bright future for the Mackay Norths
Devils product.
Caption: Jaxon Purdue scored a 90-metre try for the Cowboys on debut. Photo credit: Ben Van Moolenbroek, Mackay Cutters
The Broncos showed they will again be a force to be reckoned with in the NRL
premiership after finishing strongly with a flurry of second half tries.
Led by their general, Adam Reynolds, the super-slick Brisbane outfit
entertained supporters with superstar fullback Reece Walsh, dashing centre
Selwyn Cobbo and the promising Tristan Sailor turning in dynamic
performances to help their side secure two bonus points.
Mackay Cutters captain Sean Mullany impressed at hooker for the Cowboys with
his darting runs from dummy half and racking up 41 tackles.
In the earlier games the Mackay Cutters women’s team registered a hard fought
10-6 victory over the Central Queensland Capras in a BMD Premiership trial.
The Cutters led 4-0 at the half time interval and defended stoutly in a
solid hit-out.
In a further boost the Cutters re-signed Maroons Under 19s Origin centre
Libby Surha and former West Brisbane Panthers and Valkyries Queensland
winger Montanah Best in the lead up to the match.
Michael Comerford¹s new look Cutters toppled the Capras 32-12 in the
Hostplus Cup trial in a positive start to their 2024 campaign.
The Mackay team led 20-0 at the break and unveiled some exciting new
combinations in an encouraging performance.
Photo credit: Ben Van Moolenbroek, Mackay Cutters
