Drinkwater signs long term deals to stay at Cowboys
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By Fraser Barton in Townsville
Scott Drinkwater has shattered the hopes of swooping rival NRL clubs and will remain at North Queensland through to 2027 after inking a four-year extension.
The 25-year-old’s form at fullback this season is one of the main reasons behind the club playing finals football for the first time since 2017.
His mercurial running game has seen him register 10 tries and 14 try assists in just 19 games after starting the season as a reserve.
But his long-term extension shuts down any hopes he would test the market on November 1 and remains an integral member of the spine for Todd Payten’s team.
“Drinky is an extremely talented footballer with a skill set not many players in the competition possess,” North Queensland general manager of football Micheal Luck said.
“He has been fantastic for us this year and today’s announcement is a show of faith that we believe he will be an integral member of our spine for a long time.
“We were thrilled with how he responded to Todd and our coaching staff’s challenges to him over the off season and he has now become one of the better ball players in the competition whether he is playing fullback or five-eighth.
“We have tried to build our squad around good people and Drinky is just that. His energy and enthusiasm lift any room he walks into and we’re excited he will be playing out the majority of his career in a Cowboys jersey.”
Drinkwater has appeared in 69 games across four seasons since arriving at the Cowboys midway through 2019.
AAP
