The North Queensland Cowboys have announced the re-signing of Jake Clifford, who has inked a one-year deal to continue his career in Townsville.
This new deal is a reward for Clifford’s perseverance and form, with the Cowboys praising his development and resilience since first debuting for the club seven years ago.
“It is a tribute to Jake’s attitude and persistence that he has been able to come back to the club, compete for a spot, and now, when fit, he is in our best 17,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Michael Luck said.
“Jake has one of the biggest boots in the NRL, he is a dangerous runner of the football and he is a strong defender. Jake is a proud North Queenslander with a young family and indicated his preference was to stay at home. We look forward to his contributions for the rest of this season and beyond.”
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With youngster Tom Duffy initially selected to partner representative star Tom Dearden at the start of the season, many believed that was the long-term halves pairing for the Cowboys.
However, after an indifferent start to the year, coach Todd Payten turned to the returning Jake Clifford, who has since cemented himself as the preferred halves partner alongside Dearden moving forward.
Clifford, a Tully Tigers junior, debuted for the Cowboys in 2018 before leaving to join Newcastle in search of greater opportunity and a chance to establish himself as a top-tier NRL playmaker.
His stint at the Knights didn’t go as planned, leading to a move to the English Super League with Hull FC. Strong performances overseas earned him a return to the NRL and a second shot in North Queensland.
Clifford has featured in 10 games for the Cowboys so far in 2025 and, after recovering from injury, is tipped to return to the starting side this week.
In his absence, Payten experimented with combinations involving Jake Purdue and Duffy, but the club struggled through a three-game losing streak before snapping it with a win over the Dragons last round.
Reports have stated that Tom Duffy has agreed to a contract with the Brisbane Broncos, making the young playmaker a casualty of the Cowboys’ decision to reward Clifford. Duffy is said to be chasing a long-term starting role that has so far eluded him in Townsville.
The Cowboys will be hoping Clifford continues to build his combination with Dearden as they fight to keep their finals hopes alive.
Currently sitting 11th on the ladder, North Queensland faces an uphill battle to secure a playoff berth.