Townsend to depart Cowboys at end of 2024
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend will depart the club at the end of the 2024 season to take up an opportunity with another NRL club.
Townsend has appeared in 65 games in his three seasons in North Queensland, leading the club to a Preliminary Final in his maiden campaign in 2022.
“In 2021 we identified we needed an experienced half who could come in and lead what was then a young and relatively inexperienced roster,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
“Chad’s contribution to our club has been immense over his three seasons in North Queensland. He has provided a stabilising presence on the field as well as being an invaluable mentor for our players.
“We wish him, Marissa and their family the very best for their return home to NSW.”
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Cowboys confirm the departure of five players
But one veteran was not on the list.
The North Queensland Cowboys have confirmed the departure of five players during the club’s end-of-season awards.
Tom Gilbert, Connelly Lemuelu, Kane Bradley, Emry Pere and Morgan McWhirter won’t be with the club in 2023 with General Manager of Football Michael Luck wishing the players all the best in their future endeavours.
Gilbert and Lemuelu had already been confirmed as leaving the club, with the pair signing with the new expansion club the Dolphins.
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The future of Bradley, Pere and McWhirter in the NRL is unclear though. Pere is the only one to have made his NRL debut and played two games for the club off the bench in 2020.
All three players are quite young and still have plenty of time to break through as consitent first-grade players if given a chance.