North Queensland Cowboys all-time leading tryscorer Kyle Feldt to depart club at end of NRL season
North Queensland’s all-time leading tryscorer Kyle Feldt will depart the club at the end of the NRL season.
Born and raised in Townsville, Feldt’s departure draws a close to a 14-year association with the club and comes despite coach Todd Payten recently talking up prospects of re-signing the 32-year-old for another year.
Feldt has scored a record 146 tries in 213 matches for the Cowboys, developing a reputation as one of the game’s most clinical finishers.
The winger overtook club legend Matthew Bowen as North Queensland’s top tryscorer against Gold Coast in Round 5.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, but I feel the time is right,” Feldt said.
“I have been very fortunate to live out my childhood dream to play NRL for my hometown team for 11 years.
“The club has given me the opportunity to stay home where many other professional athletes have had to move away from their family.
“I’ve made some amazing memories and lifelong friends.”
Feldt will long be remembered in Cowboys folklore for scoring arguably the most important try in the club’s history.
Trailing to Queensland rivals Brisbane in the dying seconds of the 2015 grand final, Feldt scored in the corner to send the clash into golden point and set up the club’s first ever premiership win.
With Feldt and fellow veteran Jake Granville both departing at the end of the campaign, Jason Taumalolo will be the last remaining member of that grand final-winning squad at the Cowboys.
Feldt and Granville will complete a lap of honour in their final regular-season home game against Melbourne on Thursday.
“This club was formed so North Queenslanders could stay at home to play rugby league at the highest level and Kyle Feldt encapsulates that vision,” said general manager Micheal Luck.
Feldt was rewarded for his consistent form with selection for the Queensland State of Origin side in 2021, playing two matches as the Maroons lost the series 2-1.
The Cowboys sit in sixth place on the NRL ladder and have already secured their finals berth with two rounds of the home-and-away season remaining.