The memories driving Purdue's bid to snap Broncos hoodoo
- Author
- Timestamp
Fresh from signing a mega deal through to the end of 2030, young gun Jaxon Purdue has turned his focus to securing a breakthrough victory over the Broncos.
The Mackay product grew up supporting North Queensland, with his parents regularly driving the family the four hours to Townsville to watch the team play.
Purdue eventually achieved his lifelong dream in 2024 and his decision to commit to long-term to the Cowboys gives him the chance to build a legacy in Townsville.
Jaxon Purdue is a fullback's nightmare
The 20-year-old had been at the centre of plenty of speculation over his future but put that all to bed on Wednesday when the club announced his four-year extension.
“I love the Cowboys and I grew up here. I let my manager do the talking [on the contract] and I'll focus on playing good footy," he said.
“These were my first negotiations as a first-grader and in the pre-season there was a bit of media and noise about it all. I’m just focused on my game and letting my game do the talking."
Match: Broncos v Cowboys
Round 6 -
home Team
Broncos
8th Position
away Team
Cowboys
7th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Cowboys officials were always confident Purdue would re-sign with the club and CEO Micheal Luck summed up the feeli
“This club was built to ensure North Queensland kids like Jaxon Purdue could stay at home while fulfilling their dreams to play in the NRL," Luck said on Wednesday.
"As a club we have repeated that sentiment often over the course of our history, but it is especially important today with Jaxon agreeing to a long-term contract extension."
The prodigious talent is preparing for his fourth clash against the Broncos, having lost all three throughout the first two seasons in his career.
Match Highlights: Cowboys v Broncos
The defeats form part of a larger losing streak for North Queensland against their fierce rivals, having lost six on the trot. The Cowboys last victory over Brisbane was a 40-26 win in Round 16, 2022.
A North Queensland fan growing up, Purdue always knew what this game means to the club but it took on even greater meaning once he ran out for his first derby.
“I used to play on a Saturday morning in Mackay and then we’d get in the car and drive four hours up to Townsville to watch the Cowboys play,” Purdue said. “I’d sit on the hill at the old stadium trying to catch JT’s conversions.
“This is obviously a big game for us. I’m new to the derbies and last year I learned a lot about playing the Broncos and what it means to the fans and how passionate their fans get.
“Unfortunately I didn’t get to beat the Broncos last year so winning that game would be an unreal feeling. They’ve got a lot of strengths around the park but we’ll try to keep playing good footy and be confident going out there.”
A playmaker growing up, Purdue has bounced between multiple positions since his introduction to first grade.
The youngster started in the centres before spending time in the halves last season. After much speculation throughout the pre-season, coach Todd Payten eventually opted to play Jake Clifford at five-eighth and Tom Dearden at halfback to start the year.
Kid can play
The pair have overcome some early teething problems to develop into a lethal halves partnership, leading the side to three-straight victories leading into Friday’s clash with Brisbane.
Purdue, for his part, has starred in his return to the centres. The youngster has scored four tries, with four try assists and six line breaks in five games.
While the positional shift has provided some challenges, Purdue has embraced the new role out wide.
“It’s been fun playing in the centres,” Purdue said. “I’m enjoying playing free footy and running the ball. Me, Cliffo and [Murray Taulagi] are linking up well together so I’m loving every bit of it.
“It was hard at the start, the hardest part was the yardage carries and the tough carries coming out of your own end. I’m just running the ball and that’s the biggest strength of my game so I want to keep doing that.”
