North Queensland Cowboys Unveil 2025 NRL Squad with Super League Trio
North Queensland Cowboys have confirmed their playing roster for the upcoming 2025 NRL season, which includes a trio of former Super League standouts – Kai O’Donnell, Thomas Mikaele, and Jake Clifford.
O’Donnell, a 25-year-old back-rower, has returned to the NRL after three impressive seasons with Leigh Leopards in the English Super League, where he scored an impressive 31 tries in 77 appearances for Adrian Lam’s side. The Cowboys have signed O’Donnell to a two-year deal, and he will be aiming to build on the four NRL games he played for Canberra Raiders in 2020.
Samoan prop Mikaele, who made 25 appearances for Warrington Wolves across two spells with the Super League club in 2022 and 2023, reunited with the Cowboys ahead of the 2024 campaign and featured in 12 games for Todd Payten’s side last year.
Meanwhile, half-back Clifford will enter his sixth season with the Cowboys in 2025, having enjoyed a solitary campaign in Super League with Hull FC in 2023, where he scored six tries and kicked 54 goals in 26 matches. Clifford returned to the NRL with the Cowboys ahead of the 2024 season, making eight appearances in the first-grade for Payten’s team.
In addition to the Super League trio, the Cowboys have also included new signing Karl Lawton, who has arrived from Manly Sea Eagles on a two-year deal, as well as Jaxon Purdue, Kaiden Lahrs, and Jamal Shibasaki, who have all been elevated to the top 30 squad.
The North Queensland Cowboys have filled 27 spots in their 30-man NRL squad for 2025, leaving three remaining spaces should they wish to dip into the transfer market further.
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