The Townsville Blackhawks have signed five young guns from this year’s North Queensland Cowboys NYC side to join their 2016 squad.
Lock Andrew Niemoeller comes to the Blackhawks following a stellar season in which he was named NYC Player of the Year.
The Queensland Under 18 and Under 20 Representative played his junior rugby league for the Norths Devils before signing with the Cowboys as a scholarship player and eventually going on to captain the NYC side in 2015.
David Munro was born in the Cook Island, but hails from Darwin in the Northern Territory and represented his home state the Northern Territory as an Under 12, Under 15 and Under 16 before moving to Townsville and attending Kirwan High School.
Herbert River Crusher’s junior Kieran Quabba grew up in Ingham and moved to Townsville during his senior years whilst attending Ignatius Park.
Quabba played for the Under 18 Queensland side alongside Niemoeller in 2013 and like his team-mate captained the Cowboys NYC side in 2014.
Temone Power was born and bred in Bowen and played his junior football for the Bowen Seagulls while Bundaberg product Kyle Laybutt moved to Townsville at the beginning of 2015 season and he will remain with the Cowboys training squad for the 2016 preseason.
Gains:
Glenn Hall (NQ Cowboys), Hezron Murgha (Northern Pride / Cowboys NRL), Kyle Laybutt (NQ Cowboys NYC), Andrew Niemoeller (NQ Cowboys NYC), Temone Power (NQ Cowboys NYC), David Munro (NQ Cowboys), Kieran Quabba (NQ Cowboys NYC), Lona Kaifoto (Burdekin), Sam Foster (Tweed Heads Seagulls)
Losses:
Jack Kelleher (local league), Mitchell Seri (local league), Tyler Smith (local league), Dennis Tamarchio (local league), Tom Humble (year off), Ricky Thorby (retired), Chris McLean (retired)
Where they finished in 2015: Minor Premiers and Grand Finalists (lost to Ipswich Jets)
2016 coach: Kristian Woolf
Other clubs:
CQ Capras
Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Norths Devils
Redcliffe Dolphins
Northern Pride
Souths Logan Magpies
