LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Two young Queensland stars from the North Queensland Cowboys and The Dolphins are set for a surprising position change ahead of the start of the upcoming 2026 NRL season.
Reports have surfaced two weeks before the new year that rising talent Jaxon Purdue may undergo a notable switch in positions, a change that could significantly influence his future with the Cowboys. During pre-season training, Purdue has been observed practicing in the halfback role, and coach Todd Payten has confirmed that he is dedicating "80 percent" of his time to the No.7 position as the team aims to secure a top-eight finish.
This transition follows a period where Purdue has been alternating between centre and five-eighth throughout his 32 appearances since debuting in Round 13 of the 2024 NRL season. "He is training at halfback at the moment, he is getting about 80 percent of his reps at halfback and the other 20 percent in the centres," coach Todd Payten stated via The Townsville Bulletin.
He added, "Whether (he) is in the centres or in the halves, I can't tell you right at the minute. They are fighting it out, everyone is competing for a spot. Some of the stuff he has been able to do here at training is really exciting."