LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Departed North Queensland Cowboys hooker Nicholas Lenaz has secured a new contract that will allow him to continue his rugby league career into the next season.
Lenaz was one of seven players farewell by the Cowboys following the conclusion of the 2025 NRL season, joining other notable names like Jamal Shibasaki and Marly Bitungane. He has officially signed with the Townsville Blackhawks in the QLD Cup for the upcoming year.
This past season, Lenaz participated in 16 games with the Northern Pride in reserve-grade, and he finally made his much-anticipated NRL debut in Round 23 against the Parramatta Eels.
In his debut match, Lenaz recorded 20 tackles and generated 20 running metres from dummy-half over 27 minutes of play.
RELATED: 2026 QLD Cup Player Movements and Squads
"I'm pretty stoked, it's been 17 years of my life for this moment, so I'm over the moon," he expressed to foxsports.com.au after his debut.
"They told me they have nothing for me next year and I'm free to leave, but I've just fallen in love with Townsville so I thought 'nup, I'm not going anywhere.'