LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Scott Drinkwater, the North Queensland Cowboys' talented fullback, has addressed the ongoing rumors about his potential departure from the club. Despite his consistent performance for the Cowboys in recent seasons, speculation surfaced last month regarding his future, even though he is under contract until the end of the 2027 NRL season.
The Cowboys are currently focused on returning to the NRL Finals and on retaining Jaxon Purdue, who may transition into the No.1 jersey if he re-signs. Additionally, the club has secured former Sydney Roosters utility Ethan King and Australian Schoolboys representative Mason Barber for upcoming seasons.
In his first comments since the exit rumors began, Drinkwater dismissed the speculation, saying he plans to remain with the Cowboys through the 2026 season and hopes to continue beyond that. He has been a key player since joining the team in 2019 after a brief tenure with the Melbourne Storm, participating in 143 matches so far.
At just 28 years old and showing no signs of decline, Drinkwater has had an impressive season, scoring 184 points, achieving 16 line-breaks, running 3,550 meters, and making 87 tackle busts, along with providing 24 assists for tries.