sport
North Queensland Cowboys Winger Jake Thompson Grabs National Attention
The Railway Estate product turned in a standout display at Queensland Country Bank Stadium that has scouts circling ahead of the 2026 NRL campaign.
How we reported this
Jake Thompson scored twice and set up another in the North Queensland Cowboys' 34-18 pre-season win over the Broncos on Friday night at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The result matters now because the 22-year-old winger from Railway Estate is one of several local talents the club is counting on to fill gaps left by retirements and transfers before the August 1 squad cut.
Training roots in Townsville
Thompson still trains three mornings a week at the Cowboys' facility on Boundary Street and runs drills with the Townsville Sports Academy program on Flinders Street East after his shifts at a local engineering firm. Those sessions have sharpened the acceleration that produced his 11-second 100-metre time recorded at the club's January testing day.
Club records show Thompson has started 14 of the past 16 lower-grade matches and averaged 178 running metres per game, a figure that sits 22 metres above the Queensland Cup average for wingers this year.
Tickets and next steps
Season memberships for the remaining three home games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium start at $185 for adults and go on sale at the Cowboys shop on July 15. Fans who want to watch Thompson in the next trial against the Dolphins on July 19 can buy $28 general admission tickets online or at the gate from 5pm.
Coaches will name the round-one lineup after the final internal trial on July 26, giving Thompson a clear window to lock down a starting berth before the March 2027 premiership opener.