Cowboys retain Luki on same day Finefeuiaki defects to rivals

North Queensland has signed Helium Luki up on a five-year extension hours after fellow back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki decided to leave the Cowboys to take up an offer from Queensland rivals the Dolphins.

The departing 20-year-old will join the Redcliffe-based outfit for at least the next three seasons, while Luki is now signed to the Cowboys through to 2029.

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Both Queensland clubs managed a victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons, who were chasing both young stars. Shane Flanagan had already pried Luciano Leilua away from the Townsville club recently and the new Red V head coach was eager to bolster his second-row stocks again with one of the Cowboys starlets.

North Queensland was forced to pick which star they wanted to keep and chose Luki.

“We are pleased and proud to be able to confirm the re-signing of Heilum to a long-term extension,” Cowboys general manager of Football Micheal Luck said after the re-signing was announced. “Heilum joins Tom Dearden as players who are committed to our club for the longest duration, which as two North Queensland products we are thrilled about.”

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Another young Cowboy product, Jamal Shibasaki, is the early frontrunner to claim Finefeuiaki’s spot in the North Queensland pack once the 20-year-old departs at the end of the season.