Huge twist in Harris-Tavita Cowboys talk as NRL half re-signs

Off-contract Cowboys playmaker Jake Clifford has signed a two-year extension and will remain in North Queensland until at least the end of 2028.

The Cowboys made the announcement on Thursday morning, in doing so throwing immediate doubt on the future of New Zealand Warriors star Chanel Harris-Tavita who has been linked with a big money move to Townsville in 2027 to play alongside Tom Dearden.

After experiencing a difficult 2025 season, it was thought Clifford may be on this way out of Townsville at the end of his current contract, but as Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck explained that is no longer the case.

“Jake was challenged in the pre-season to win his spot, he did that and has gone on to play some of the best football of his career,” Luck said.

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“We have always known Jake’s best form is elite, his challenge has been doing it consistently and to his credit, he has done that this season,” Luck added.

“The partnership between Jake and Tom Dearden in the halves has blossomed over the past 12 months and we believe they complement each other well.”

A North Queensland junior from the Tully Tigers, 28-year-old Clifford has featured in 98 NRL games since making his NRL debut in 2018 when he played alongside Johnathan Thurston.

With Clifford locked away until 2028, attention now turns across the Tasman where the Warriors are struggling to keep their trio of playmakers happy thanks in large part to the career-best season currently being enjoyed by Tanah Boyd.

Harris-Tavita, 27, is off contract at the end of 2026 and was already understood to be considering a move next year in the quest for greater game-time, while there are reports in the Daily Telegraph that Luke Metcalf’s agent has also approached the Wahs for clarification on its halves plans moving forward.

‘That’s a private conversation’ says Webster

Asked about the possibility of losing Harris-Tavita to an NRL rival, Warriors coach Andrew Webster said it was something he hoped wouldn’t happen but talks were ongoing.

“That’s a private conversation we’d have with Chanel,” Webster told the media.

“We love him and we don’t want him to leave, but we’ll see how it continues to play out.”

staying home 🫶🏼 https://t.co/jEk4c4lcvr pic.twitter.com/F0hXz8Njou
— NQ Cowboys (@nthqldcowboys) May 7, 2026

Huge twist in Harris-Tavita Cowboys talk as NRL half re-signs

‘That’s a private conversation’ says Webster

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