The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have agreed to a two-year contract extension with five-eighth Jake Clifford, running through the end of the 2028 NRL season.
The Tully Tigers junior has appeared in 98 NRL games, including 73 in Cowboys colours across two separate stints.
After being named NYC Player of the Year in 2017, Clifford made his NRL debut in 2018, playing alongside Johnathan Thurston in the halves.
Clifford departed the club for the Knights in 2021 where he would spend two seasons, before moving to the UK Super League with Hull FC in 2023.
He returned home to North Queensland in 2024 and played halfback in the Cowboys’ Elimination Final victory over the Knights.
Clifford has appeared in all nine games for the Cowboys in 2026, scoring four tries and assisting on a further seven.
“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,” Cowboys Football Club CEO Micheal Luck said.
“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. Jake has regularly been among our best players and has been an integral part of our strong start to 2026.
“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.
“Jake’s professionalism has never been in doubt. He is one of the first players through the door every morning and spends as much time speaking to the coaches about how he can improve as any player in our squad.”
Clifford said he was delighted to extend his stay at ‘home’.
“This decision was a no-brainer for my family and I. This is our home here and I’m really excited with what this playing group has been building this year,” he said.
“The Cowboys mean everything to me. I’ve been supporting this club since I was a little boy in Tully. To be able to put the Cowboys jersey on for at least the next two years and represent the region and my family is something I look forward to every single week.”
