PNG International Nene McDonald joins the Cowboys

Papua New Guinea International, Nene Macdonald will join the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys on a three-year deal beginning in the 2019 season.

The 24-year-old arrives at the club on the back of a stellar season for the St George Illawarra Dragons, which saw him score 10 tries in 23 games.

After debuting for the Sydney Roosters in 2014, Macdonald has played 91 NRL games across six seasons for the Roosters, Gold Coast Titans and Dragons, scoring 31 tries.

A product of Cairns, Macdonald was originally contracted to the Dragons for the 2019 season, but the club agreed to release the winger to allow him to return closer to family.

Macdonald has also played Nine Tests for Papua New Guinea after making his international debut as a 19-year-old in 2013.

Cowboys head coach Paul Green said the club was excited to bring a prodigious North Queensland-bred talent home.

“He’s a North Queensland kid and we like North Queenslanders representing this region,” Green said.

“Nene is going to offer plenty of depth to our backline and had a fantastic year for the Dragons.

“I know him on a personal level after coaching him in the under 20s at the Roosters and am confident he will be a good cultural fit for our club as well.”

Cowboys Director of Football Peter Parr said recruiting outside backs for 2019 was a major focus for the club after the departure of a number of long-tenured players in those positions.

“He’s a very talented athlete and with the retirement of Antonio Winterstein we were keen to add to our outside backs and in particular the wing position,” Parr said.

“Nene fits the criteria we were looking for and he indicated to us that he had a desire to return home to North Queensland, so we made some inquiries with the Dragons and they have been very cooperative in helping us bring him back to North Queensland.”