Jaxon Purdue says his priority was always to stay at North Queensland after turning down the possibility of big deals elsewhere to ink a new four-year extension with the NRL club.
Purdue had loomed as one of the best prospects on the market for next year, with the young gun off contract at the end of this season and a key priority for the Cowboys.
Melbourne were believed to have some interest with space to fill in their backline, and the 20-year-old would also also have likely attracted attention elsewhere.
But Purdue has made clear his priority was to remain at North Queensland, before agreeing to a new deal through until the end of 2030.
The young prodigy grew up in Mackay supporting the Cowboys, and even wore Johnathan Thurston-style headgear as a young half coming through.
"I love the Cowboys, and I grew up here," Purdue said this week.
"Mum and Dad were massive Cowboys fans, so I used to play Saturday mornings in Mackay, and then get in the car and drive four hours up to watch the Cowboys.
"At 1300Smiles (Stadium), I'd sit on the hill, trying to catch JT's conversions.
"I'm keen to pick his brain a bit more, outside of training, and get to talk to him, or have a beer with him. It's a pinch yourself moment seeing him around the club."
A natural playmaker, Purdue has made no secret of his desire to one day play in the halves, while biding his time at left centre.
He will mark up against Gemahat Shibasaki in Friday night's blockbuster against Brisbane, in what has the potential to be a shootout between the pair.
The Cowboys have appeared a more dangerous side with him given the freedom just to play football in the backline, with Jake Clifford next to him at five-eighth.
"It was pretty hard (playing centre) at the start," Purdue said.
"The hardest part was probably the yardage carries and the tough carries coming out of your own end. You don't touch the ball as much.
"You've just got to adjust, and what's best for the team right now is me playing in the centres, so I'm happy to play there.
"But I'm just running the ball, and I feel free. So I think that's the biggest strength of my game, and I want to keep doing that. I'm really enjoying playing in the centres."
