FOR Tamworth's Jerramaine Nean, 2019 has been a year of success after success.
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In this year alone, the 15-year-old has signed a contract with Pacific Sports Management (PSM), trialled for the NSW rugby league side, was selected in the Indigenous invitational squad and the under-15 Australian squad.
Now the Peel High School student can add one more honour to his growing resume.
Nean has been signed to a four-year contract by the North Queensland Cowboys, which will also allow the talented youngster to attend Nudgee Boys School.
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Affectionately known as Jerry, the talented centre said playing in the NRL would be "a dream come true".
"It's something I've always wanted to do since I was a little kid," Nean told the Leader.
"I just love playing footy and I'm really grateful to my mum, my dad, my stepdad and all my coaches for helping me get to this point."
Plying his craft at junior level for the North Tamworth Bears, Nean said the club had also been influential in shaping his ambitions.
"The club is like a big family, to be honest," he said.
"It is a big opportunity, but it will be a bit sad to leave, that's for sure."
North Tamworth Bears junior president Nick Hodgson said Nean was very deserving of the opportunity to be a part of the Cowboys' structure.
"He's a great kid and does things on the field that can leave you in awe," Hodgson said.
"He always seems to be thinking a step or two ahead of everyone else and can find gaps that just leave you wondering how he found them.
"Honestly, he is a very special player and the whole club wishes him well for the future."
Nean's mother Alicia Cook said her son would enjoy the "experience of a lifetime" while with the Cowboys.
"We are all just so proud of him," Cook said.
"He likes to keep all of his footy medals on the curtain rail in his room, but I'd say this achievement would be the biggest. He has worked really hard and it's just such a big thing for him."
Cook said her son would focus on finishing off the school year in Tamworth, before making the move to Queensland next year.
"In December he will head off to a training camp hosted by the Cowboys, which should be really good," she said.
"Then in January, he will move up to Nudgee and begin the new school year.
"It should be really great for him in terms of both his footy, and his education as well. Honestly, we are also really excited for him."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
