Ex-Leopard chases spot on Derby day for Cowboys

Fresh from inking a three-year extension, North Queensland winger Robert Derby returns to Cairns in pursuit of a round-one NRL spot when he lines up in a trial against the Dolphins.

Highly regarded new signing Kai O'Donnell, after three stellar years in the Super League with Leigh Leopards, will also start in the second-row on Friday night as he makes his case to be included in the round-one clash with Manly.

PNG international Derby, 22, is now on the books until the end of 2028 and will get the chance to contest for the wing spot vacated by club legend Kyle Feldt.

"Rob had a really good season at Northern Pride last year but was kept out of first-grade by Kyle Feldt and Murray Taulagi, who hardly missed a game between them," Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck said.

"He has got an opportunity with that open wing spot that Feldty left. It is probably a shootout between him and Braidon Burns and a couple of other guys to claim that for round one.

"He's had a great pre-season and we are confident he is ready to take the next step in his career.

"Rob's gifted athletically, he's good in the air, he can finish tries, he is excellent bringing the ball out of yardage and does his job well defensively."

Derby played one NRL game for the Cowboys in 2023 and made it count by running for a stunning 215m. He has impressed in seven Tests for the Kumuls where he has scored six tries.

He was born in Port Moresby and also lived in Vietnam before settling in Cairns where he played his junior football.

Friday night will be a homecoming for Derby and also a special occasion for O'Donnell.

"Kai is a North Queensland junior and we got him back after he played for Leigh the last three years," Luck told AAP.

"He's a good runner of the football and hard to tackle and does a really good job defensively. He is a guy we would expect to play plenty of first -grade this year."

O'Donnell, who played four NRL games for Canberra before joining Leigh Leopards, has a chance to force his way into the starting NRL side or on the bench.

Former Cowboys back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has joined the Dolphins while class starting second-rower Heilum Luki is out for the season with a ruptured ACL.