For a while, Thomas Mikaele thought he’d be returning to Warrington Wolves in 2024, donning their primrose and blue kit. It seemed all set up for his return to The Halliwell Jones Stadium next year before the plan fell through, leading him to sign with the NRL team, North Queensland Cowboys.
Mikaele, who initially joined Warrington from Wests Tigers in the middle of the 2022 season, started impressively, scoring three tries in his first seven games. However, due to family reasons, he abruptly left to return to Australia and joined the Gold Coast Titans.
Later in the same year, Mikaele made a brief return to Warrington on a short-term deal, playing seven more games before going back to Australia. Recently, at a Cowboys press conference, he revealed that he had anticipated going back to Warrington.
“It was a strange situation as I was waiting around,” he explained. “I thought I was heading back to the Super League and to Warrington, but it didn’t materialize. We were considering it every other week, but the opportunity arose here.”
Preferring to stay in Queensland, his home state, Mikaele and his family were content to move to North Queensland despite the unexpected turn of events.
Reflecting on his time in England, he said, “I learned a lot from my experience there. I gained significant playing time at a young age, but despite that, I started losing my passion for the game. My goal in going there was to rediscover the joy and love for rugby league.”
Having signed a development contract with the Cowboys, Mikaele aims to secure a spot in head coach Todd Payten’s first-team squad in 2024. “I’ve gathered considerable experience, and my goal is to break into the top 30 as soon as I can,” he stated.
Adapting to the new environment, Mikaele acknowledged the team’s support, saying, “This year is all about learning and adjusting. The guys here have been incredibly welcoming, making the transition smoother.”
