Riethmuller extends contract at Cowboys

Back-rower Joel Riethmuller has today agreed to a two-year contract extension with the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys. 

The 28-year-old, who made his NRL debut in 2011, will remain with his home region club until at least the end of the 2015 NRL season.

Expected to be one of the key forwards in Italy’s World Cup squad for the end-of-year World Cup in the UK and France, Riethmuller has now played 17 NRL matches, including three in the 2013 season.

The former Tully Tiger started in the Cowboys’ forward pack for the first time in the round six Queensland derby against the Brisbane Broncos and backed up with his best performance in first grade a week later against Canberra at 1300SMILES Stadium.

“Joel is one of the hardest workers we have at this club and sets a standard, both in training and during matches, that his teammates are always keen to follow,” Cowboys General Manager – Football Peter Parr said.

“He’s one of those players who came into first grade relatively late in his career, playing almost 100 Queensland Cup games before he became an NRL player, and he’s continuing to develop his game into his late 20s.

“We expect he will remain a valuable squad member for us.”

Riethmuller’s two-year extension follows the re-signing of co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, as well as Test and Origin prop James Tamou, centres Brent Tate and Kane Linnett and halfback Michael Morgan.