High-profile rugby league player Kyle Feldt has defected to Australian Rules football, set to debut for the Thuringowa club this weekend.
The 34-year-old, a former winger for the North Queensland Cowboys, concluded his rugby league career with the Cowboys at the end of the 2024 season. He then played a stint in the English Super League with St Helens before requesting an early release from the club.
Feldt has returned to Australia and will suit up for the local Queensland team, Thuringowa. This move marks a rare defection from rugby league to Australian Rules by a prominent player in recent times.
He described his experience in England as "cold, dark, wet, annoying," and stated that his expectations of the stint were higher than the reality, which contributed to his early departure from his contract.
Feldt is set to join the reigning AFL Townsville premiers for their upcoming match against the Hermit Park Tigers. The former State of Origin player is the Cowboys' all-time leading try-scorer, having made 217 appearances for the club and achieving life-member status.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten commented on Feldt's transition, expressing curiosity about his position in the new code. Payten likened his potential role to that of former full forward Tony Lockett, suggesting Feldt could be a significant scoring threat. "He could kick 100 goals, so yeah, it's interesting, but it's good to have him back in town," Payten said.
Feldt is widely remembered for scoring a crucial, game-winning try in the final moments of the 2015 NRL Grand Final, which secured the Cowboys their first and only premiership to date.
