North Queensland back Murray Taulagi has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2021 NRL season.

The 20-year-old joined the Cowboys in 2016 at the age of 17, and was promoted to the top squad in 2019 after a breakout 2018 season which saw him represent the Queensland under-20โ€™s and Junior Kangaroos.

Cowboys recruitment manager Clint Zammit said that Taulagiโ€™s development in an unfamiliar position since joining the club was pleasing.

โ€œHe was big and athletic with good balance when we first spotted him,โ€ Zammit told the club's website.

โ€œHe was playing fullback, but we thought with his physicality he would probably be better suited to our game as a centre or winger.

โ€œHeโ€™s progressed his game over the last two years and we believe heโ€™s ready to take the next step now.

โ€œMurray is a kid with a skillset which will translate perfectly into the NRL.

โ€œAt this stage of his career he is probably best suited to the wing, but he has all the attributes to indicate he could thrive as a centre in the NRL as well.โ€

The Cowboys take on the Raiders at home on Saturday afternoon in Round 4.