EXCLUSIVE: Billy Slater's plea to North Queensland to make emerging rookie a long-term Cowboy

Billy Slater has called on exciting teenager Jaxon Purdue to stay patient with his development at the Cowboys after an impressive start to his NRL career.

The 19-year-old made his debut for North Queensland last year and played eight matches but has come on leaps and bounds this season, scoring five tries in six games.

Having started his NRL career in the centres, Purdue is seen as a possible halves option down the line, having played there in his juniors.

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Currently the Cowboys have Jake Clifford and Tom Dearden playing in the halves, while Tom Duffy is highly touted to be the long-term No.7.

Slater was full of praise for the young gun after a strong start to the season.

"I love the humility he plays with, he doesn't get up in the camera, he doesn't celebrate too much, he goes about his business, he's playing out of position doing a wonderful job for his team," he said on The Billy Slater podcast.

"He's a real player right now but he's going to be an exceptional player in the future.

"Hearing that his preferred position is in the halves, maybe five-eighth, so you can imagine another couple off-seasons under his belt, a little more footy knowledge and then moving into his preferred position, he's going to be a wonderful player for the Cowboys, for a long period of time."

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Purdue's contract currently runs until the end of the 2026 season and the Queensland Maroons coach hopes he'll be there for a lot longer.

"Hopefully he stays with the Cowboys, he's from Cowboys country up in Mackay, it'd be great to see him represent the Cowboys long-term," he said.