While all eyes have been on Valentine Holmes in the pre-season, another Cowboys recruit has been happy to fly under the radar.
If Esan Marsters finds his best form for North Queensland, he could be regarded as the steal of the season.
The former Wests Tigers centre scored two tries against the Cowboys in round 20 last year and was released from the final year of his contract so he could sign a three-year deal with the Townsville club.
Marsters said he was loving life out of the Sydney scrum. The 23-year-old said it didn't take long to feel at home.
"It's pretty nice here. I like the hot weather ... I've got a pool at home which I'm in a fair bit," he said.
"When I came up here, everyone took me under their wing. We play a lot of golf. I play with Val, Hessy, Drinky, Cliffo and Morgs."
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Playing off a handicap of 13, which "should be 6", Marsters said the best golfer at the Cowboys was his wingman Kyle Feldt.
They are preparing for a big season as they prepare to line up on the right side for North Queensland and Marsters said it hadn't taken long to sync up with Feldt, who scored 11 tries on the wing in 2019.
"We're clicking pretty well," Marsters said.
"Most of the stuff we are focused on is defence. Our attack comes naturally but we need to be strong in defence.
"If you look at the roster we've got on paper, we've got a strong side; one of the strongest sides in the competition.
"I just wanted to see what I could add to the team. Adding Val was the last piece of the puzzle, I reckon."
Marsters said Cowboys fans should expect plenty from the star fullback.
"He's just come back the same. I don't think he's lost that X-factor at all."
As for his own game, Marsters said finding more consistency would be the key. Marsters scored 17 tries in 61 games at the Tigers and kicked 91 goals at 71 per cent accuracy.
"I was up and down last year and I think that was confidence," he said.
"You lose a bit of confidence when you're not playing well.
"I play my best when I can throw the ball around. If I can see something I can set up a try."
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With a plethora of goal kickers at the Cowboys this year, Marsters doesn't expect to be called on for conversion duties.
He practised goal kicking over the summer, but not as much as the likes of Holmes and Clifford.
"If they want me to kick, I'll kick, but I'd prefer to work on the other part of my game."
