The North Queensland Cowboys have signed Jesse Ramien and Sione Katoa from the Cronulla Sharks for the 2027 and 2028 NRL seasons, landing two proven outside backs on two-year contracts. Both players are set to link up with the Cowboys for pre-season in November.
The arrival of Ramien and Katoa is a major lift for a Cowboys backline already shaped by future plans elsewhere. Jaxon Purdue, Robert Derby, Zac Laybutt, Tom Chester, Braidon Burns and Viliami Vailea are already locked in to fight for outside back spots in 2027, while Scott Drinkwater is expected to move to the St George Illawarra Dragons and Purdue is expected to shift to fullback.
Ramien brings long-term pedigree to North Queensland. He debuted in 2017 and has made 176 NRL appearances since then, earning a reputation as one of the competition’s top centres for much of the past decade. Katoa debuted a year later and has built a strong record of his own, with 134 NRL games, 10 Tests for Tonga and 85 NRL tries to his name.
Chief executive Clint Zammit said the pair would significantly upgrade the depth in the club’s backline and provide stability through to at least the end of 2028, with several of those names already committed beyond that point. He said Ramien is experienced, can break tackles and defends strongly, while Katoa is a sharp finisher who carries the ball well out of his own end.
The signings also reshape the picture in Townsville for the next two seasons because they arrive after weeks of heavy speculation that both players would leave Cronulla. That uncertainty has now been settled, and the Sharks’ own backline planning is likely to be affected too, with the move increasing the chance they keep Sam Stonestreet beyond the end of his current deal, which expires at the end of 2026.
For the Cowboys, the message is clear. They have added two established NRL backs who should walk into starting contention in 2027, and they have done it well before the new season begins. For Cronulla, the departure of two experienced players leaves another hole to fill, and the ripple effects may not stop there.
