Kyle sensed a bump in the road, but he is ready to crank it up to 200.
From premiership captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott to Michael Morgan, Chad Townsend, and Jason Taumalolo, try-scoring machine Kyle Feldt has been mentored by a number of astute leaders in North Queensland.
Feldt made his debut under Thurston and Scott in 2013 and helped them win the club’s first title two years later, while in 2017, he reached another decider with Scott Bolton at the helm in the grand final loss to the Storm.
Now, as he approaches his 32nd birthday and a number of significant career milestones, Feldt is excited to usher in a new era in Townsville, with Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter sharing the captaincy.
“Both of those guys are North Queenslanders at heart, and I think it’s great for the club,” said Feldt, who is eight games away from reaching the 200 Club.
“They are homegrown heroes, Tom from Mackay and ‘Rubes’ from Sarina, so it’s fantastic to see.
“I’ve had some great captains at this club and there’s no doubt those boys will lead us in the right direction.”
After a rocky 2023 season in which he was discarded in favor of Semi Valemei midway through the season before being recalled for the final four games, Feldt thinks his experience and intelligence will help him secure a spot in Todd Payten’s top 17.
“I had a chat with Todd at the end of last year and he said he was happy the way I held myself, I took accountability,” Feldt told me.
“When I was left out, I didn’t go back and kick stones; instead, I earned my way back into the team, and now I want to build on that.
“I know if I keep going the way I did last year, I’ll be in a good spot to start this year.
“We are blessed with the depth we have throughout the whole squad and being competitive people the way we go about our job it is pretty cut-throat out there on the track and you have to show the coaches you are putting your best foot forward every day.”
Feldt’s 13 tries in 18 games last season brought his career total to 128, just two short of Cowboys icon Matt Bowen’s club record of 130.
Feldt broke into the top grade late in the 2013 season, sharing the stage with Bowen in the dazzling fullback’s final three games, and he is now on the verge of shattering his 10-year record.
“Being a local Townsville boy and seeing who is a life member of our club and what they have done for our club, I would like to be a part of that.
“It’s something I am realty striving for and it’s something I am really looking forward to not only myself but I know my family is as well.”
Feldt will join Thurston (294), Bowen (270), Scott (268), Taumalolo (252), Gavin Cooper (247), Bolton (246), Aaron Payne (219), and Paul Bowman (203) in an exclusive Cowboys club, while teammate Jake Granville (195) is also closing up on the magical milestone.
