Scott Drinkwater has shattered the hopes of swooping rival NRL clubs and will remain at North Queensland through to 2027 after inking a four-year extension.
The 25-year-old's form at fullback this season is one of the main reasons behind the club playing finals football for the first time since 2017.
His mercurial running game has seen him register 10 tries and 14 try assists in just 19 games after starting the season as a reserve.
But his long-term extension shuts down any hopes he will test the market on November 1 and instead remain an integral member of the spine for Todd Payten's team.
"I'm stoked," Drinkwater told reporters on Friday.
"My preference was to stay here. I love living up here and I love the club.
"I love the place itself - just so relaxed and cruisy and it suits the way I like to live.
"This club brought me up here as a 22-year-old and I was third-string fullback for Melbourne at the time after an injury and they showed faith in me."
Payten said his fullback earned his long-term deal and didn't kick stones after a injury setback to begin 2022.
"He dived into his work, improved different parts of his game and took his opportunity when it come in round five," Payten said.
"He makes us a better team and we're fortunate to have him around for that long."
Drinkwater shapes as the Cowboys' first choice fullback for years to come after keeping speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow out of the starting side most of the season.
Payten confirmed Drinkwater had signed on as a fullback with healthy competition for spots now a strength for his side in the forthcoming years.
But it's his character that Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck said is his strongest attribute.
"We have tried to build our squad around good people and Drinky is just that," Luck said.
"His energy and enthusiasm lift any room he walks into and we're excited he will be playing out the majority of his career in a Cowboys jersey."
Drinkwater has appeared in 69 games across four seasons since arriving at the Cowboys midway through 2019.
