One of North Queensland’s favourites sons – Ash Graham – will remain with the NRL club despite announcing his retirement.

Considered one of the best players never to have played State of Origin, Graham has joined the Cowboys’ support staff for their under-20s and academy squads.

Cairns-bred Graham, 29, was forced to retire last month after succumbing to a wrist complaint.

But that has not stopped th ex-winger becoming the Cowboys’ first fulltime strength and conditioning coach for the under-20s and academy squads.

“The club saw that as an area we needed to improve with our younger players and I’m rapt that I’ve got the chance to help out,” Graham said of his new role.

“Our academy boys probably weren’t where we wanted them to be when they joined the NYC (under-20s) program and that’s going to be a real focus for me from the start.

“That extra hands-on assistance and expertise should help them develop a little bit more quickly than they have.”

Graham will work under another ex-Cowboy, Paul Bowman, who heads the Cowboys’ high performance unit.

Graham will feature in the retiring players’ tribute at the grand final on Sunday night along with fellow Cowboys Matt Bowen and Dallas Johnson.

Graham – who started his career at Parramatta – played 202 NRL games including 161 for the Cowboys, the fifth highest in the club’s history.