Another North Queensland player has re-signed with the NRL club but veteran fullback Matt Bowen’s future with the Cowboys is still unclear.

Expected to play a key role for Italy at this year’s World Cup, hard-working back-rower Joel Riethmuller on Wednesday signed on until the end of the 2015 season.

He joins the likes of co-captains Johnathan Thurston, Test props Matt Scott and James Tamou, centres Brent Tate and Kane Linnett and halfback Michael Morgan in re-committing to the Cowboys.

North Queensland were in a “holding pattern” as they monitored Bowen on a modified training program before deciding whether to offer him a contract for a 14th NRL season.

However, the Cowboys’ games record-holder hit a hurdle when he underwent knee surgery last week.

The 31-year-old was ruled out this week for “at least another month” after successful arthroscopic surgery that repaired torn cartilage in his left knee.

The former Queensland Origin No.1 had already missed one game this season, sitting out the round-four derby with Brisbane due to knee swelling.

Bowen has had an injury-ravaged career despite registering 261 games with North Queensland, undergoing two knee cartilage replacements and off-season shoulder surgery.

But Cowboys football manager Peter Parr had remained hopeful Bowen would re-sign with the club despite the veteran’s recent knee surgery.

However, Bowen’s future is up in the air after Riethmuller put pen to paper.

Riethmuller, 28, has played 17 NRL matches including three this season.

“Joel is one of the hardest workers we have at this club and sets a standard, both in training and during matches, that his teammates are always keen to follow,” Parr said.