One of the NRL’s best young forward prospects, Junior Kiwis representative Jason Taumalolo, has extended his contract with North Queensland until the end of the 2015 season.

Cowboys General Manager Peter Parr announced the contract extension on Thursday, saying North Queensland were delighted Taumalolo had committed long-term.

With 2011 Rookie of the Year and Dally M Second-rower of the Year finalist Tariq Sims signing a new four-year deal last year, it gives the Cowboys the basis of a strong back-row well into the middle of the decade.

Taumalolo, who has spent five years in the Cowboys’ system, made his NRL debut as a 17-year-old at the end of 2010 and added another three first grade games to his record in 2011, including scoring a double in the round-25 win against the Sharks.

As well as representing the Junior Kiwis in 2011, the damaging ball runner was the RLPA’s Toyota Cup Player of the Year and was named in the Toyota Cup Team of the Year.

He has trained fulltime with the Cowboys’ NRL squad for the past two seasons and has lined up in both NRL pre-season trial matches in 2012.

“We believe, like everyone in the NRL does, that Jason has a bright future in rugby league and we’re very happy that future will be with the Cowboys,” Parr said.

“He wants to be part of a successful team with the Cowboys and we think we have a better chance of doing that with forwards like him and Tariq in our line-up.

“Jason is still only a young man and has plenty of development left in his game.”

Taumalolo will line up for the Cowboys in their final pre-season trial against Gold Coast in Mackay on Saturday night.