Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Nicholas Lenaz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker, Lock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 10 August 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nicholas Lenaz (born 2003) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker and lock for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background
Lenaz is of Italian descent, with his grandparents from Milan and Trieste.[2]
He played his junior rugby league for the Hills District Bulls and attended Castle Hill High School.[3][4] His older sister, Josie, previously played for the Wests Tigers in the NRLW.[5]
Playing career
Early career
In 2019, Lenaz played for the Penrith Panthers in the Harold Matthews Cup.[6] In 2021, Lenaz joined the Parramatta Eels, spending two seasons playing for their SG Ball Cup side.[7]
In 2022, he moved up to the Eels' Jersey Flegg Cup side and, in 2023, was named their Jersey Flegg Player of the Year.[8][9] That season, he played two NSW Cup for the Eels.[10]
On 7 October 2023, Lenaz made his Test debut for Italy in their 38–12 win over Malta.[11] On 28 October 2023, he scored his first try for Italy in a 50–20 win over South Africa.[12]
In 2024, Lenaz joined the Manly Sea Eagles, where he captained their Jersey Flegg side and won the club's Best & Fairest award at the end of the season.[13][14]
2025
In 2025, Lenaz joined the North Queensland Cowboys on a pre-season train and trial deal before eventually earning a full-time contract for the rest of the season.[15][16]
In Round 23 of the 2025 NRL season, after spending the majority of the season with the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup, Lenaz was named to make his NRL debut against the Parramatta Eels.[17]
References
- ↑ Rugby League Project
- ↑ "JQ Physiotherapy & Sports Rehab Player Profiles". Facebook. 7 October 2022.
- ↑ "Junior Teams selected for State Carnival". Penrith Panthers. 2 May 2014.
- ↑ "NSW Schools Championships rugby league livestream: How to watch, schedule, full teams". Cairns Post. 19 June 2021.
- ↑ "NRLW Players: Josie Lenaz". Wests Tigers. 13 September 2023.
- ↑ "Panthers cruise to victory against Bears". Penrith Panthers. 16 February 2019.
- ↑ "Team lists: Eels juniors, Round Four". Parramatta Eels. 25 February 2021.
- ↑ "Jersey Flegg Team List: Round 23". Parramatta Eels. 2 August 2023.
- ↑ "Every award winner at the 2023 Ken Thornett Medal". Parramatta Eels. 29 August 2023.
- ↑ "NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg Team Lists: Round 11". Canberra Raiders. 9 May 2023.
- ↑ "Italy face Malta in Sydney". European Rugby League. 6 October 2023.
- ↑ "Italy 50 20 South Africa". European Rugby League. 28 October 2023.
- ↑ "Gallant Sea Eagles fight hard in Flegg loss". Manly Sea Eagles. 21 July 2024.
- ↑ "Tom Trbojevic wins Manly's Best and Fairest Award for 2024". Manly Sea Eagles. 10 September 2024.
- ↑ "Get to know our young players ahead of Friday's trial". NQ Cowboys. 13 February 2025.
- ↑ "PNG Kumuls star Morea Morea headlines 11 North Queensland Cowboys NRL train and trialists". Townsville Bulletin. 8 November 2024.
- ↑ "Updated Cowboys NRL team list: Round 23 v Eels". NQ Cowboys. 9 August 2025.