Prest attacks the line vs Parramatta.
In the heart of the Riverina, where the Murrumbidgee River winds through golden wheat fields and dusty roads lead to towns built on shearers’ backs, Mitchell Prest first discovered the raw thrill of rugby league. Born in 2003 in Young, New South Wales—a speck on the map known for its cherries and cherry-red jerseys—Prest was destined for the game.
His uncles, Steve Prest of the Manly Sea Eagles and Michael Prest of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, had carved out NRL careers in the 1990s, their stories whispered like legends around family barbecues.
The Cherrypickers’ oval was no manicured stadium; it was a sun-baked patch of earth where Saturday afternoons turned into battles under a relentless sky. The grass crunched like straw, and the only shade came from the rickety grandstand where old-timers nursed cold cans and spun yarns about Riverina greats like Laurie Daley from nearby Junee or the Maher brothers, Temora’s own twin props who scrapped their way to the big leagues.
School at Hennessy Catholic College in Young balanced the grind—math classes and mates—but rugby league was the real education. Scouts whispered about his potential, and by sixteen, the plan crystallised: aim for the Canberra Raiders’ pathways.
The breakthrough came in 2021. Amid the disruptions of a pandemic-shortened season, Prest helped steer the Raiders to an SG Ball grand final victory—a highlight he described as “unforgettable.” Playing as a prop, his powerful carries and unyielding defence earned him spots in representative sides, including NSW Country under-19s.
A tour to England followed, where he faced off against international juniors, broadening his horizons beyond the Riverina plains. Back home, he dipped into the Young Cherrypickers’ under-18s when schedules allowed, keeping ties to his roots while building his profile.
By 2022, Prest was embedded in the Raiders’ system, his Hudl highlights showcasing explosive runs and bone-rattling tackles from the Jersey Flegg Cup under-21s. At 183cm and 100kg, he was a bench weapon—quick off the mark, with an offload game that echoed his uncles’ style.
The 2024 season marked his peak in the Flegg: a regular in a ladder-topping Raiders side, his consistency and leadership shone through. At season’s end, he claimed the Coaches’ Award, a nod from the staff for his work ethic in a team that included future NRL hopefuls like Ethan Strange.
“It’s about showing up every day,” Prest said humbly at the presentation, but those in the know saw a player ready for the next step. That step came in 2025, dipping into the NSW Cup—the Raiders’ reserve grade. Appearances were sporadic but impactful: as an interchange prop in Round 8 against North Sydney Bears, then a try-scoring hero versus Newcastle Knights. No NRL debut yet, but the experience hardened him, prepping him for bigger arenas.
Now, in November 2025, the horizon shifts north. The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, sniffing opportunity in the Raiders’ talent pool, have signed Prest alongside Sydney Roosters’ speedster Tyler Moriarty.
It’s a development deal, starting with feeder clubs like the Townsville Blackhawks in the Hostplus Cup, but with pre-season trials looming in early 2026, the path to NRL minutes is tantalisingly close.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten, himself a Riverina product from Temora—just 80km from Young—sees echoes of his own journey. Payten, who debuted as a prop for the Raiders in 1999 and built a 150-game NRL career, favours packs stacked with big-bodied forwards: think Jordan McLean’s veteran grunt, Jason Taumalolo’s destructive power, Sam McIntyre’s bench oomph, Coen Hess’s versatility, and Reuben Cotter’s relentless engine. But with McLean retiring at 34 and Taumalolo turning 32 amid injury whispers, the pack needs fresh blood—exactly what Prest brings.
For Prest, this is the great opportunity up north: Townsville’s humid heat, a locker room of country boys, and a coach who speaks the language of leg drive and legacy. From pushing tyres in Young to potentially spelling Taumalolo in Round 1, his story is one of persistence. As the Riverina sun sets on one chapter, the tropical dawn rises on another—Mitchell Prest, the Cherrypicker turned Cowboy, ready to move the earth once more.
– Tully Potts
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