Andrew Dunemann the dark horse in race for North Queensland Cowboys coaching job Cowboys coaching contender Andrew Dunemann at Raiders headquarters in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith Source: CourierMail ANDREW Dunemann has emerged as a shock frontrunner for the Cowboys job as North Queensland hierarchy prepare to ramp up their search for Neil Henry's coaching successor. The former Cowboys playmaker has been omitted from several betting markets, with Kevin Walters, Paul Green and Trent Barrett considered favourites to lead North Queensland in 2014 But The Courier-Mail can reveal Dunemann, currently David Furner's assistant at Canberra, is the dark horse. It is understood the Cowboys board has identified Dunemann as a serious contender and the 37-year-old will formalise his interest by submitting his CV. "I will be applying for the Cowboys job, yes," said Dunemann, who played 51 NRL games for the Cowboys between 1996-98. Cowboys leaked information regarding his future says departing coach Neil Henry. I've been to a lot of clubs but I have always regarded the Cowboys as my club. I played there and then coached their feeder team (Northern Pride) for a few years. I spent five or six years of my life up there. My wife is from up there, I have a lot of good friends in north Queensland so it's the place I call home. The Cowboys tick every box and I know a bit about the club, so it's the one job I've always wanted. Dunemann's manager Jim Banaghan added Tuesday night: "He's the Queensland version of Trent Robinson (Roosters coach). Andrew is young, hard-working and a terrific fit for the Cowboys. The seven-strong board will closely scrutinise the claims of Green, but there is a sentiment the former Maroons halfback may need more time as an assistant. And while Dunemann lacks the profile of Broncos great Walters, his work ethic and man-management ability have piqued the interest of Cowboys powerbrokers. Dunemann enjoyed a 13-year playing career between 1994-2007, amassing 251 games at seven clubs - Gold Coast, North Queensland, Souths, Halifax, Leeds, Salford and Canberra. But his slick transition to coaching has been noted. At age 33, he steered the Pride to their maiden grand final appearance in 2009. He then had two years as an assistant to Newcastle's Rick Stone before shifting to Canberra, where he coached the Raiders' under-20s to last year's grand final. "He's a remarkable young bloke and destined to go to the top," former Cowboys boss Denis Keeffe said. He is ambitious and a terrific man-manager. Having played and coached up here, he gets regional Queensland.