Nineteen-year-old Hudson said it was a dream come true.

“It meant the world to me, it was unreal. I felt like a kid getting his first lollipop,” Hudson said.

It was a highlight too for the Cowboys, with the Cloncurry Bulls junior scoring late in each half of his first game for the team. 

Hudson has been training for the North Queensland under 20s club for the last five years but began full time training last year.

The under 20s team had its perfect 2017 record ended by a determined Wests Tigers outfit who outpaced the home side 26-20 at 1300SMILES stadium in Townsville.

There were five new faces debuting for the Cowboys, with five regulars serving a club imposed one week penalty for a breach of team protocol.

Hudson scored two tries but the Tigers held their line to take the win.

Wests Tigers posted the first points of the day, with a sharp left edge move allowing Connelly Lemuelu to dive over after just four minutes.

Wests Tigers looked to continue their impressive start as they marched down field on several occasions, but couldn’t find the final pass to extend their lead.

That would prove costly for the visitors, who soon trailed 6-4 after Kurt Wiltshire showed great speed to get outside his man and cross under the posts.

Jake Clifford's conversion put the Cowboys in front after 20 minutes.

Wests Tigers let numerous chances go to waste in attack throughout the first half, with simple errors and good goal-line defence combining to keep them at bay.

That would ensure the Cowboys’ 6-4 lead remained intact, before a clever set piece just before half-time resulted in Marshall Hudson diving over to extend the advantage.

Hudson’s second try of the night with seven minutes remaining set up a grandstand finish but the Tigers held their line to take the win.

Wests Tigers NYC 26 (Corey Kurnoth, Connelly Lemuelu, Liam Pakau, Daniel Peck tries; Blake Higgins 3/5 goals) def North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NYC 20 (Marshall Hudson 2, Cody Maughan, Kurt Wiltshire tries; Jake Clifford 2/4 goals). Half-time: 10-8.