FORMER Warwick Cowboys half Dan Murphy has hit the jackpot with a move to the Mackay Cutters in the Intrust Super Cup competition.

Long-term, he aims to impress North Queensland Cowboys officials.

Since securing the Cutters five-eighth spot at the start of the season, he has made the position his own in a side which is second in a competition rated second in the state behind the NRL.

He returned straight into the No.6 jersey in a Cutters win against Central Capras at the weekend after missing one game with a hamstring injury.

"We are aiming to play in our first grand final," Murphy said.

"The team has been a bit inconsistent in the past month, but has beaten every team in the competition once this season.

"I get a lot of confidence out of my defence; my job is to set up our outside backs."

He played his junior rugby league for Collegians and was in A-grade for the Warwick Cowboys in 2009. His father Mark was a player, coach and trainer for the Cowboys.

Murphy joined Norths Devils in 2010 and won a FOGS Colts premiership in 2011 along with former Warwick teammate Dylan Galloway.

He debuted in Intrust Super Cup last season for Norths before heading to Mackay where he suffered a major knee injury in his first game.

After surgery and an off-season break, Murphy has played 13 games in the cup.

"Mackay reminds me a bit of Toowoomba, it is a big city and spread out," he said.

He started a plumbing apprenticeship in Warwick under grandfather Cec Watts and finished it in Brisbane before obtaining employment as a plumber in Mackay.

"The goal is to play in the NRL, our team is linked with the North Queensland Cowboys so there are always opportunities," Murphy said.

"Hopefully with a good pre-season and 2014 season, I might get an opportunity with the Cowboys in 2015."

The Mackay Cutters and Northern Pride are the reserve grades for the Cowboys.

"We had six NRL players in the side last week," he said.