ROBYN Traves has vowed to stand by her son after Canowindra's Mitchell Sargent was sacked by the North Queensland Cowboys for returning a positive drug test.

Traves will fly to Townsville to be with her son after the 27-year old Country Origin prop had his contract torn up after an in-house drug test came back positive for cocaine.

"We've got to look forward and just be there for him," Traves said. "I still love him, that's not going to change, he's my son.

"He's not coming home but I will be going to him."

Traves said she had received messages of support from friends and family and was hopeful Mitchell's career and reputation could be salvaged.

"One could hope (his career can continue)," Traves said.

"It's a bit early to say about that at the moment. His manager is doing some very good things so I think we'll just leave it at that and let the dust settle first."

Sargent's manager Steve Robinson said the former Orange CYMS back rower dreaded telling his mother what had transpired. Traves was that supportive of her son's career that she made the trek from Canowindra to every semi-final game last year when the Cowboys made the NRL grand final.

"The biggest issue was telling his mother," Robinson said. "He said telling his mother was the hardest thing he's had to do in his life."

Sargent could still face a lengthy ban with the NRL yet to commit on if they will register him should another club throw him a lifeline.

Sargent was man-of-the-match for Orange CYMS in the club's 1997 Group 10 under 18 grand final win over Bathurst Penguins and was named Group 10 under 18 player of the year in 1996.

He left CYMS to join Parramatta where he played mainly lower grades. After making his debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2002, Sargent moved to North Queensland in 2004 and has played 101 first grade games.