Why Cowboys coach Todd Payten is safe — and what’s set to change at North Queensland

It can be revealed that Payten will survive a post-season review with North Queensland bosses backing the Cowboys coach to lead a Townsville turnaround next season.

Sunday’s Leichhardt clash marks a special 20-year celebration for Payten, who scored the final try for the Wests Tigers in their fairytale 2005 premiership win over the very Cowboys club he now coaches.

Currently 14th, the Cowboys have had a disastrous season, still in danger of finishing in the bottom four, and there were fears Payten would be in the firing line if the Tigers inflicted another heavy defeat.

But sources say Payten is safe and will not have his Cowboys contract torn-up as North Queensland hierarchy prepare to conduct a post-season review of the club’s freefall from finals contention.

It is understood a Cowboys shake-up is still on the cards, with North Queensland officialdom to put several areas of the club under the microscope, including Payten’s assistant staff.

The Cowboys board is far from impressed with a 2025 campaign of inconsistency and that will be made clear to Payten, who has missed the finals for the third time in his five-season tenure thus far.

Payten is contracted for the 2026 season and the coach has been buffeted by speculation of dressing-room discontent, notably that he has fallen out with the Cowboys’ most influential player, champion forward Jason Taumalolo.

But Cowboys chiefs still believe Payten has the skill set to deliver the club’s first premiership since 2015 and want to provide as much support as possible to ensure the 46-year-old revives North Queensland as a title force.

With the Cowboys having a last-round bye, Payten has two games left to avoid a bottom-four finish, starting against the Tigers before a home derby against the Broncos in Townsville next Saturday.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s 20-year Tigers title reunion, Payten lamented the Cowboys’ status as also-rans this season, but is determined to spearhead a recovery mission in 2026.

“I’m disappointed,” he said.

“The disappointment (at missing the finals) is still there.

“It’s now about building some confidence into the off-season.

“No injuries would be great and then once we get through the next few weeks with our reviews, it’s about decompressing a bit and putting plans in place to make sure we aren’t in this position again.

“It’s easier said than done, there’s a lot of variables that factor into it, but we will be looking at everything and making sure we get it right.

“We’ve got some work to do.”

Payten has shown before he can fight back from a failed season.

In his first season in charge in 2021, the Cowboys finished second last, but Payten engineered a stunning renaissance, steering North Queensland to the grand-final qualifier 12 months later to win Dally M coach of the year honours.

The sizzling season saw Payten clinch a three-year extension and while he delivered another finals campaign in 2024, the Cowboys have been off the pace from round 1 this year, flogged 42-12 by Manly in the 2025 opener.

The Cowboys’ defence has been horrendous — they have leaked a whopping 618 points at an average of 28 per game and conceded 30 points or more in a match on 10 occasions.

Payten is already plotting change. He has signed Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney for next season and the Cowboys have salary-cap room for an outside back and a front-rower.

Payten faces a perform-or-perish campaign in 2026 and Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck said recently the former Warriors mentor is confronting the toughest period of his career.

“There’s pressure on every head coach in the comp,” he said.

“I’ll say this, and Todd will probably agree ... it’s probably been his toughest year of his tenure, with the absence of a lot of senior players and influential players for a long period of time, particularly when the going was tough.”

“But Toddy’s been resolute in his attitude towards coaching this team and making this club a better place.”

The Cowboys had a thumping 38-4 win over Newcastle last Sunday and Payten will happily put aside memories of his 2005 title heroics to rain on the Tigers’ parade.

“Hopefully we can go and spoil the party,” said former Tigers prop Payten.

“It’s a big occasion for the club (Tigers) and it brings back good memories for myself, but my focus is on us.

“I would like us to be smarter with what we do with the ball. Ball control has been a major issue for us and that impacts other parts of your game.

“Where and how we hand the ball over is really important for us and we need to build that the next few weeks.”