North Queensland Cowboys management has told fans that re-signing Todd Payten for a further two years despite the team barely having a positive win rate in 2026 is “based on much more than the ladder” and will do more for the future of the club than sacking the oft-under fire head coach.
“Successful organisations don’t make short-sighted decisions and as a group we have taken the time to carefully assess the direction our club is heading,” club chairman David Myles said after announcing Payten will be staying in charge in North Queensland until 2028.
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“Over recent months we have seen significant growth in both our football program and the leadership of Todd,” he explained.
Myles did concede that results are always important, but insisted they wanted to look beyond just what was happening on the footy field once a week. “We have seen clear improvement and alignment around standards, accountability, culture and the long-term direction.
“The board is confident Payten is the right person to lead our club into the future.”
The decision means the 47-year-old helmsman will now overtake the late, great Paul Green as the club’s longest serving coach.
He was questioned at the start of the year after the Cowboys fell to a 0–2 record, but he turned things around to win eight of their next 12 games.
Payten’s tenure has been a rollercoaster, with with a 67–65–1 standing through 147 games (about as close to 50% as any reigning coach in the NRL right now). He guided the club to finals in 2022 and 2024, even finishing as high as third and being crowned Coach of the Year in the former.
But, between those two strong campaigns, he’s also overseen struggling years where they’ve ran 11th (in 2023) and 12th (in 2025).
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Before the deal was closed out, Payten admitted to the Sydney Morning Herald: “I haven’t got any ego, [but] for peace of mind it would be nice to get something done. It was uncomfortable after two rounds [following two defeats], but I’d seen enough in the pre-season and the trials to know we were always going to be a different-looking team.”
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“North Queensland is home for my family and I’m thrilled to be able to extend,” Payten said after re-signing. “I love the club and the region because of the people within it. I am grateful to be leading this group of young men and we are committed to bringing a second premiership.”
Payten and his Cowboys now take on the Warriors in New Zealand on Sunday.
