Todd Payten the first NRL coach facing the axe

Todd Payten has sped out to the short-priced favourite to be the first NRL coach shown the door in 2025, with two torrid performances and 78 points conceded nearly forcing North Queensland’s hands already.

It may well come down to the Queensland derby against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday under lights, with Payten very much in a battle to save his job.

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While the Cowboys haven’t formally tapped the 2022 Dally M Coach of the Year on the shoulder yet — and The Sporting Base understands no one has had any documented meetings on the subject yet — there’s been whispers going around that North Queensland’s powerbrokers are far from happy.

Of particularly sour note is the fact the Cowboys looked lost on both sides of the ball in rounds one and two.

They did manage 12 points against the Sharks, but never looked in the contest in Townsville.

Similarly, their season opener against the Sea Eagles was an out and out flogging where Manly piled 42 points on the hapless North Queensland outfit in a demoralising rout.

If things had been close and the Cowboys were still 0-2 there’d be some breathing room for the 46-year-old; as it is, chins are already wagging in the north. Things aren’t helped by the fact it’s nearly a full-strength Cowboys getting around the park either, bar Heilum Luki (who injured his ACL and is out until 2026).

“We might need to pull one or two players back [into first grade],” Payten conceded as he searches for answers.

“Every time we got in an arm-wrestle we come up with an error or a penalty and then they’d score a try… that’s not going to win you games.

“We’ve played two contenders in the past two weeks and we’re a fair way off and we’re going to find out what we’re about over the next little period.”

And so, all eyes on Suncorp Stadium on Friday at 8pm, where a stunned Broncos are looking to get back on track after being whacked by the Raiders in a 32-22 ambush last Saturday.

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There are questions floating around them too, but it’s Payten that has more to lose — and another flogging could see the axe fall.