Inside the moment Kyle Feldt broke his latest Cowboys record

Kyle Feldt has lifted the lid on the moment he broke North Queensland’s record for the most tries in a season, eclipsing club legend Matt Bowen. Find out how the coach unlocked his winger’s best form.

Kyle Feldt skips out of a tackle by Phoenix Crossland of the Knights. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Kyle Feldt has lifted the lid on the moment he broke North Queensland’s record for the most tries in a season, eclipsing club legend Matt Bowen on Saturday with his 23rd try of 2024.

Feldt stopped what looked like a certain Newcastle try when he intercepted a pass and raced 85 metres to give the Cowboys the lead.

The 32-year-old winger said it was a make-or-break play that could have gone either way.

“It was a big turning point in the game, we’d been camped down on our own tryline for quite a while there so I was lucky to put myself in a position to grab the ball and go the distance,” Feldt said.

“I was just hoping I would make it. When I got to about 50 metres I was a bit worried and then I just tried to find another gear and I was very lucky I got there.

“It’s pretty cool to have another notch over ‘Mango’. Playing outside some quality halves and centres obviously helped me rack up some tries but a fair few of them I’ve created on my own so I’m pretty happy with that.”

Kyle Feldt runs the ball during the NRL Qualifying Final. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Feldt can cap off his record-breaking season with another milestone on Friday night: if he crosses the chalk he will match Michael Morgan’s club-record finals tries tally of 10.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he believed the defensive overhaul brought in by the team this year had helped Feldt become more assertive.

“I think the change in the defensive system that we’ve made this year has really helped him, he’s taken a couple of intercepts and he’s an important part of our team, so he’s going great,” Payten said.

*** BESTPIX *** TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 17: Kyle Feldt of the Cowboys celebrates after scoring a try during the round 24 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on August 17, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

While his tryscoring has reached new heights, Feldt credited his inside men for the improvements to the right edge defence.

“I didn’t mind last year’s system. But this year I’ve got fellas inside me who are really sticking to our system a bit better,” Feldt said.

“Other than that I enjoy being up and in the line, it’s a lot easier for me to make a decision if my centre and half do get beaten by speed or by pass.

“So I don’t mind that way and I think this year my footy all round has been probably my best in my career so I’m pretty happy.”

Feldt also had a major hand in Reuben Cotter’s try that put the Cowboys in front with less than 10 minutes to play, leaping in the air and batting the Jake Clifford bomb back towards his teammates.

“If you put yourself in the picture, something might happen. That’s why we practise chasing kicks and putting pressure on them when they’re catching them,” Feldt said.

“I was very fortunate to jump higher than the other defenders and got my hand to it and make sure it was going backwards, and Reubs (Cotter) was jogging on the spot so it was great to see the captain get over the line.”

Originally published as Inside the moment Kyle Feldt broke his latest Cowboys record