NRL: Why North Queensland Cowboys need to put faith in Tom Duffy at halfback for 2025
North Queensland must put its faith in unproven halfback Tom Duffy if the Cowboys are any chance of making a splash in the 2025 NRL premiership race. Read why the young gun is the right man for the job.
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“We’ve got to evolve.”
North Queensland must heed Todd Payten’s warning and evolve as a team if the Cowboys want to avoid another season of mixed results.
Payten said his side risked becoming a middle of the road team unless changes are made quickly and the first place to look is the spine.
The Cowboys should put their faith in unproven halfback Tom Duffy if they are any chance of making a splash in the 2025 NRL premiership race.
The Cowboys were eliminated from finals with barely a whimper in a resounding 26-18 defeat to the Sharks that was all-but over by halftime.
The inconsistent men from Townsville were directionless in Cronulla’s red zone, running into dead ends and failing to build pressure with repeat sets.
The Cowboys have the Queensland Cup’s halfback of the year and leading pointscorer Duffy waiting in the wings for his opportunity in first grade.
The 21-year-old prospect has all the hallmarks of a great halfback – and the time has come to let him show it.
Duffy is an elite game manager with the vision of a veteran, putting Northern Pride teammates over for 32 tries this season to complement five four-pointers of his own, with 20 linebreak assists and 98 goals added for good measure.
Duffy is also a great defender, averaging 19 tackles a game at 90 per cent efficiency in the Q Cup.
Better yet, he’s a local junior and Ignatius Park College graduate who was crowned North Queensland’s finest schoolboy player in 2021 when he was awarded the Michael Morgan Medal.
With Valentine Holmes set to join the Dragons next year, the Cowboys need a goalkicking sharpshooter and Duffy has shown great ability in that department as well.
The Cowboys coach declared it was time for his young team to take its next step forward.
“Otherwise we’re a middle of the road team,” Payten said.
“We showed some flashiness but we’ve got to bite down on the mouthguard a little harder in the tougher parts of the game for longer periods.
“We’ve got some ability but you can’t pick and choose when you’re doing the hard stuff in the game.”
For all of veteran halfback Chad Townsend’s shortcomings, he had an almost telepathic connection with Jeremiah Nanai this year – something Clifford could not tap into during his five games after taking over at halfback.
Nanai scored 12 tries in 18 games by Townsend’s side this season, but only crossed the chalk once in four games alongside Clifford in the No.7 jersey.
Clifford proved to everyone this year that he has the ability to hold his own in the NRL, but he turns 27 during next year’s pre-season and it’s fair to say we have seen what he has to offer.
He will be a more than capable backup half for North Queensland, reforming his Pride partnership with Duffy when Dearden is inevitably picked for Origin.
It’s time for the Cowboys to make a bold decision and look to the future with Duffy at No.7 – and what a bright future that could be.
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Originally published as NRL: Why North Queensland Cowboys need to put faith in Tom Duffy at halfback for 2025
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