‘Classic Stick’: Cowboys coach Todd Payten hits back at Ricky Stuart’s Raiders mind games

Todd Payten joined the war of words ahead of his team’s season-opener against the Canberra Raiders, debunking a narrative created by Ricky Stuart earlier in the week.

Cowboys head coach Todd Payten. Picture: Brendan Radke

Todd Payten has rubbished Ricky Stuart’s claim that the Cowboys would underestimate the Raiders in Saturday’s Townsville heat, dismissing the round 1 mind games as “classic Stick.”

The coaches share a long history, first as Canberra teammates between 1996 and 1998 and then as player-coach when Stuart recruited Payten to the Roosters in 2003.

The North Queensland mentor is no stranger to Stuart’s efforts to pump up his playing group via media commentary and warned the Cowboys would not buy in to the notorious provocateur’s latest attempt.

“I did see that comment on Fox Sports and I thought it was classic ‘Stick’,” Payten said.

“I’ve been coached by Stick prior many, many years ago and to use us as ammunition, from [made up] words coming out of our organisation, has been done before. I’ve seen it.

“I’m not surprised, and I’m telling you now that we haven’t spoken about it and both teams are playing the same conditions.”

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Picture: NRL Photos

Well-known for his ability to spin a narrative, Stuart suggested the Cowboys would head into the game believing Canberra would struggle in the hot and humid conditions.

“We’ll be playing against a team up there that will feel as though we won’t be able to handle the conditions, the humidity, the heat, and time will tell,” Stuart said.

“But I’m happy with the preparation, and we are moving into a difficult environment in regards to the conditions but from a mindset point of view I believe our players are tough enough.”

While no team would look forward to a round 1 afternoon game in Townsville, the reputation Canberra has as an Arctic environment doesn’t hold water when the mercury rose to at least 28 degrees during four of the past five days.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten looks on during a North Queensland Cowboys NRL training session. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Payten warned his team would need to start fast and match the Raiders’ intensity.

“Both teams are playing the same conditions and ball control becomes important,” Payten said.

“From our point of view, the conditions haven’t come into our conversations – it’s about us getting our game right on the back of a disappointing result against the Broncos.

“The Raiders are a team who start strong and fast over the last couple of seasons. We’ve got to handle Jack Wighton, their back five is a real strength for them, they break tackles and they run hard.

“Then they’ve got some big boys in the middle with good late feet who can offload the ball, so defensively we’re going to have to tackle well and that’s been a big focus for us this week.”

Originally published as ‘Classic Stick’: Cowboys coach Todd Payten hits back at Ricky Stuart’s Raiders mind games