Will Cowboys miss out on key coaching move due to delay on making call over Todd Payten?

North Queensland insist that Todd Payten is their coach for the future, but as the coaching dominoes start to fall will the Cowboys be caught bluffing.

The future of Todd Payten at the Cowboys is under the spotlight, with the next month set to prove critical on whether the club maintains their current support of the head coach.

In a development that could have major ramifications on the NRL coaching landscape, Payten is in desperate need of wins to ward off increasing speculation throughout the game that the Cowboys are edging towards a change in the coaches box.

The 12th-placed Cowboys face the third-placed Bulldogs at home in Townsville on Saturday night, followed by the Dolphins (away), Dragons (home) and Sharks (away).

Cowboys coach Todd Payten. Picture: Getty Images

Inconsistent performances, including two 50-point defeats, three victories from eight matches at home, and the worst defence in the NRL - leaking just under 30-points per game - are major concerns for the Cowboys board.

Adding to the pressure on the Cowboys decision-makers is the ongoing speculation that the Knights are keeping a watching brief on their coach Adam O’Brien and that the Titans plan to move on from Des Hasler.

The Cowboys - or any club for that matter - risk missing out on the best available coaching options including Josh Hannay, Matt King, Dean Young, Brad Arthur and Willie Peters, the longer they contemplate their decision on their own head coach.

Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel has declared to this masthead that “Todd’s our coach.”

However, Payten is contracted in North Queensland until the end of 2026 and at this stage there has been no approach from either the Cowboys or his management to extend his contract beyond next season.

The only other current coaches without an NRL contract beyond 2026 are Craig Bellamy (Storm), Kristian Woolf (Dolphins), Shane Flanagan (Dragons) and Hasler.

Todd Payten’s future is uncertain. Picture: Evan Morgan

As a result of the uncertainty over Payten’s future beyond 2026, from a strategic and roster management point of view, he is in the unenviable position of helping the club recruit beyond his current contract, but in the dark as to whether he’ll be at the club beyond next season - as recently evidenced by the signing of Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney until the end of 2028.

Finishing 15th in his first season at the Cowboys in 2021, Payten has since led the Cowboys to a preliminary final in 2022, 11th in 2023, where the club missed the finals by one victory and semi-finalists last season.

The impact of missing key players, including star half Tom Dearden through the State of Origin period, using five different halves pairings and having club leader Jason Tauamolo available for just six games due to injury, are significant reasons behind the Cowboys current season of six wins from 16 matches.

It’s largely why for now, the Cowboys are backing Payten to drag them back into finals contention.

As a result of this article, it’s understood Payten’s management contacted the Cowboys hierarchy to clarify the head coach’s position.

The Cowboys reiterated their coach was safe.

“Todd’s contracted through to 2026 and there’s no changes there,’’ Reibel said.

“What I will say is, as a team, and as a club we probably haven’t been as consistent as we could be and would like to be over recent times.

“We have had injuries. Losing Jase (Taumalolo) and then we have had some suspensions, so that consistency through the Origin period, which we’ve been known for the last couple of years, hasn’t been there.

“The next few weeks, with the Doggies at home, Dolphins and then the Dragons that will set us on course for finals and what will happen for the remainder of our season.

“There’s no chatter up our way in regards to Todd at all.’’