NRL news: Cowboys sign coach Todd Payten to $3 million extension

A $3 million upgrade is a huge show of faith in Todd Payten, and North Queensland boss Jeff Reibel has opened up on the club’s big move.

Todd Payten helped guide the Cowboys to a top-four spot in 2022. Picture: Picture: Brendan Radke

The Cowboys have hailed Todd Payten as the super coach who can deliver the club’s next premiership after securing the rising mentor to a $3 million upgrade.

News Corp can reveal Payten has inked a lucrative three-year extension in a coup for the Cowboys ahead of their season opener against Canberra on Saturday week in Townsville.

It is a huge show of faith in Payten, who presided over a stunning revival of the Cowboys last season, lifting North Queensland from second last to a preliminary final in a dream 2022 campaign.

Payten is rated one of the best emerging coaches in the NRL and the Cowboys have staved off any threat of a poaching raid for the 44-year-old, adding three years on top of his original deal to keep him in Townsville until the end of 2026.

The Cowboys have assembled a roster to deliver the club’s first premiership since 2015 and chief executive Jeff Reibel says Payten is leading a boom new era as North Queensland chase their second title this season.

“We’re thrilled to sign Todd to this extension,” Reibel said.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has inked a lucrative three-year extension. Picture: Getty Images

“I felt we had undergone a change 18 months ago and it has shown over the past year, not only the coach Todd is, but the leader he is.

“He has said from the start that North Queensland is his home and his wife and his kids consider this region home.

“Straight away, Todd has really reinforced to our players what it is to be part of the Cowboys community. We are parochial up here and it’s really important we represent the community the way that we do.

“What Todd has been able to achieve, not just from a technical coaching ability, but the way he communicates with the players is first class. Todd is bringing the best out of the players and coaches around him. He is a humble but effective leader and we can’t be happier with the contributions he has made.

“If you aren’t in to win the premiership, you are in the wrong business. Stability and continuity are a platform for growth and evolution as a club and Todd is at the forefront of that.

“Any club needs to know where they are going and what they want to achieve, but critically how you will achieve that, and I think the pathway we have in place under Todd shows that loud and clear.

“We always had great faith in Todd to get results here.”

Cowboys coach is rated one of the best emerging coaches in the NRL. Picture: Getty Images

Payten endured a difficult rookie season in 2021 and there were suggestions he was fighting for his job when the Cowboys crashed to 15th spot.

But Payten was at the epicentre of an outstanding 2022 campaign in which the Cowboys charged into the top four as the feel-good story of the NRL season — prompting North Queensland bosses to reward him with a mega upgrade.

A former Wests Tigers premiership winner as a player, Payten has helped bring through the likes of young guns Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame.

Payten was an assistant coach to Paul Green when the Cowboys celebrated their breakthrough title in 2015 and he believes the class of 2022 are capable of conquering the NRL summit again.

“I can’t be happier to extend my stay here,” he said.

“I’m pleased it has all been sorted out.

“I’m very settled in Townsville with my family and I’m really appreciative that the Cowboys have given me and us as a squad every opportunity to succeed.

“We have the right ingredients to be a very strong club. We have great juniors, we have passionate rugby league people in this region and I’m proud to be able to represent this region and give the fans a team to make them proud.”

Todd Payten helped guide the Cowboys to a top-four spot in 2022. Picture: Picture: Brendan Radke

Asked if this Cowboys squad could win a title in the coming years, Payten said: “There is a genuine belief we are capable, for sure.

“All across the squad they believe it’s achievable, but we have to get our preparation right every week and keep our head down and continue to work. There is a good appetite for work and that’s making me sleep well at the moment.

“The first 12 months were lean in terms of results, but we are starting to see the rewards of some decisions we made during that 2021 season around blooding young players and coupled with the elite talent we have in our squad, I am confident we are heading into a truly exciting time at this club.

“This club is very well governed and they have given myself, the coaching staff and the playing group every opportunity to improve.

“Our facility is the best in rugby league, we have a great stadium and we have a supporter base who understand football and support us passionately.

“I always had an ambition to come back to this club and I have no desire to be anywhere else.”

Originally published as NRL news: Cowboys sign coach Todd Payten to $3 million extension