North Queensland Cowboys target Warriors Todd Payten to replace Paul Green
The North Queensland Cowboys have wasted little time creating their short list of candidates to replace Paul Green, with a surprise candidate leading the race early.
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He’s not yet a head coach but former Wests Tigers grand final-winning prop Todd Payten has suddenly become locked in a two-way, trans-Tasman tug of war.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Payten – the New Zealand Warriors interim coach – is now a primary target to replace Paul Green as head coach at the North Queensland Cowboys.
Ironically, Green could now be a contender to coach the Warriors.
North Queensland, though, will have to fend off interest from the Warriors, who have been highly impressed with how Payten has managed to keep his side together during their difficult COVID-enforced lockdown in Australia.
It is understood Payten and Queensland State of Origin coach Kevin Walters are locked together on top of North Queensland’s coaching hit list.
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Walters has re-signed to coach the Maroons again for next season but can quit should he join an NRL club.
Payten has a strong bond with the North Queensland board after four years in Townsville as NYC coach and then Green’s assistant coach.
He was on the Cowboys’ coaching staff for North Queensland’s golden-point grand final win over Brisbane in 2015.
Known his straightforward style, Payten joined the Warriors’ coaching staff last year before being promoted to the interim head coaching role after the club sacked Stephen Kearney last month.
The Warriors may now jump early to sign Payten to ward off North Queensland’s interest.
Walters has been close to landing a top coaching gig for a decade now. He has done a stellar job with Queensland despite narrowly losing the past two Origins series.
He has enormous support in Queensland through the FOG’s and was all but offered the Gold Coast Titans job last year, but he passed.
Walters is known to be impressed with the Cowboys’ roster which includes Jason Taumalolo, Val Holmes and Michael Morgan. Coaching in his believed home state would also appeal to Walters.
Payten, now 41, established himself a premier prop with Canberra before a year at the Sydney Roosters in 2003.
He then joined Wests Tigers and scored a try in the club’s famous 2005 grand final win over, ironically, North Queensland. Payten played 251 NRL matches.
Payten has been educated through a nine-year apprenticeship by Green, Kearney and Mick Potter.
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Just last month, Payten told NRL.com: “The thing about becoming a head coach is you don’t know until you’ve been given a shot. You can come into the game too early [but] I’ve had nine years as a professional coach so it’s a fair apprenticeship.
“I’ve been involved in some successful programs and places that haven’t been so successful. I know the difference between the two.”
North Queensland claims they aren’t in any rush to name their next head coach.