North Queensland Cowboys 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch
The North Queensland Cowboys have all the talent they require to win a second NRL premiership, but what they lack is defensive resolve. TRAVIS MEYN dives deep into one of the NRL’s most inconsistent teams.
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The North Queensland Cowboys boast one of the most talented rosters in the NRL, but also one of the most inconsistent, as their finishes of 15th in 2021, third in 2022, 11th in 2023 and fifth in 2024 attest.
Next year marks Todd Payten’s fifth season in charge of the team, and what he, and every fan, will be hoping is they buck the rollercoaster trend and finally put together a sustained run of success.
TRAVIS MEYN, looks at what has gone right for the club, where it has gone wrong, and where it can improve.
Free agency wrap and rating
The Cowboys haven’t been huge movers in the player market, but the late December signing of John Bateman appears a masterstroke following the ACL injury to Heilum Luki in the final training session of the season. They have farewelled some high profile players in Valentine Holmes, Chad Townsend and Kyle Feldt, but opted to promote from within and invest in their current talent. They’ve snared improving Manly utility Karl Lawton and have been impressed with Super League import Kai O’Donnell. But it hasn’t been a big year on the open market for the Cowboys.
RATING: C+
Coach status and safety rating
Todd Payten is embarking on his fifth season in charge of the Cowboys and looking for some consistency in Townsville. The Cowboys made the preliminary finals in 2022 under Payten then fell off a cliff in 2023. They bounced back last season to reach the second week of the finals and now the challenge for Payten is to keep them up in premiership contention. Payten has had time to assemble his own squad and has got the Cowboys to within a whisker of the grand final. Now he needs to take the next step.
SAFETY RATING: B
Likely debutant(s)
The Cowboys are never short on young talent and could have some more coming into the top grade. Tom Duffy is one of the state’s top halfback prospects and in a three-way shootout to partner Queensland Origin five-eighth Tom Dearden. Jamal Shibasaki made a sole appearance off the bench in 2024 and will be pushing for more top grade experience next year. Kaiden Lahrs, son of ex-Blues and Kangaroos prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, is another pushing for an NRL debut in the coming years.
Who takes the next step
The Cowboys have a lot of quality players, but would love to see more consistency from them. Backrower Jeremiah Nanai is a talented players that need to perform more often. The same goes for Scott Drinkwater at the back and whoever the halfback ends up being. It’s time the Cowboys’ talented prospects become consistent first graders.
Three burning issues
Half measures
The Cowboys have a genuine star in Tom Dearden at five-eighth but have struggled to find him a partner at halfback. Chad Townsend was given the flick late last season and replaced by Jake Clifford, who did a solid job but failed to fire on the big stage. Payten is running his eye over young guns Tom Duffy and Jaxon Purdue as well and needs to make the right call.
Leaky defence
The Cowboys have plenty of flair but lack defensive constitution. It’s no good being able to score points if you can’t defend them. They too often get caught up in trying to simply outscore the opposition and need to find some defensive resolve.
Rooster Robbo
He is staying in Townsville for 2025 but Roosters-bound hooker Reece Robson is going to be a huge loss. Robson is tough-as-nails and a consistent performer and won’t be easily replaced. The Cowboys could be NRL title contenders in 2025 but that may change in the future with Robson departing.
Crystal ball
It’s hard to get a gauge on the Cowboys. They have a talent-laden squad but have lacked defensive resolve which makes it difficult to count them as a premiership contender. However if they become tougher in defence then this team could go a long way.
2025 odds
Winners: $17
Minor premiership: $17
Top 4: $4.25
Top 8: $2
Most losses: $15
*Odd courtesy of TAB
Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch
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