Cowboys weapon Jason Taumalolo axed after club’s 2023 season flop

North Queensland has swung the axe with $10 million dollar man Jason Taumalolo dumped after the club’s 2023 season flop.

Jason Taumalolo. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

The Cowboys have axed Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend as captains.

The club announced the move on Sunday with a video confirming Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden will captain the club in 2024.

Taumalolo and Townsend led the club during their run through to the semi-finals in 2022 with a top four finish, but the club was among the biggest disappointments of the 2023 season, missing the finals.

Taumalolo and Townsend both came under fire during form slumps and there were even suggestions the club should consider putting the Kiwi wrecking ball on the open market.

Taumalolo, 31, famously signed a $10 million, 10-year deal with the club and remains contracted through until the end of the 2027 season.

However, the Cowboys have plenty of exciting young forwards emerging and the latest development with the captaincy will only pour fuel on the fire about his uncertain future with the club.

“This decision was not made lightly and is certainly no reflection on Jason and Chad’s leadership,” coach Todd Payten said.

Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“This was a long-term decision for our club. We have a number of senior players entering the back-ends of their careers, which is why we have made the decision to make a change now to help our new captains develop while still having experienced shoulders to lean on for advice in the playing group.”

Dearden’s promotion comes after he recently signed a long-term extension with the club through to the end of the 2029 season.

He emerged as one of the hottest playmakers on the market for the 2025 season before committing to the Cowboys.

“We believe Reuben and Tom will complement each other as leaders,” Payten said.

“They represent everything we stand for and who we are as a club. They’re local kids, they’re relentlessly dedicated to this club and their teammates, but they’ve also had some life challenges which they have had to work their way through and now they’re representative players.

“Reuben and Tom lead everything we do, whether that be on the field, in the video room or preparing for games. They are terrific examples to the rest of our playing group.”