Cowboys coach Todd Payten snaps at journo as season hangs by a thread
Cowboys coach Todd Payten has returned serve at a journalist questioning his side’s attitude after being routed by the Sharks.
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Cowboys coach Todd Payten has returned serve at a journalist questioning his side’s attitude at training during the week after they were bested by the Sharks in Round 25.
North Queensland held a 12-6 lead after 23 minutes but leaked 26 unanswered points to leave their finals hopes in a dire state after the 32-12 loss at home.
The Cowboys could get left in the top eight’s wake and currently sit on 28 points, while the Knights and Rabbitohs sit seventh and eighth on 29 and 28 respectively with a game in hand. Also in the Rabbitohs’ advantage is a Round 26 bye.
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Payten was quizzed if his “relaxed” approach to training ahead North Queensland’s crucial clash contributed to a poor performance.
“We hear the preparation this week was pretty relaxed, was that a mistake?” the journalist asked.
“Were you at training?” Payten quipped.
“I think I heard some pre-match conversations, Jason said it as well that it was a bit more a relaxed week,” the journalist replied.
“Our training sessions were short, sharp and intense. Our group respond better when they are relaxed,” Payten said.
“If I’m amped up or I am consistently in to our players we know that pushes my energy on to them and they tighten up.
“There was no mucking around or hijinx, everyone was focused and got their job done. We were just outplayed in the end.
“We put ourselves under some pressure and played a good team.”
He also revealed Jeremiah Nanai’s “brave” efforts to take the field, having to have multiple painkilling injections to feature against the Sharks.
The backrow star suffered a high-grade AC joint blow against the Eels in Round 21 and was expected to miss another week.
“It was pretty brave from the kid, he needed to get needled to train, needled before the game and at halftime,” Payten said.
“Makes us a better team so he will be sore. He’s got eight days to get himself going again before we play the Dolphins on Friday night.”
However, it doesn’t change the fact the Cowboys are up against it in the battle to sneak into the top eight.
The winner of the Eels-Roosters clash on Friday night will draw level with the Cowboys, and if it’s Parramatta, the Cowboys will drop to tenth on points differential.
Although either the Rabbitohs or Knights will stay in reach after they play on Sunday afternoon, the teams still in finals contention need to make a move to have any chance of making finals.
For the Sharks, who a matter of weeks ago were being touted as the team to miss out on the top eight, they are in the top four, although Melbourne can go ahead of them with a win over the Dragons on Saturday night.
However, the side are now well entrenched in the top eight and have all but sealed their place in September.
Originally published as Cowboys coach Todd Payten snaps at journo as season hangs by a thread
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