How North Queensland Cowboys will spend bounty unlocked by Valentine Holmes departure

Todd Payten has broken down his top priorities for how to spend the nearly $1m windfall freed by Valentine Holmes’ exit. Read how the Cowboys will splash their cash, how Chad Townsend reacted to his axing and meet the NRLW livewire set to star.

The Cowboys have indicated how they will use the $800,000 bounty unlocked by releasing Queensland Maroons star Valentine Holmes from the final year of his contract.

Payten said his first priority would be upgrading and extending the NRL’s most underpaid forward Reuben Cotter, who could see his pay packet double from next season.

“What it also allows us to do it upgrade and extend Reubs (Cotter) and get Griff (Neame)’s contract done,” Payten said.

“Robbo (Reece Robson) is the next piece of the puzzle. We’ve got a couple of veterans that we’re looking at (extending) for next year too in Macca (Jordan McLean) and Feldty (Kyle Feldt).

“So there’s a whole gamut of reasons as part of that decision.”

Reuben Cotter is in line for a huge upgrade and extension. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

McLean has been one of North Queensland’s most reliable middle forwards this season, averaging 114 metres and 22 tackles and Payten said he would like the 32-year-old to go around the block at least one more time.

“He’s keen to stay on and we want to have him around,” Payten said.

“They (negotiations) are preliminary at the moment, we’ll sit down next week through the bye and try and nut something out pretty quickly.”

NRL 2024 RD22 Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys – Valentine Holmes. Picture: NRL Photos

The Dragons announced on Thursday that Holmes had signed a three-year deal reportedly worth $850,000 per season – leaving North Queensland contributing around $300,000 in 2025 to get the deal over the line.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said it was “bittersweet” to let Holmes depart after five years.

“It’s bittersweet but in the end it was a business decision,” Payten said.

“He was looking to get a long-term deal done and we weren’t in a position to extend him out for what they were looking for.

“So he’s got an opportunity to go to another club and what that does for us, it gives us the ability to lock down our kids.

“In that centre position we’ve got a fair bit of depth; we’ve got Tommy Chester, Zac Laybutt, Viliami Vailea, Rob Derby, Braidon Burns, Semi Valemei – so there’s some options there for us.”

PAYTEN LIFTS LID ON TOWNSEND’S AXING AS CLIFFORD RETURNS

Chad Townsend looks dejected after losing the round 23 NRL match to the Broncos. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

North Queensland coach Todd Payten lifted the lid on his decision to axe veteran halfback Chad Townsend as the Cowboys fight to keep their rollercoaster season alive.

The Cowboys find themselves entrenched within a pack of clubs desperate to finish inside the top eight and they simply cannot afford to lose Saturday’s game against Canberra.

Townsend has barely missed a game for North Queensland since joining the club in 2022, making 70 appearances across three seasons with a 60 per cent win-rate, but the Roosters-bound playmaker was unceremoniously dropped a month out from finals.

Payten said Townsend took the news of his axing “like a professional”.

“He was disappointed. He’s handling himself really good at training, and I wouldn’t expect anything different,” Payten said.

“He was disappointed, but his energy around the group hasn’t swayed, and he’s trained pretty well the last two days.”

The Cowboys coach said it was time for prodigal son Jake Clifford to step up to the plate, but that his selection wasn’t necessarily a preview of North Queensland’s plans for 2025.

NRL 2024 RD13 Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys – Jake Clifford

“I’m looking forward to this week, nothing further down the line,” Payten said

“I’ve had conversations with our halves internally about what next season could look like, but that’s a next season problem, we’ve got a couple of months of footy to play yet.

“Both (Clifford) and Tom Duffy have been best the halves in the Queensland Cup competition.

“Cliffo got the nod through his NRL experience. He’s tackled really well, he kicks well, and he’s got the job done on a couple of occasions prior through the year.”

Clifford has played three NRL matches this season, beating both the Panthers and Roosters in impressive performances during the Origin period.

But it’s his work for the Northern Pride that has really enthralled, leading his side to the minor premiership with 12 wins from 14 games, scoring eight tries and assisting another 17 along the way.

Pride's Jake Clifford looks to pass to score a try in the Hostplus Cup Queensland Rugby League (QRL) match between the Northern Pride and the Sunshine Coast Falcons, held at Barlow Park, Cairns Picture: Brendan Radke

Payten warned his squad to be wary of a desperate Raiders side willing to fight for the victory.

“They’re a team that break tackles and they’ve got nothing to lose, so they’ll start fast on the back of a disappointing result for them last week,” Payten said.

“There’s a couple of teams looking to scrap one out and (I’m) looking forward to it.

“Both backrowers will need to play big minutes for us.

“We’ve got three big bodies on the bench, so we’ve got a bit of flexibility around backrow.”

The Cowboys take on the Canberra Raiders on Saturday evening, kick-off is at 5.30pm.

COWBOYS UTILITY PRIMED TO FACE FORMER CLUB

The Cowboys will unveil livewire utility Jetaya Faifua on Saturday to face her former NRLW club the Gold Coast Titans.

Faifua will make her first appearance of 2024 from the interchange for North Queensland’s pivotal match with its southern rival.

The versatile 21-year-old played seven games for the Titans in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Cowboys.

Jetaya Faifua passes the ball during the round four NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, on March 19, 2022, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Cowboys coach Ricky Henry said that Faifua would likely come on to give Maroons hooker Emma Manzelmann a spell while covering any backline injury.

“Alisha Foord broke her thumb last week in the game so we needed a utility to come onto the bench and Jetaya can play fullback, halves, hooker – so she’ll be out there on the field and pretty much do the same sort of job as Emma (Manzelmann),” Henry said.

“She’s pretty excited, a lot of her friends are there (at the Titans). I’m just hoping we can put a performance on and give her something to celebrate.”

Emma Manzelmann in action during the round three NRLW match between North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels at Totally Workwear Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)

The Cowboys struggled defensively through their first three games and last year’s runners-up the Titans will be the toughest challenge so far.

But last week the Gold Coast was handily beaten by the Broncos 44-4 with unstoppable centre Mele Hufanga scoring four tries.

Henry said he expected the Titans to focus their attack down the centre of the field.

“We’re expecting a real tough game, especially through the middle,” he said.

“They’ll be coming through that front door, given last week’s performance, so we’ve got to hold our gloves up there and go back at them.”

Kick-off is 12.45pm.

Originally published as How North Queensland Cowboys will spend bounty unlocked by Valentine Holmes departure