Reuben Cotter’s new North Queensland Cowboys role as Todd Payten backs in Jake Clifford

Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter is in store for a career-first this week while Payten made a Clifford call that will be music to fans’ ears. Read the latest Cowboys NRL and NRLW team news.

Nathan Cleary of the Blues is tackled by Reuben Cotter of the Maroons during game two of the Men's State of Origin series between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Optus Stadium on June 18, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Todd Payten has backed in Cowboys fan-favourite Jake Clifford for North Queensland’s meeting with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Clifford will pair Tom Dearden in the halves, meaning teenage sensation Jaxon Purdue holds his place on the left edge with centre Viliami Vailea out injured for an extended period and a lack of outside back depth at the club.

While injuries may have forced his hand, it’s the fifth halves pairing Payten has deployed in 2025 and a move fans have been desperate to see.

Payten did not address his halves decision on Tuesday, but when asked about Clifford on Saturday night the coach said his halfback’s form spoke for itself.

“I don’t need to consider it (keeping Clifford in the side after Origin), at the moment he’s going good,” Payten said.

Jake Clifford of the Cowboys is tackled during the round 18 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on July 05, 2025, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“So just looking at the balance and the rest, and some other positions to be fair moving forward.

“I’ve got some decisions to make, but some guys are just doing the same stuff week after week, which is hurting. We’ll just reassess and look at it on Monday.”

Payten said John Bateman and Sam McIntyre would both miss the round 19 clash with soft tissue injuries.

“Johnny Bateman’s is a groin and he’s had a scan, he’ll miss one to two weeks, so not great news” Payten said.

“Then Sam McIntyre, he’s done his calf so it’s a bit more serious. Probably four to six (weeks). (They’re) both important parts of what we do, so some opportunities for other guys coming in.”

Co-captain Reuben Cotter has been named to make his first-ever NRL start in the No.11 jersey, although the Maroons star did start in the second row a fortnight ago against the Titans.

Reuben Cotter of the Cowboys runs the ball during the round 13 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on May 31, 2025, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Payten said he was hoping all of his Origin players would back up while winger Murray Taulagi will have until Friday’s captain’s run to prove his fitness after being named in the reserves.

“He’s named on the extended bench, we’re going to give him every opportunity to play,” he said.

“He ran yesterday (Monday), he’ll run tomorrow (Wednesday) away from the team and then join at the back end if he handles that okay in the hope that he plays and gets through the captain’s run.

“So a few balls in the air and couple that with the Origin boys, we expect those guys to back up and play, but our team may look like it’s named, or may look very different.

“We get some intel pretty quickly from the (Maroons) medical team. I just text them, see how they’re going, and then we reassess Thursday after they get back to town and make the call.

“But our plan was always for them to back up after games one and three.”

Cowboys NRLW coach Ricky Henry named and unchanged side for his second game of the season after beating the Titans in round 1.

Jasmine Peters of the Cowboys rtbduring the round one NRLW match between North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on July 05, 2025, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“Going into round 2 this week I don’t have to change the team, so I’m really happy about that,” Henry said.

Although she no longer has the ‘C’ next to her name, Henry said Tallisha Harden would be a key leader for the group moving forward.

“She’s worked really hard in the off-season and did a really good job of getting her body in the right shape,” Henry said.

“On the weekend she showed that she’s pretty much five years younger, to be honest, and it was really exciting to see her enjoying her footy.

“She’s leading the way through her actions as a leader regardless of whether she’s the captain or not.”

The Cowboys women kick off a Saturday double-header in Townsville at 5.15pm before the men take on the Bulldogs at 7.35pm.

Originally published as Reuben Cotter’s new North Queensland Cowboys role as Todd Payten backs in Jake Clifford