Todd Payten’s shock North Queensland Cowboys selection call ahead of Melbourne Storm test

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has plucked an NRL debutant from outside the club’s top 30 this week as North Queensland prepares to host the Storm. Read the latest NRL and NRLW selection news.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has plucked an NRL debutant from outside the club’s top 30 this week as North Queensland prepares to host the Melbourne Storm on Saturday.

Mackay Cutters hooker Temple Kalepo has been named in the No.14 jersey this week to fill a dummy half-shaped hole left vacant by NSW Blues hooker Reece Robson and suspended utility Karl Lawton.

The diminutive 24-year-old has strength well beyond his size, and he has the versatility to play lock – where he has started two Cup games so far this season.

Temple and Cowboys prospect Xavier Kerrisk have been sharing the hooking role in Mackay, alternating between starting and playing off the interchange until an ankle injury sidelined the rising star.

Payten said he had been keeping tabs on the former New Zealand under-16s representative since his days coaching at the Warriors.

Mackay Cutters hooker Temple Kalepo has been named to make his NRL debut for the North Queensland Cowboys against the Melbourne Storm. Picture: Mackay Cutters.

“Tough kid. He’s not a big frame but he throws himself around,” Payten said.

“He’s got great craft, he’s got good service, he was at the Warriors when I was there back in New Zealand prior to Covid.

“I liked what he produced and then he’s just come back through the back door, I guess, in a different way to find it (an NRL debut).

“Great story about perseverance. He’s been in the building now for a month and he’s impressed everyone. I’m excited for him and his opportunity.”

Kalepo is on a train and replacement deal with the Cowboys, but he did not play in either trial match with Payten instead opting to blood Kerrisk against the Dolphins.

Utility forward Harry Edwards will start at hooker, but he is yet to play more than 62 minutes this season.

Rookie halfback Tom Duffy will pair Jake Clifford in the halves with Jaxon Purdue again named in the centres with the club’s outside back depth crisis.

WHITFELD WINS FULLBACK RACE

Cowboys NRLW star Jakiya Whitfeld will get first crack at fullback after beating Krystal Blackwell for selection in round 1.

Jakiya Whitfeld of the Jillaroos scores a try during the women's 2024 Pacific Championships match between Australia Jillaroos and PNG Orchids at Suncorp Stadium on October 18, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Whitfeld was North Queensland’s most dangerous player in 2024, starring at left centre with six tries in nine appearances.

Cowboys coach Ricky Henry said the former Australian rugby 7s star did just enough to win the No.1 jersey.

“It was something that Jakiya talked about last year,” Henry said.

“She’s come in and done a whole lot of work in the off-season around the position of fullback – the organisation and et cetera.

“I’ve got to pay a little bit of respect to Krystal Blackwell as well, it’s been a fierce competition there and every training run she’s got the best out of Jakiya, and Jakiya has got the best out of her.

“So for us, Jakiya gets the nod. Strong ball-carrier, her awareness now has gone through the roof and her football IQ is great.”

Kiwi playmaker Rosie Kelly will partner Kirra Dibb in the halves, beating Tahlulah Tillett to play five-eighth.

North Queensland Cowboys recruit Rosie Kelly during pre-season training in 2025. Picture: Alix Sweeney / North Queensland Cowboys

It is the first time since round 3, 2023, that Tillett and Dibb have not been starting halves.

Henry said the trio would continue to battle for selection all season.

“Rosie came to us as an outside back, but she’s played a bit of footy as a flyhalf in rugby, so we chucked her out there,” Henry said.

“It was a bit of a shootout between her, Kirra and Tahlulah, and she put her best foot forward and trained really well and consistently.

“So she gets the nod this week and we’re looking forward to seeing her develop. (She’s got a) great running game; getting around the field is a key part to our attack, so she’ll play a big part in that.”

The Cowboys women kick off a Queensland Country Bank Stadium double-header on Saturday at 5.15pm against the Gold Coast Titans. The NRL side takes on the Melbourne Storm immediately afterwards at 7.35pm.

Originally published as Todd Payten’s shock North Queensland Cowboys selection call ahead of Melbourne Storm test