Todd Payten addresses Mahoney rumours with North Queensland Cowboys recruitment update

Cowboys coach Todd Payten made a clear statement of the club’s recruitment intentions, with a Friday list management meeting set to decide the immediate direction of the club. Read the latest.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten with Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney imposed on the background.

North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten made it clear that the club was not going to make a mid-season play for Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney, with a Friday list management meeting set to decide the immediate direction of the club.

With just one month to go until the NRL’s transfer deadline, the Cowboys have one spot left in their top 30 but Payten said it would not be filled by a dummy half.

The Cowboys mentor said discussions with Mahoney’s camp hadn’t progressed past an initial heads up that the 27-year-old Queenslander was open to leaving the Bulldogs.

“We’re looking at all of them (available hookers). (We were) made aware that one became available the other day, but it hasn’t progressed any further than that,” Payten said.

“To be fair, we have a list management meeting (Friday) afternoon, so whatever comes out of that I’m not going to tell you, but it’s always an ongoing conversation and we need to nail down a hooker for next year and beyond.

Reed Mahoney of the Bulldogs (L) and Matt Burton of the Bulldogs celebrate victory at full time during the round eleven NRL match between Bulldogs and Roosters at Accor Stadium, on May 16, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“It’s about next year. We’ve got Karl Lawton there who’s a hooker by trade, Xavier Kerrisk hurt himself on the weekend but we have high hopes for him, and we’ve got Harry Edwards who has done a really good job at different moments throughout the past couple of season.

“So we’re not looking to bring one in this year.”

Cowboys coach Todd Payten walks from the field before the start of the round eight NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on April 26, 2025, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

North Queensland will welcome back all four of its State of Origin stars for Saturday’s clash with the Tigers, with Payten indicating he would enter the game unchanged from one to 17.

He said Wests would come with a steely focus despite losing rising star Lachlan Galvin.

“I reckon they’ll be galvanised – pardon the pun,” Payten said.

“All teams coming off a break freshen up. They play some good footy, they’re expansive, they’ve got a great No.9, a really crafty fullback and a halfback that goes pretty good.

Jahream Bula of the Tigers runs with the ball during the round 10 NRL match between Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers at AAMI Park, on May 11, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

“So they’ve got some threats there and if you look at their middle forwards they’ve got some guys that run hard. Terrell May is in terrific form and probably has a point to prove.”

Payten said he was looking forward to watching North Queensland’s crop of rising prospects battle Brisbane in an under-20s curtain-raiser at 3pm.

“I think it’s a great initiative by the game. We’re one of a few clubs within the NRL that our players don’t get to wear our colours until they hit NRL, and this is a great opportunity for those guys to put our jersey on,” Payten said.

“It’s possibly the first step in their road to becoming an NRL player. It’s a great initiative from the game, and for our Queensland clubs to play against each other.”

The Cowboys take on the Tigers on Saturday, May 30. Kick-off is at 5.30pm.

Originally published as Todd Payten addresses Mahoney rumours with North Queensland Cowboys recruitment update