By Fraser Barton
North Queensland coach Todd Payten has challenged his players to use the pain of Friday’s home preliminary final loss to Parramatta as fuel for next season.
The Cowboys’ miraculous season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion in front of home fans in a 24-20 preliminary final loss to the Eels, who outlasted them late to fire back from 20-12 down to prevail by four points.
Jason Taumalolo gets his marching orders on Friday night.Credit:NRL Photos
“We put some respect back in the place,” Payten said after his side came agonisingly close to a fourth grand final in club history.
Having been tipped to finish bottom of the ladder they defied the odds to finish third. They then upset second-placed Cronulla in week one of finals before falling at the penultimate hurdle.
Payten said midweek “we’re not supposed to be here,” but his side battled bravely to the siren in front of a sold-out Queensland Country Bank Stadium, as they had done all throughout 2022.
A club that few rated a chance eight months ago, flipped the script and punched above their weight.
Said co-captain Chad Townsend: “Toddy’s really brought our squad together from day one and he’s been tough, him and his staff have coached the hell out of our group and in my eyes he’s coach of the year.”
Payten is determined to build on the Cowboys’ heartbreaking loss. Credit:Getty Images
Payten, architect behind the Cowboys’ renaissance from 15th last year to a historic home preliminary final in Townsville, is in negotiation with the club to re-sign until the end of 2026.
The bulk of their young talent are signed to fresh, long-term deals.
Murray Taulagi, Scott Drinkwater and Griffin Neame all inked new deals in recent weeks, reinforcing the belief the squad has in the club’s direction.
Veteran prop Jordan McLean is also set to re-sign, and with halves Tom Dearden and Townsend both signed until the end of 2024, the Cowboys can build a team around a group of players who they know are staying for the long haul.
Mid-season recruit Luciano Leilua said the match, much like his season, was a roller coaster.
Leilua joined the Cowboys after a mid-season switch from Wests Tigers and while his former side finished last, he came one game away from the final two.
Leilua scores in the Cowboys’ loss last Friday against Parramatta.Credit:Getty Images
In Friday’s clash his co-captain Jason Taumalolo was sin-binned in the first half, they locked the game up at 12-12 on halftime, a rocking 25,000 fans spurred them on late in the contest, but two tries in seven minutes from the visitors crushed their hopes.
Leilua said the result was tough but his coach has already set the tone for next year.
“(Todd) said we let that game go, and that we’re a better team to let a lead of 20-12 slip,” Leilua said. “Be angry but use it as a fuel for next year.”
Payten’s straightforward but blunt approach has been a welcome sign for 26-year-old Leilua, who believes he’s in career best form since his switch to the Cowboys.
The dial now turns towards to time off in the off-season, then doing it all again. Leilua is confident in the platform they’ve established after flipping the script in 2022.
“We just got to stay humble and make sure we don’t pump our tires up,” he said.
“Get ready for a big season next year and it’s obviously disappointing in the way we finished but we let that game go. It won’t happen again.”
– AAP
