The Mole's season review: 'Leaderless' Cowboys prove $10m gamble on Jason Taumalolo was a flop

There's no sugar coating it - the Cowboys were a bitter disappointment in 2025, starting disastrously, losing their first three games and chasing their tails from then on.

They finished the year with a meagre nine wins - just two of which were over teams that made the finals.

After coming fifth the previous year, the Cowboys plummeted to 12th and rarely looked a team capable of matching the premiership's big guns.

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And had it not been for outstanding seasons from attacking dynamos Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden, North Queensland could have been genuine wooden spoon contenders.

The pair scored 20 tries between them and laid on many more, with any attacking flair the team produced coming from one or the other.

Desperate to find the right mix, coach Todd Payten used 32 players during the season but many just didn't seem up to the task.

One shining light was the emergence of speedy utility back Jaxson Purdue, who was blooded in 2024 but came of age this season, playing every game and topping the club's try scoring list with 14.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Fellow outside backs Rob Derby and Braidon Burns also had their moments, cashing in on the classy work of Dearden and Drinkwater with the ball.

The forwards lacked the authority to handle the big games, with the Cowboys appearing leaderless up front in many matches.

Origin players Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai were down on their 2024 form while Heilum Luki, who didn't play a single game, was sorely missed.

Best player: Dearden just shades Drinkwater - his enthusiasm and running game made him one of the best attacking players in the game in 2025.

Biggest disappointment: Jason Taumalolo is the face of the franchise but at 32 with a lot of miles under the hood, is slowing down and getting more injuries. Managed just 10 games in the season and puts his 10-year, $10 million deal - which doesn't expire for two more years - under the spotlight once again.

Key signing: The Cowboys have lost Blues Origin hooker Reece Robson but I think the man replacing him, Reed Mahoney, will actually bring more to the team with his work rate and speed out of dummyhalf.

2026 gains: Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

2026 losses: Reece Robson (Roosters), Tom Duffy (Broncos), Jordan McLean (retired)