Mole’s season review: Young gun tipped to fill Cowboys void ‘for the next decade’
Rewind 12 months and North Queensland were a club in crisis, with many predicting them to battle for the wooden spoon this season and labelling Todd Payten as a dead man walking in the head coaching role.
So while finishing eighth on the NRL ladder and getting knocked out in the first week of the finals may have been something of a downer, there can be little doubt the Cowboys over-achieved in 2026.
Jaxon Purdue celebrates with his Cowboys teammates. Getty Images
After coming in at a lowly 12th the previous year, this campaign was a significant step in the right direction for Payten’s side.
Had inspirational skipper Tom Dearden played more than 14 games, the Cowboys may well have finished even higher up the ladder.
And most encouraging of all, youngsters like Tom Chester, Zac Laybutt and Jaxon Purdue brought a new exciting edge to the Cowboys backline, as their pace and class produced some memorable tries and moments.
With experienced fullback Scott Drinkwater moving on to the Dragons next year, Purdue has been pencilled in for the all-important fullback spot and could fill it for the next decade if he goes well.
Payten earned himself a new deal mid-season and there seems little doubt that he is getting the best out of a squad that still struggles for consistency.
Few will forget the humiliation of a club record 82-12 loss to the Roosters at home, yet the Cowboys were able to beat some of the best teams in the league.
If anything, the season was too long for a squad thin on depth – they were right up their at the half-way mark of the year but lost eight of their last 12 games, including the elimination final against the Sharks.
The squad could definitely use more size and depth in the forwards, with John Bateman (Bradford Bulls) and Sam McIntyre (Warriors) moving on.
Hopefully, they have some cash up their sleeves for the November 1 garage sale and can pick up some bargains to give the squad a more balanced look.
Best player: It probably wasn’t Reuben Cotter’s best season, but his energy and enthusiasm - and leadership of the pack - made him an invaluable man in the Cowboys’ finals charge.
Biggest disappointment: The club had high hopes that new signing Ethan King from the Roosters would add some spark, but failed to deliver and managed only five games all season.
Key signing: Sharks star Jesse Ramien is one of the hardest centres in the NRL to stop in full flight and he could be a very good fit in a young backline.
2027 gains: Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Sione Katoa (Sharks), Joe Chan (Storm)
2027 losses: Scott Drinkwater (Dragons), Mason Barber (Perth Bears), John Bateman (Bradford Bulls), Sam McIntyre (Warriors)
