Opinion How do the Cowboys need to do for Payten to remain beyond 2026?

[James Rick]

What is a pass mark for Payten to keep his job beyond 2026? They had a disappointing season last year but I did have a feeling they'd slide after losing the likes of Townsend and Holmes who were important to their side. Dearden is a superstar so you can't write them off, but I just feel there are too many teams ahead of them at the moment a bit like Parramatta when they had Moses and not much else.

 

[Fangs]

Has to be finals.

Cowboys are a frustrating side to watch. Jekyll and Hyde stuff with them. Payten seems to struggle in getting consistent performances out of his team.

 

[beave]

Look i'd love to say finals but as everyone knows, there's a lot of factors that can effect the seasons results beyond the coaches influence/effect.

I'll also preface this by saying, i actually wanted him out of my club last year (the first 3 weeks was a deadset disgrace) so I will put that out there so as to state my position on the coach.

Top 10 he keeps his job, outside of that i'd say he's gone. Considering the set up we have in NQ (CoE, stadium, $$$, fan support, RL community) he has massively under achieved results wise in his time as NQ coach.

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

Get rid of him
Calling him useless is an insult to the word useless .

 

[The Man Shake]

The pass mark is a full head of hair.

 

[mozza91]

Where’s the ChapGPT generated thread about the Knights? I’m waiting with bated breath.

 

[beave]

Get rid of him
Calling him useless is an insult to the word useless .

I mean if we had a CEO we could get rid of him but we don't even have that......

 

[Dogs Of War]

I'd say he will need a fast start and ensure he remains in the top 8 for most of the year. If he can get past round 10 in the top eight, he should be safe for another season.

With this as the first 10 games, Cowboys should be aiming for a 7 out of 10. Maybe 6 out of 10 still gets him a pass if they are close in those losses.

Knights, Tigers, Titans, Storm, Dragons, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Bulldogs, Eels.

 

[some11]

3rd, 11th, 5th, 12th

Finals again or he's out. Reminds me a bit of Walters. Inconsistent results, positional changes for the sake of it disrupting whatever momentum they had.

He cannot be allowed to screw up Purdue's development.

 

[Valheru]

Has to be favourite for first coach sacked

 

[gerg]

A lot of people rave about their roster but I don't see it. Shit pack. After having a lot of young backrow talent, they lost most of them and replaced them with Bateman. The entire side stands around waiting for Dearden or Drinkwater to do something. If the opposition 'shuts down' these two players they've got nothing. But to answer the question top 8.

 

[Wizardman]

I'd say he will need a fast start and ensure he remains in the top 8 for most of the year. If he can get past round 10 in the top eight, he should be safe for another season.

With this as the first 10 games, Cowboys should be aiming for a 7 out of 10. Maybe 6 out of 10 still gets him a pass if they are close in those losses.

Knights, Tigers, Titans, Storm, Dragons, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Bulldogs, Eels.

I agree with the fast start comment. Looking at their first 7 games, I'd say he needs a minimum 4 out of 7 wins.....otherwise, I'd say he is very likely gone, especially with Origin around the corner with losing Deardon and maybe others.

 

[beave]

A lot of people rave about their roster but I don't see it. Shit pack. After having a lot of young backrow talent, they lost most of them and replaced them with Bateman. The entire side stands around waiting for Dearden or Drinkwater to do something. If the opposition 'shuts down' these two players they've got nothing. But to answer the question top 8.

who th f**k is raving about our roster for 2026 on the internet?

 

[gerg]

who th f**k is raving about our roster for 2026 on the internet?

They rank them 11th to win the comp but the first thing out of both their mouths is "they have a stacked roster".

I thought I heard it on another podcast too but can't find it.

 

[Dogs Of War]

who th f**k is raving about our roster for 2026 on the internet?

That every second year you look decent shows there is a good team in amongst what is happening. Not win the comp good, but make the top eight. How the coach pulls it together for enough years to push them to win the comp material is another matter.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Payten strikes me as one of these 'great assistant, ordinary head coach' guys

Theyd be the biggest 'momentum team' in the game. Can score or concede 4 tries in 10 minutes better than anyone. They could come 5th or 15th and neither would surprise, the later is more likely though.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

cut it loose. don't be like parra with brad or newy with adam who waited a bit too long.
just cut it loose early and start a mini rebuild.

drinky cant tackle and sometimes cant even catch.
glasshouse luki aint it
mids rotation is below mid. sam mac is good though hope bears jag him
some of their outside backs were putrid last year.
purdue is a star in the making i reckon.