From crisis talk to calm belief, the North Queensland Cowboys are now playing like a team reborn. After a dismal 0-3 start that had critics circling and pressure mounting on coach Todd Payten, the Cowboys have flipped the script, winning three on the trot and silencing early-season doubters.
The turnaround has been fuelled by defence, according to fullback Scott Drinkwater, who said confronting conversations inside the four walls sparked a culture reset.
“It was tough. It wasn’t the best feeling in the first couple of rounds,” Drinkwater told SENQ Breakfast. “We have turned it around a bit on the back of some good discussions. Players have jumped on board, and you can tell on the field that we’ve been buying in.”
Aggression and accountability key to comeback
The Cowboys had conceded tries too easily on their edges early in the season, with Drinkwater admitting their line speed and defensive cohesion simply weren’t up to scratch.
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“Our attack wasn’t great over the first three weeks. We changed defensively and on our edges, teams were scoring tries far too easily,” he said. “We needed to get up (on the attacking line) a bit more. We’ve corrected that, and it’s been good.”
The transformation hasn’t just come from systems and tactics — it’s come from individual responses too. Jeremiah Nanai’s short stint in the QLD Cup with Northern Pride was a turning point.
“It was just a kick up the bum,” Drinkwater said. “It helped me in 2022 when I didn’t make the starting side in the first four rounds. He’s been awesome with his comeback and has been one of our best players with how aggressive he’s been.”
Despite external speculation over Payten’s position, the coach’s unflappable demeanour has had a steadying influence on the squad.
“He’s really strong-minded,” Drinkwater added. “Not a lot fazes him or gets to him. Everyone always says there’s a rift in the team, but you can tell straight away that it isn’t true.”
The Cowboys now look to continue their surge when they host the Gold Coast Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium this Saturday.