Todd Payten’s future at North Queensland is set to come under increasing scrutiny after his side were battered 43-24 by the Dolphins.
The Cowboys have won just six times this season and never really looked like adding to this tally after a rotten first hour of play saw them fall behind 34-6 on the scoreboard.
They rallied briefly during an electric eight-minute spell in the second stanza, where they crossed for three straight tries.
However, in truth, they were well off the pace as their paper-thin defence was exposed by the Phins for the second time this campaign.
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Dolphins’ demolition job ramps up the pressure on Todd Payten
After flexing their muscles in a 50-18 triumph over the Gold Coast in Round 8, North Queensland have now won just two more matches.
Amid this horror run, the Dolphins travelled up to Townsville and handed them a 58-4 hammering.
Payten knew a similar effort in defence would yield another heavy loss against their opponents and implored his side to aim up during the week, otherwise he would have to swing the axe.
Yet his team didn’t respond to the warning as they were swept aside by Kristian Woolf’s men again.
Herbie Farnworth appeared to be perpetually in open pasture, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow also had the freedom of Suncorp during a rampant display that saw him bag a double.
The Phins’ danger men, who were expertly led around the park by Isaiya Katoa and Jake Averillo, repeatedly combined out the back of shape while laying waste to the visitor’s right-edge defence.
"We’ve conceded a lot for different reasons throughout the season," Payten explained post-match.
"It’s been because a bulk of possession has gone against us, but tonight that wasn’t the reason. They were just on different pages at different moments and it was really costly.
"When guys aren’t getting their job done, or it’s one-on-one misses or bad reads, they just poured through us."
However, the coach claimed he wasn’t feeling the pressure like he had in the past, despite his club’s underwhelming performances that have brought his job security under the microscope.
"It’s part of the business, I’m understanding of that," Payten said.
"I’ve got to the point where I don’t give that any energy - that hasn’t always been the case.
"Through experience, my focus goes on getting this team right with what we’re doing day-to-day. And then when I’m away from here, I’m getting better at being more present with my family.
"Those are my two focuses at the moment and that won’t change."