Legend reveals ‘alarming’ Cowboys sight as Townsend lifts lid on ‘up and down’ season, ‘shock’ call
The Cowboys have lost their last five games and pressure is mounting, but veteran halfback Chad Townsend believes North Queensland’s best football is ahead of them.
The 33-year-old won a club-first premiership with the Sharks in 2016 and knows what it takes to compete for a title, something the Cowboys haven’t done over the past two seasons.
From 2018 to 2021 North Queensland languished outside finals football, before emerging as title contenders in 2022 to finish in third place after the regular season.
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But after losing to the Eels in the preliminary finals that year they’ve been sorely underachieving and currently sit in 12th place.
Now they’ve got a must-win clash against the Rabbitohs looming in Magic Round, with Townsend “optimistic” the Cowboys will turn up.
“It’s been a bit up and down if I’m honest. Started the season really well winning three in-a-row, then we went into a little bit of a patchy period,” Townsend said to foxsports.com.au.
“Then obviously we’ve lost a couple on the trot now, so I think it’s been a bit of a mixed bag. We are yet to piece together a full 80 minutes which is frustrating.
“But I’m optimistic in the fact that our best football in still ahead of us, obviously we’d rather find that sooner rather than later.”
Townsend puts his team’s form slump down to two things: cohesion and defence, which have both been lacking in 2024 according to the chief playmaker.
Injuries have hampered the Cowboys, with Coen Hess suffering a season-ending knee injury before Round 1 while Heilum Luki has also been sidelined for an extended period.
Throw in the mix a hamstring injury to Tom Chester, another season-ending injury to Zac Laybutt and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown’s Achilles issue, and it’s fair to say injuries has been taxing.
“I think that 2022 year, we had a pretty steady list of personnel. We didn’t really get hit with any injury adversity, the coaching staff were lucky they could put in the same team sheet each and every week,” Townsend said.
“We had that cohesion, since then I know we used a lot more players last year and I know we’ve used plenty this year.
“I’d say probably our defence was in much better knick that season, probably comparing to some of the games this year I don’t think we’ve been up to standard.
“Look at the top teams in the competition and at the end of the day, games are won on defence and usually the top four teams are the best defensive sides.
“We are still working to get to that level and we are working really hard each and every week to get that done.”
For legendary hooker Mick Ennis, the Cowboys’ lack of punch in the middle is their biggest issue after being “out-enthused” by the Titans.
“I think they are down on confidence,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“Whilst they were sitting up near the top of the ladder (after three games) they definitely weren’t where they needed to be or where Todd Payten had them previously in a defensive mindset.
“As the weeks have ticked along, they just have been unable to defend for long periods. I have concerns over their middle forwards, it’s an area they are lacking.
“When Jordan McLean and Griffin Neame aren’t on the field, they really lack punch. Cotter is an absolute weapon, but he can play as one man, you need big bodies in the middle.
“Last week was alarming because I thought their first few sets were terrific then the Titans just rolled them. They looked to be out-enthusing them.”
Reports have surfaced head coach Todd Payten is under pressure to turn the Cowboys’ fortunes around, with The Australian’s Brent Read claiming the “walls are closing in” on NRL 360.
Payten signed on as North Queensland’s head coach ahead of the 2021 season, boasting a 49 per cent win record across his 84 games at the helm.
Despite rumblings his position is being questioned, Townsend remained steadfast in his belief the 45-year-old was the man to lead the Cowboys forward.
“He’s a great coach and I’ve really enjoyed working under him. He’s very personal with regards to his approach to his players,” Townsend said.
“He’s more than just a coach in regards to taking an interest in his players, it’s great. But also he’s someone who takes his job very seriously.
“You guys see him in the press conferences and things like that with how serious he is, but that’s because of how serious he takes his job.
“He has high expectations of our group and I’ve seen some of the disappointment we’ve had over the last couple of weeks and it’s warranted.
“I don’t think we as a playing group are giving exactly what he expects.”
Townsend also believes the Cowboys “aren’t too far off” being premiership contenders, but was honest in assessing the position his team is currently in.
“It can probably feel like we are a long way back in regards to some of the results we’ve had, but one thing I’ve learnt in rugby league is that you’re never going as good as you think you are,” he said.
“And you’re never going as bad as you think you are so, one week’s a long time in rugby league and the best thing about footy is that you get next week to play again.
“In this competition you can go on a bit of a run, but also any team can beat anyone on any day and that’s one of the best things about it.
“I wouldn’t say we are really far off but we have a lot of work in front of us.”
Meanwhile, Payten’s shock decision to axe Townsend and Jason Taumalolo as the club’s captains has come under the microscope.
NRL legend James Graham revealed on NRL 360 he was concerned by the ramifications of that call on the club’s veteran players.
“Now that arguably is the correct decision with that young leadership, that’s how Todd justified his decision,” Graham said.
“But how well has that been received by Townsend and Taumalolo and the ripple on effect of maybe not managing that changing of the guard as well as possible.”
However, Townsend put to bed suggestions he was disgruntled, revealing he has been assisting Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter whenever called upon.
“If I’m being honest it was something I didn’t see coming,” he said.
“It was a shock to me. But at the end of the day I respect decision, it was a huge honour for myself to be captain of the club.
“It was something I took very seriously and I have it my all. I can sit here, and I sat there after the decision was made knowing I gave it my all.
“And I do respect the decision, my commitment to the team and to the new captains will never waver. I am there for them.
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“I made it really clear that I am there to support them and I want to see them thrive and build in those roles.
“Sometimes that’s just the decisions that are made… I couldn’t control it and I didn’t make the decision so I just tried to move on and offer support.”
He also spoke incredibly highly of the pair, who both have represented the Maroons at Origin level and have years of NRL ahead of them.
“I think they are doing a really good job. I’m in constant communication with both of those boys. The sky is the limit for both of them in regards to their leadership and captaincy,” Townsend said.
“They are just high-performing individuals. They want to win, be better at their games and they want to be better people.
“They also want to be better leaders and I think they are doing a really good job but obviously they are learning as well.
“They are only six months into this new role and it’s not easy, it’s difficult. But learning the lessons and going through some adversity can only help you down the track.”