Todd Payten(born 18 January 1979) is an Australian professionalrugby leaguecoach who is thehead coachof theNorth Queensland Cowboysin theNational Rugby League(NRL) and former professionalrugby leaguefootballer.
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Todd Owen Payten | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 January 1979 Parramatta,New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 110 kg (17 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop,Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 7 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As a player he played as apropandsecond-rowforward for theCanberra Raiders,Sydney Roostersand theWests Tigersover his 16-year NRL career, winning a premiership with the Tigers in2005.He previously coached theNew Zealand Warriorsfor the2020 NRL season.
Background
editBorn inSydney,New South Wales and raised inTemora, New South Wales,Payten played junior rugby league for theTemora Dragonsbefore signing a scholarship with theCanberra Raiderswhen he was 16. While living in Canberra, he attendedErindale College,representing theAustralian Schoolboysin 1996.[4]
Playing career
editCanberra Raiders
editIn Round 18 of the1996 ARL season,after playing just tworeserve gradegames, Payten made his first grade debut for the Raiders as a 17-year old in a 16–24 loss to theWestern Suburbs Magpies.He played two games for the Raiders that year and represented the New South Wales under-17 team.[5][6]
In 1997, Payten played 11 games for the Raiders, scoring his first try in a 26–38 loss to theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.Over the next two seasons, he gradually made more appearances for the Raiders, initially playing from the bench, until he cemented a position as starting prop in 2000.[7]Over his seven seasons with the club, he played 90 games and in four finals series (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002).[7]
Sydney Roosters
editIn 2003, having been released from the final two years of his contract with the Raiders, he joined theSydney Roosters.His first game with the club was the2003 World Club Challenge,coming off the bench and scored a try in the Roosters' 38–0 win overSuper LeaguechampionsSt Helens R.F.C.[8]In Round 14 of the2003 NRL season,he played his 100th NRL game in a 15–14 win over theNorth Queensland Cowboys.He played 18 games for the Roosters in his lone season at the club, missing their run to the Grand Final after suffering a foot injury in their Round 23 win over theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs.[9]
Wests Tigers
edit
After being released by the Roosters, Payten joined theWests Tigersin 2004, which meant he was being paid by three clubs.[4]CoachTim Sheenssaid of the signing, "We had players likeJohnny Skandaliswho could take the ball up but what we were looking for was someone with a little bit of nous around his game. "[10]In his first season with the club, he played 17 games.
On 2 October 2005, he came off the bench and scored the final try of the game in the Tigers' 30–16 win over theNorth Queensland Cowboysin the2005 NRL Grand Final.In Round 21 of the2008 NRL season,he played his 200th NRL game in a 56–4 win over theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[citation needed]
In 2010, Payten was named in theAustraliantrain-on squad for theFour Nations.[11]During that year's semi finals, he suffered an injury to his ankle when he stepped on a tennis ball. He took no further part in the season, and missed games at the start of 2011 with knee andankle problems.In an effort to return to full fitness, Payten underwent experimental stem-cell therapy, saying, "At the moment I'm retiring unless this works dramatically.".[12]
In Round 3 of the2011 NRL season,he played his 250th NRL game in a 34–24 win over his former club, theCanberra Raiders.[13]
In June 2011, prior to the Tigers' Round 13 game against theNewcastle Knights,Payten announced that he would retire at the end of the season.[14]Payten said, "This isn't the way I wanted it to finish. If I'm really honest with myself, I'd be hard-pressed to continue on the way it's going at the moment. I can't."[15]Already a Level 2 certified coach, Payten said he intended to pursue coaching. He returned from injury to make six more appearances off the bench towards the end of the season, but was unable to participate in the finals due to another injury.
Coaching career
editWests Tigers
editShortly after his retirement in 2011, Payten was announced as the head coach of the Wests TigersNYCteam for 2012.[16]In his first season as coach, the Tigers finished 4th in the regular season. They went on to win all their post-season games, including beating pre-game favouriteCanberra Raiders46–6 in the grand final.[17][18]He coached the side again 2013, before moving into an assistant coaches role with the Tigers' NRL side in 2014.
In 2013, Payten made his representative coaching debut, as his New South Wales Under-18 team defeated Queensland 56–6.[19]He coached the side again in 2014, with New South Wales winning 24–10.
North Queensland Cowboys
editIn October 2014, Payten joined theNorth Queensland Cowboysas theirNYChead coach for the 2015 season and assistant to head coachPaul Green's NRL side.[20]On 4 October 2015, Payten was a member of the Cowboys' coaching staff in the side's 17-16Grand Finalvictory over theBrisbane Broncos.He remained on the North Queensland coaching staff until 2018, including their run to the 2017 Grand Final.
New Zealand Warriors
editOn 8 August 2018, Payten signed with theNew Zealand Warriorsas an assistant coach for the 2019 season, replacing his former Raiders' teammateAndrew McFadden.[21]
On 20 June 2020, Payten was appointed interim head coach of theNew Zealand Warriorsfollowing the sacking ofStephen Kearney.He was later offered the role on a full-time basis, but declined.[22]
On 4 September 2020, he was announced as the head coach of theNorth Queensland Cowboyson a three-year deal, starting in 2021.[23]The Warriors finished the2020 seasonin 10th place. Before Payten took over as interim head coach, the Warriors were 14th and had won just two of their first six games. Under Payten they won six of their last 14 games and finished four points outside the top 8.
Return to North Queensland
editIn the2021 NRL season,Payten had a difficult campaign with the North Queensland side remaining cellar dwellers for most of the season – winning only 7 games and finishing second last (15th).[24]
In 2022, the club returned to the finals series after four seasons, finishing the regular season in third and equalling a club record of 17 regular season wins.[25]They ultimately fell just one game short of theGrand Final,with Payten later named theDally MCoach of the Year.[26] On 24 February 2023, Payten signed a three-year contract extension to remain as North Queensland head coach until the end of 2026.[27] In the2024 NRL season,Payten guided North Queensland back to the finals with a 5th placed finish. They would be eliminated in the semi-finals by Cronulla.[28]
Statistics
editARL/Super League/NRL
edit| † | Denotes seasons in which Payten won anNRL Premiership |
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 |  Canberra
|
2 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | Canberra
|
11 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 |
| 1998 | Canberra
|
7 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 |
| 1999 | Canberra
|
16 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 |
| 2000 | Canberra
|
19 | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 12 |
| 2001 | Canberra
|
17 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 |
| 2002 | Canberra
|
18 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 8 |
| 2003 |  Sydney Roosters
|
18 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 |
| 2004 |  Wests Tigers
|
17 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 |
| 2005† | Wests Tigers
|
20 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 8 |
| 2006 | Wests Tigers
|
24 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 8 |
| 2007 | Wests Tigers
|
22 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 8 |
| 2008 | Wests Tigers
|
11 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Wests Tigers
|
24 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 8 |
| 2010 | Wests Tigers
|
21 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | Wests Tigers
|
12 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| Career totals | 259 | 19 | 0 | – | 0 | 76 | |
Footnotes
edit- ^Rugby League Project
- ^League Central
- ^Rugby League Project
- ^abDaniel Lane (2009).Forever Brothers.Lane Cove, New South Wales:Dolphin Press. pp. 162–163.ISBN978-0-9803578-5-1.
- ^Christian Nicolussi (24 March 2011)."Wests Tigers prop Todd Payten to play 250th NRL game on Saturday".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved29 June2011.
- ^"1996".18th Man.25 October 2017.
- ^ab"Todd Payten Matches played for the Canberra Raiders".Rugby League Project.Retrieved29 May2010.
- ^"Sydney Roosters humble sorry St Helens".The Guardian.15 February 2003.
- ^"Roosters to rest Fittler".ABC.19 August 2003.
- ^Greg Prichard (29 June 2011)."Payten's place: prop leads by example, says Sheens".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved24 March2011.
- ^"Lote Tuqiri: from unwanted Wallaby to Kangaroos train-on squad".The Sydney Morning Herald.27 September 2010.Retrieved20 October2010.
- ^Glenn Jackson (20 May 2011)."Payten turns to experimental stem-cell therapy used on dogs".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved26 May2011.
- ^"Payten to play 250th NRL game".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney. 24 March 2011.
- ^Ian McCullough (3 June 2011)."Wounded Tiger Lawrence up and running".National Rugby League.Retrieved3 June2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^Josh Rakic (5 June 2011)."Payten didn't want to take Tigers for a ride".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved5 June2011.
- ^"Payten new Tigers under 20s coach".Liverpool City Champion. 14 December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2012.Retrieved2 January2012.
- ^Joe Barton (30 September 2012)."Tigers thrash Raiders in U-20s grand final".National Rugby League. Archived fromthe originalon 12 October 2012.Retrieved10 November2012.
- ^Jon Tuxworth (1 October 2012)."Former Raider takes Wests Tigers to grand final victory".The Canberra Times.Retrieved10 November2012.
- ^Adam Kidd (27 June 2013)."Todd Payten enjoys representative win".weststigers.com.au.Archived fromthe originalon 28 June 2013.Retrieved27 June2013.
- ^"Payten joins the Toyota Cowboys".22 October 2014.
- ^"Payten to add more flair to Warriors".8 August 2018.
- ^"Uncertainty over Warriors future impacting on coaching appointment".National Rugby League. 4 August 2020.
- ^Newton, Alicia (4 September 2020)."Todd gets the nod: Cowboys name Payten as new coach".National Rugby League.Retrieved4 September2020.
- ^"'Wooden spoon' sledges and the 'curveballs' from hell: How 'scarred' misfits stunned the NRL ".Australia: Fox Sports.
- ^"How 'scarred' misfits stunned the NRL".Fox Sports. 13 August 2022.
- ^"'We'll be back': Payten's pledge after Prelim heartbreak ".NQ Cowboys.24 September 2022.
- ^"Wayne's major coup as Dolphins sign Broncos star; Cowboys extend Payten: Transfer Centre".Australia: Fox Sports.
- ^"The Mole: Cowboys show improvement in 2024 but worrying finals stat sparks thorny question".www.nine.com.au.
References
edit- Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson (2007).The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players.Wetherill Park, New South Wales:Gary Allen Pty Ltd. p. 422.ISBN978-1-877082-93-1.
External links
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