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Sport Nation
The tactical change that led to a Cowboys revival
Charles Goodsir • April 23rd, 2025 1:27 pm
North Queensland Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has praised the team’s reversal in form following a concerning 0-3 start.
The Cowboys lost their opening three matches by an average margin of 21 points which immediately heaped pressure on the playing group and coach Todd Payten.
North Queensland have since won three in a row to square the leger including gritty wins against the Penrith Panthers in Sydney and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Perth.
Drinkwater credited the team’s changed attitude in defense for their current winning streak and says that won’t change ahead of Round 8.
“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.
“Our attack wasn’t great over the first three weeks. We changed defensively and on our edges, teams were scoring tries far too easily.
“We needed to get up (on the attacking line) a bit more. We’ve corrected that and it’s been good.
“(Jeremiah Nanai) had to go up to Cairns and play for the Northern Pride (in the QLD Cup).
“It was just a kick up the bum. 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.”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was under intense scrutiny at the start of the season following the poor losses to start the 2025 season.
However, Drinkwater said Payten rarely displays any signs of stress or doubt which he believes has allowed the players to remain calm despite the early defeats.
“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.
“We don’t see too much of the Sydney or Brisbane media so we don’t know what’s happening."
The Cowboys host the Gold Coast Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday as they aim to make it four straight wins.
