Payten opens up on axing of Cowboys captains, reveals duo’s reaction to shock decision

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has explained the decision behind replacing Chad Townsend and Jason Taumalolo as captains with Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter.

Dearden and Cotter will make Cowboys history as the club’s youngest co-captains, with Payten telling Triple M’s The Rush Hour with A.B and Elliott “it’s a long-term decision”.

“Looking at our group, a few guys right at the backend of their career and over the course of the next 12 months or next two seasons, they wont be here for a number of reasons and we needed to make a shift in that regard so that we had enough time to give the support that Tommy and Reubes need to develop into the best campaign they can be when all that experience is gone.”

Taumalolo, who has played over 250 games for the Cowboys since debuting in 2010, signed a record-breaking 10 year contract with the club that ends after the 2027 season.

In a statement released by the club on Sunday, Payten said Townsend and Taumalolo will remain part of the club’s leadership group.

“Chad has had a profound impact on our club since his arrival, he has brought a different view to our players, particularly around professionalism and life away from football,” Payten said.

“Jase has always led through his actions, our players look to him in the toughest moments, which is one of the signs of a great leader.

“Jason and Chad’s roles will not change within our club other than not having the ‘C’ next to their name on the team sheet.”

Speaking on Triple M, Payten admitted the news took both Townsend and Taumalolo by surprise.

“To be honest they were a little bit surprised, but they understood where I was coming from,” Payten said.

“Both those guys have shown great humility around the decision and they’re willing and want us to be successful, and Tom and Reubes successful and they’re gonna to give them all the support for us to get there.”

Dearden and Cotter have both emerged as standout players at both club and representative level, putting in starring performances for the Queensland Maroons to announce themselves on the big stage.

“We believe Reuben and Tom will complement each other as leaders,” Payten said.

“They represent everything we stand for and who we are as a club. They’re local kids, they’re relentlessly dedicated to this club and their teammates, but they’ve also had some life challenges which they have had to work their way through and now they’re representative players.

“Reuben and Tom lead everything we do, whether that be on the field, in the video room or preparing for games. They are terrific examples to the rest of our playing group.”

Townsend is off-contract at the end of the 2024 season while Taumalolo is contracted until the end of 2027.

OLAM REVEALS WHY HE HAS ‘SOMETHING TO PROVE’ IN 2024

Tigers recruit Justin Olam has declared he has “something to prove” ahead of his debut season under rookie coach Benji Marshall in Leichhardt.

The former Storm flyer was recruited by the back-to-back wooden spooners in a player swap, with forward Shawn Blore who joined Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne outfit.

Olam’s 2023 campaign was disappointing by his own admission and he told the SMH his body “wasn’t 100 per cent ready to play”.

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“I had ongoing injuries that I played with, I didn’t give myself a chance to compete. I’m working on that, my health, to get back on track,” Olam said.

“I want to get back to that [top] form, that’s what I’m focused on. I feel I can do it. I still feel I have something still left to prove.

“I’m ready to compete, I just needed to get my body right – that’s my goal at the moment… the Tigers have a lot of faith in me because I wasn’t 100 per cent healthy when they talked to me.”

Olam already has a premiership under his belt, winning the title in 2020 and a year later he was named the Dally M Centre of the Year.