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As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2025, the Cowboys are already dealing with a raft of injuries which threatens to derail their finals campaign.
Todd Payten enters a crucial season in Townsville with the club looking to consolidate last season’s bounce-back campaign in which the Cowboys finished fifth before bowing out in the second week of the playoffs.
Injuries have made his job considerably harder in the offseason with Jason Tamalolo likely to miss the first month of the season due to a foot injury and Heilum Luki and Tom Chester already ruled out for the year due to ACL tears suffered in training mishaps.
The Cowboys have made a few adjustments to their roster heading into the new season with Valentine Holmes, Chad Townsend and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki taking up offers elsewhere.
They have not been able to make any major signings apart from John Bateman heading north from the Wests Tigers after an underwhelming stint at Concord.
They have already lost Reece Robson for 2026 after the NSW and Australian representative hooker signed a lucrative deal with the Roosters.
The Cowboys don’t have much wriggle room in their salary cap and after a few departures, they were able to add John Bateman from the Wests Tigers as their only high-profile recruit.
Bateman, when he is switched on, can be one of the NRL’s most potent second-rowers but his form at the Tigers was nothing like his impact in his first NRL stint at the Canberra Raiders, highlighted by their run to the 2019 grand final.
The Cowboys have added Karl Lawton from the Sea Eagles to provide depth at hooker and in the pack while Jaxson Paulo has also made the switch from Bookvale and he could be a handy option out wide at centre or wing.
Townsend was told early last season that he would not be required in 2025 and he has signed a one-season deal with the Roosters.
Jake Granville has retired and Kyle Felt, another club stalwart, will finish his career at St Helens.
Holmes was given an early release to join St George Illawarra after being told his contract would not be renewed after 2025 while Finefeuiaki was given a huge pay increase by the Dolphins and the Cowboys could not afford to keep him on the books.
With Luki now out for the season the loss of Finefeuiaki will be even greater.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Payten has a few headaches all over the park. Out wide he needs to find replacements for Holmes and Feldt with Semi Valemei and Paulo likely to get the nod with Chester out for the season.
In the halves, Jake Clifford took over from Townsend late last season as the starting halfback and will again be given the main playmaking duties alongside Kangaroos five-eighth Tom Dearden.
With Luki hobbled long term, Bateman is the natural choice to start in the second row.
And while Tamalolo is out, Griffin Neame and Jordan McLean will pick up the slack up front, along with Coen Hess, who is back after missing last year with a torn Achilles.
Lawton is expected to take over as the bench utility following the retirement of Granville.
1 Scott Drinkwater
2 Jaxson Paulo
3 Semi Valemei
4 Viliami Vailea
5 Murray Taulagi
6 Tom Dearden
7 Jake Clifford
8 Jordan McLean
9 Reece Robson
10 Griffin Neame
11 Jeremiah Nanai
12 John Bateman
13 Reuben Cotter
Interchange
14 Karl Lawton
15 Thomas Mikaele
16 Sam McIntyre
17 Coen Hess
Other squad members: Jason Taumalolo, Heilum Luki, Tom Chester (injured), Braidon Burns, Harrison Edwards, Kai O’Donnell, Robert Derby, Jaxon Purdue, Thomas Duffy, Zac Laybutt, Jamal Shibasaki, Kaiden Lahrs
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