North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten snaps at reporters after devastating defeat by Cronulla leaves his side’s season hanging in the balance.
Todd Payten was irate after North Queensland’s loss against Cronulla, hitting back at a media in a fiery news conference.
The Cowboys blew a six-point lead in a devastating 32-12 loss to the Sharks on Thursday night, leaving their playoff prospects hanging by a thread during a disappointing season.
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North Queensland is outside the top eight with 28 points, while the Knights and Rabbitohs are seventh and eighth, with 29 and 28 points, respectively, but have one game in hand.
When asked if he handled training in a’relaxed’ manner, Payten bristled.
‘We understand the preparation this week was rather relaxed; was that a mistake?’ the journalist inquired.
‘I believe I overheard some pre-match comments; Jason also mentioned that it was a more casual week,’ the journalist responded.
‘Our training sessions were brief, focused, and tough. Our group performs better when they are calm,’ Payten stated.
‘If I’m pumped up or regularly engaged with our guys, we know that it transfers my energy to them and causes them to tighten up.
‘There was no fooling around or hijinx; everyone was focused and completed their tasks. We were simply outplayed in the end.
‘We put ourselves under pressure and played well as a team.’
Payten also praised Jeremiah Nanai, who had to play against the Sharks despite receiving multiple painkilling injections before taking the field.
The backrower suffered a significant AC joint injury against Parramatta in Round 21 and is slated to miss this week’s game.
‘It was quite brave of the child; he needed to be needled to train, needled before the game, and needled at halftime,’ Payten recalled.
‘Makes us a stronger team, so he’ll be sore. He has eight days to get back on track before our game against the Dolphins on Friday night.
