North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten expressed deep frustration following his team’s 38-14 defeat to the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Friday night. Despite showing flashes of promise, the Cowboys ultimately faltered against a superior Storm side. Payten’s disappointment was palpable, particularly after delivering a stern halftime address to his players.
In the post-match media briefing, Payten succinctly conveyed his feelings, labelling the performance as one of “pure disappointment.” He highlighted how the Cowboys failed to make the Storm earn their points, emphasising that their defensive lapses on the try line and consistent penalties made it all too easy for their opponents. He noted that the scoreline could have been more severe given the Cowboys’ mistakes.
The Storm initially started strong, but the Cowboys had a chance to capitalise when Melbourne’s execution began to falter towards the end of the first half. Unfortunately, the Cowboys could not convert these opportunities into points, a shortfall that proved pivotal in the final outcome. Throughout the match, the Cowboys committed five penalties and racked up 16 errors, showcasing a troubling lack of discipline.
Despite a promising moment when Cowboys fought back with a score of 12-4, the tide turned when Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes scored right before the break, followed by another try from the Storm just two minutes into the second half. Payten commented on how the pre-halftime try significantly altered the momentum, and the subsequent score shortly after the break compounded the challenges his team faced.
Reflecting on the match, Payten lamented the Cowboys’ decision-making, particularly when attempting to exit their own territory, indicating that these decisions were costly to their chances. His frustrations were evident as he expressed feeling “burning inside” and struggled to articulate his thoughts on the team’s performance.
Overall, Payten described his team as far from their best and expressed dissatisfaction with the tendency to allow self-defeating behaviours to influence the game’s outcome. This match served as a stark reminder of the Cowboys’ potential, whilst also highlighting the areas needing improvement to prevent future losses.