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Join our fantasy SRP leagueCan the Cowboys return to finals in 2026?
Nicholas Quinlan • January 28th, 2026 4:51 pm
With coach Todd Payten entering the final year of his contract, Corey Parker believes the pressure is on the 47-year-old to deliver results on the field as the Cowboys look to break into the top eight once again.
Having consistently yo-yoed between finals and missing the eight through his five-year tenure, there have certainly been some frustrations about how Payten has this team performing.
Considering they boast a squad with Origin representatives in Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai, a 12th-place finish last year saw those frustrations become more visible to deliver wins.
“With a squad like they have and the players that they have and the international experience (and) the Origin experience, they need to produce on the park,” Parker told SENQ Breakfast.
But to help return to finals once more, they’ll need to ensure that they handle the challenge associated with their trip to Las Vegas to start the season.
“The other thing to throw into it and we’ve heard from the Broncos (about this),” he continued.
“Everyone that has done the Vegas trip and they’ve gone over and played in Vegas, which the Cowboys are doing, there’s been a lag (in their performance after), and there hasn’t been a huge (amount) of positivity coming out from a football experience.
“It’s a great way to start the season, but there has been a lag on how teams have dealt with it.
“Now, they’ve got to deal with it. So, for the Cowboys this season, I don’t want to hear any other talk other than the fact that everyone is working hard in the off-season, that’s how it is.
“But they need to value their defensive habits and what they do more than their attack.
“If they can do that, they can well and truly go where they need to go.”
However, the former Queensland lock remains unconvinced they can do so in 2026.
"They've got a squad at the moment, which would suggest that with some young stars coming through with another pre-season under the belt, they can make a run for finals," he explained.
"Will they play? I'm not so sure.
"Nothing over the last four or five years has given me enough substance for me to confidently say that they'll play semi-final football."
North Queensland will begin their preparations for their Las Vegas season opener against the Bulldogs on February 7 at Jubilee Oval.
Their first match of the 2026 season is against the Newcastle Knights on March 1 in Allegiant Stadium.
