EXCLUSIVE: Billy Slater Highlights Key Concern the Struggling Cowboys Must Tackle

North Queensland has had a dismal start to the NRL season, perhaps worse than any other team, and Billy Slater has noted that there is “plenty of work ahead” if the Cowboys hope to turn their fortunes around.

In their opening match, the Cowboys were completely overrun by the Sea Eagles, suffering a heavy 42-12 defeat away from home, which left fans and coaches alike extremely disappointed.

In response to this lacklustre performance, head coach Todd Payten made the bold decision to drop standout player Jeremiah Nanai, citing defensive shortcomings as the key reason behind this surprising selection move.

Despite the significant shake-up in the selection, the Cowboys continued to struggle on Saturday night, conceding six tries to the premiership-favoured Cronulla, ending the match with a 36-12 loss on their home ground.

This challenging start puts them in a precarious position early in the season, and Slater expressed uncertainty about how they can recover as worries around Payten’s squad intensify.

“There are definitely issues in Townsville,” he remarked during an episode of The Billy Slater Podcast.

“I’m not entirely sure what those issues are, but conceding 78 points in the first two rounds raises concerns for Todd Payten and his coaching staff.”

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North Queensland underwent several roster changes over the off-season, with players like Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt departing, while star forward Jason Taumalolo is still sidelined as he recovers from a foot injury sustained during the off-season.

Nevertheless, Slater believes that the issues in the middle of the field are perhaps the least of Payten’s troubles.

“Change necessitates a period of development and continuity,” he noted.

“Five out of their eight edge players are new… these are positions that depend on mutual understanding and coordination in defence.

“All seven of Cronulla’s tries came from the edges; they did not penetrate through the middle.”

“Defensive cohesion on the edges is crucial. If one player jams, everyone must jam; if one slides, everyone slides. It’s when players adopt different strategies that gaps open for the opposition.”

“The edge defence is an area that needs significant attention, as different players often have varying styles and tactics. That’s where I would begin—addressing the edge defence.”

The edge defence that Slater referred to has been exploited, with Sharks players like Kayal Iro and Sam Stonestreet each scoring twice in round two.

On top of their defensive woes, North Queensland has struggled offensively, managing only four tries over their first two games, despite having a wealth of talent at their disposal.

“Their attacking style looked disjointed,” Slater commented.

“There appeared to be a lack of cohesion and comprehension of the play, making the squad seem rather flat—nobody was running onto the ball as they should.”

“There is a significant amount of improvement required for the Cowboys.”

The faltering Cowboys will next face the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in Nine’s Friday night clash in round three.