The North Queensland Cowboys’ axing of Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend as captains have raised questions on whether or not the membership is feeling a wage cap pinch.
On Sunday, Cowboys coach Todd Payten “made a long-term decision” to interchange Taumalolo and Townsend with Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden to turn into the group’s new co-captains.
Payten then raised eyebrows when he declared the choice was made with an eye fixed to the long run.
“It’s a long-term decision to be fair,” Payten defined.
“Looking at our group, a few guys right at the back end of their career and over the course of the next 12 months or next two seasons, they won’t be here for a number of reasons and we needed to make a shift in that regard so that we had enough time to give the support that Tommy and Reubs need to develop into the best captain they can be when all that experience around them is gone.”
Taumalolo has 4 years to run on the historic ten-year deal he signed in 2017, whereas Townsend is about to begin his closing 12 months of a three-year contract.
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Taumalolo is slated to earn $950,000 a season till 2027 whereas Townsend is on $700,000 in 2024.
On their weekly FootyTalk podcast, journalists Brent Read and Michael Chammas each consider there’s an opportunity Taumalolo could possibly be in one other membership’s jersey earlier than too lengthy.
“There have been some feelers put out there by other clubs to see if they have a nibble at Jason Taumalolo but they’ve baulked at that because of the price tag,” Chammas stated.
“I’m not saying Jason Taumalolo will leave, but this cold go down a path where he looks at other opportunities.
“I don’t know if he’s on all that much compared to the modern day forward… I’m not saying you’d pay him $950,000 but is Jason Taumalolo not worth $750,000 if we see what some of these other guys are on.”
“So what club Mick? Is there a logical club for him?” Read put to Chammas.
“The struggling clubs are after good front-rowers like the Dragons and the Bulldogs. But I’m not starting a rumour mill now because I’m not saying that Taumalolo is looking, all I’m saying that value for money, he wouldn’t be a bad buy at $750,000-$800,000 for another club.”
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Read agreed with Chammas that the Bulldogs and Dragons are two golf equipment who must be if the Cowboys are contemplating parting methods with one in every of their favorite sons.
“If I’m (Dragons coach) Shane Flanagan, I’m asking the question. The Dragons need a kill, they haven’t landed one (this off-season),” he stated.
In addition to Taumalolo and Townsend, there are a selection of Cowboys on big-money offers coming into 2024.
Representative centre Valentine Holmes is on a deal that may pay him $875,000 this season whereas stud backrower Jeremiah Nanai is on $900,000 a 12 months.
The Cowboys had been reportedly in a battle with different golf equipment to re-sign Tom Dearden, however had been in a position to get one thing achieved with the gifted playmaker, who prolonged his deal till the tip of 2029.
As Read famous, one of many membership’s new captains in Cotter, is due a well-deserved pay rise sooner fairly than later.
These strikes will go away the Cowboys having to make a minimum of a few powerful selections on some gifted footballers equivalent to Heilum Luki (off contract 2024, participant choice for 2025) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (2024).
Realistically, there appears no manner the Cowboys will have the ability to preserve each gamers.
Rival golf equipment are already circling the hard-running Finefeuiaki, who impressed mightily in his debut season, with the 19-year-old choosing up the Cowboys’ Rookie of the Year award.
“Are the Cowboys feeling the squeeze? With Heilum Luki, they are trying to extend as well,” Chammas stated.
“They are feeling the squeeze,” Read replied.
“We saw them feel the squeeze when they were trying to re-sign Tommy Dearden and when other clubs were coming for Tommy.
“Reuben Cotter is the big one. He’s on a deal that he signed years ago when he had multiple shoulder reconstructions and they re-signed him on a long term deal. I don’t think it pays him any more than $450,000.
“He’s in line for a massive upgrade as he’s a $800,000-a-year player.”
“There’s a lot of money long-term for Dearden, Drinkwater is on good money, Holmes is on good money.
“They have the young backrower as well (Finefeuiaki), who the Dragons are still chasing.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they start to feel the squeeze especially if they don’t start the season strong.”
Townsend’s type since arriving to the Cowboys on a three-year deal has been combined, main the group to a prelim in 2022 earlier than a down 12 months final season.
At 33-year-old and with the Cowboys throwing a stack of cash at Dearden, that is prone to be Townsend’s closing 12 months taking part in for North Queensland.
“Writing is on the wall for Chad Townsend. Chad’s only got a year left on that big money deal, I think he’ll be gone at the end of the year,” Read stated.
On paper, the Cowboys are one of the vital gifted groups within the league however weren’t in a position to recuperate after a gradual begin final season, and had been one in every of three groups to overlook the finals after making them in 2022.
Payten ought to have them raring to go, and in the event that they play as much as their finest, they’re a ok to win a comp.
Can they reap the benefits of what is going to possible be one of many final seasons they’ll have all their weapons collectively?
Source: www.foxsports.com.au