The 2025 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 31st in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden, they competed in the NRL's 2025 Telstra Premiership.

The club celebrated its 30th anniversary during the season, missing out on the finals for the third time in Payten's five years in charge.

Season summary Milestones Round 1: Tom Duffy made his NRL debut. Round 1: John Bateman and Karl Lawton made their debuts for the club. Round 2: Kai O'Donnell made his debut for the club. Round 3: Murray Taulagi scored his 50th NRL try. Round 4: Robert Derby scored his first NRL try. Round 8: Murray Taulagi played his 100th NRL game for the club. Round 13: Jaxson Paulo made his debut for the club. Round 13: Jaxson Paulo and John Bateman scored their first tries for the club. Round 15: Kaiden Lahrs made his NRL debut. Round 15: Jordan McLean played his 150 NRL game for the club. Round 18: Temple Kalepo made his NRL debut. Round 18: Scott Drinkwater scored his 50th NRL try. Round 22: Marly Bitungane made his NRL debut. Round 23: Nic Lenaz made his NRL debut. Round 26: Reuben Cotter played his 100th NRL game for the club.

Squad

Squad movement Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesJohn Bateman Wests TigersZac Herdegen Redcliffe DolphinsTemple Kalepo Mackay Cutters (mid-season)Karl Lawton Manly Sea EaglesNic Lenaz Manly Sea EaglesKai O'Donnell Leigh LeopardsJaxson Paulo Manly Sea Eagles

Losses Player Signed to Until end of NotesJodeci Baker-Tiraha Brisbane TigersMutua Brown Canberra Raiders (mid-season)Kyle Feldt St HelensKulikefu Finefeuiaki DolphinsJake GranvilleRetiredJai Hansen CQ CaprasValentine Holmes St George IllawarraD'Jazirhae Pua'avase Manly Sea EaglesWil Sullivan Newcastle Knights (mid-season)Jamayne Taunoa-BrownRetiredChad Townsend Sydney Roosters

Re-signings Player Until End of NotesTom ChesterRobert DerbyZac LaybuttViliami Vailea

Ladder

Fixtures Pre-season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceFriday, 14 FebruaryTrial 1 DolphinsBarlow Park8 – 50Derby, Subloo Rivett (0/1), Subloo (0/1) 6,936Sunday, 23 FebruaryTrial 2 Melbourne StormCasey Fields36 – 24Drinkwater (2), Burns, Dearden, Paulo, Purdue, Vailea Duffy (3/4), Drinkwater (1/3) 6,000 Legend:

Regular season

Matches Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 8 MarchRound 1 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles4 Pines Park 12 – 42 Drinkwater, Burns Duffy (1/1), Drinkwater (1/1) 17,335Saturday, 15 MarchRound 2 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksQCB Stadium 12 – 36 Purdue, Drinkwater Drinkwater (2/2) 18,714Friday, 21 MarchRound 3 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium 16 – 26 Neame, Taulagi, Purdue Drinkwater (2/3) 45,317Saturday, 29 MarchRound 4 Canberra RaidersQCB Stadium30 – 20 Taulagi, Clifford (2), Derby, Dearden Drinkwater (4/5) 15,897Friday, 4 AprilRound 5 Penrith PanthersCommBank Stadium 22 – 18 Taulagi (2), Vailea, Purdue Drinkwater (3/4) 10,320Saturday, 12 AprilRound 6 South Sydney RabbitohsOptus Stadium 24 – 16 Taulagi, McIntyre, Purdue (2) Drinkwater (2/4, 2 ) 31,347Round 7ByeSaturday, 26 AprilRound 8 Gold Coast TitansQCB Stadium 50 – 18 Clifford, Nanai (2), Derby (3), Purdue, Robson, Taulagi Drinkwater (6/8), Taulagi (1/1) 20,489Saturday, 3 MayRound 9 New Zealand WarriorsSuncorp Stadium 26 – 30 Purdue, Dearden, Derby, Taulagi, Nanai Drinkwater (3/5) 49,512Saturday, 10 MayRound 10 Penrith PanthersQCB Stadium 30 – 30 Nanai, Vailea, Clifford, Derby, Dearden Drinkwater (5/5) 19,324Saturday, 17 MayRound 11 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesQCB Stadium6 – 24 Derby Drinkwater (1/2) 18,965Round 12ByeSaturday, 31 MayRound 13 Wests TigersQCB Stadium 32 – 28 Bateman, Dearden, Drinkwater, Nanai, Paulo, Purdue Drinkwater (4/6), Laybutt (0/1) 17,470Friday, 6 JuneRound 14 Melbourne StormAAMI Park 14 – 38 Derby, Drinkwater, Paulo Drinkwater (1/3) 19,096Saturday, 14 JuneRound 15 DolphinsQCB Stadium4 – 58 Taulagi Drinkwater (0/1) 18,343Sunday, 22 JuneRound 16 Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium8 – 42 Burns, Taulagi Drinkwater (0/1), Duffy (0/1) 21,143Sunday, 29 JuneRound 17 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium30 – 24 Drinkwater (2), Laybutt, Nanai, Taulagi Clifford (3/3), Drinkwater (2/2) 13,882Saturday, 5 JulyRound 18 Melbourne StormQCB Stadium20 – 26 Derby, Drinkwater, Purdue Drinkwater (3/3), Clifford (1/1) 20,383Saturday, 12 JulyRound 19 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsQCB Stadium8 – 12 Laybutt Drinkwater (2/2) 18,778Thursday, 17 JulyRound 20 DolphinsSuncorp Stadium24 – 43 Taulagi (2), Dearden, Drinkwater Drinkwater (4/4) 23,172Friday, 25 JulyRound 21 St George Illawarra DragonsQCB Stadium38 – 32 Dearden (2), Drinkwater, Hess, Laybutt, Nanai, Purdue Drinkwater (5/8) 16,020Sunday, 3 AugustRound 22 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSharks Stadium12 – 32 Burns, Neame Laybutt (2/2) 6,321Sunday, 10 AugustRound 23 Parramatta EelsCommBank Stadium18 – 19 Purdue (2), Burns Laybutt (3/4) 11,562Sunday, 17 AugustRound 24 Newcastle KnightsQCB Stadium38 – 4 Drinkwater (2), Burns, Dearden, Nanai, Purdue Drinkwater (7/7) 16,640 Sunday, 24 AugustRound 25 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval34 – 28 Valemei (2), Burns, Dearden, Nanai, Purdue Drinkwater (5/6) 16,055Saturday, 30 AugustRound 26 Brisbane BroncosQCB Stadium30 – 38Valemei (2), Burns, Clifford, Robson Drinkwater (5/5) 22,903Round 27Bye Legend:

Statistics NameAppTGFGPts 19 1 - - 4 2 - - - - 13 7 - - 28 14 5 4 - 28 18 - - - - 22 9 - - 36 17 9 - - 36 24 11 70 - 184 6 - 1 - 2 21 - - - - 21 1 - - 4 1 - - - - 7 - - - - 11 - - - - 14 3 5 - 22 1 - - - - 16 1 - - 4 19 - - - - 10 - - - - 21 9 - - 36 20 2 - - 8 18 - - - - 3 2 - - 8 24 14 - - 56 21 2 - - 8 1 - - - - 15 12 1 - 50 10 - - - - 14 2 - - 8 4 4 - - 16 Totals 94 81 - 538

Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2025.

State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII Ashes Tour Pacific Championships End of Year TestsReuben Cotter Tom Dearden Robert Derby Harrison Edwards Nic Lenaz Jeremiah Nanai Reece Robson Jason Taumalolo Murray Taulagi Semi Valemei

Honours Club Paul Bowman Medal: Tom Dearden Players' Player: Tom Dearden The Cowboys Way Award: Tom Chester & Heilum Luki Rookie of the Year: Robert Derby JCU Education Award: Tom Duffy Affiliate Player of the Year: Marly Bitungane Club Person of the Year: Braidon Burns Townsville Bulletin Fan Award: Tom Dearden

Feeder clubs Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters – 12th, missed finals Northern Pride – 14th, missed finals

Women's team

References