Canterbury Bulldogs v North Queensland Cowboys scores, results, time, program, entertainment, tips, odds, weather, how to watch

Todd Payten, the only NRL coach without a deal this off-season, is backing Reed Mahoney to shine in Friday night’s grudge match against his former club Canterbury as he says he doesn’t want to coach anywhere other than North Queensland.

Payten’s Cowboys are looking for their sixth win in their last seven games when they take on the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium. Victory will not only keep the Cowboys in the top eight, but will also increase Payten’s chances of a contract extension.

The club are reportedly in no rush to sign the 47-year-old to a new deal and last year inquired about whether Josh Hannay would take on the senior role before the former Cowboy signed with the Gold Coast.

Payten said he was ready to have one final talk about his future when he arrived in Sydney on Thursday and said all he could do was make sure his playing group kept winning. He added that he was mapping out the squad as he went along and was “still making decisions like I’ll be here next year.”

“I have no ambition to be anywhere else,” Payten said. “I love the city, I love the club, I fell in love with it the first month I went there, it was good for my family, I love coaching this team and group.”

Read the full story from Christian Nicolussi