Cowboys boss addresses coach chatter, says Townsville is ‘abuzz’ before grand final qualifier

North Queensland Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel has waved off talk of coach Todd Payten’s future at the club.
There are reports Reibel is on the verge of signing a new deal at the club.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports ahead of the grand-final qualifier against Parramatta at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Reibel said Payten was a true leader who was highly valued.
He said he had seen the media reports about Payten’s future.
“Todd is our coach, we would love to keep Todd at the club and when the time is right to be able to talk about that, we will do,” he told Peter Psaltis.
“He has been a marvellous addition to our club.”
Reibel said the town is abuzz ahead of Friday night’s game.
It’s the first time that the Cowboys have played host to a grand final qualifier, and he understands the stadium has sold out.
He said there’s a couple of fans from Mt Isa who drive in to every game, some 1000 kilometres.
“This year we have averaged around 19,000 for our home ground, 30 per cent travel that hour to get here, 10 per cent of them travel over four hours to get here.
“That’s a wonderful thing for our guys to have that support.”
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