The Cowboys have appointed NYC premiership-winning coach Todd Payten as coach of North Queensland's under-20s outfit for 2015.
Payten joins Paul Green's ranks from the Wests Tigers, who he won the 2012 NYC title with before going on to serve as an assistant to head coach Mick Potter.
The former Raiders, Roosters and Tigers front-rower with 259 NRL games of experience was among the contenders for was moved on by the Tigers board in September, but will pursue his top flight coaching ambitions north of the border after Jason Taylor was preferred for that role.
Payten takes on the role with Cowboys, which will see him assist Green's NRL squad on top of his work with their NYC side, after rejecting an offer to link with former Canberra teammate Andrew McFadden as an assistant coach at the Warriors.
Cowboys general manager Peter Parr was enthusiastic about securing Payten's services a week after Northern Pride's InTrust Super Cup-winning coach Jason Demetriou also agreed to join Green's staff as an assistant.
"Todd is one of the best young coaches in the game and has already shown he can develop talented under-20s footballers into regular NRL players," Parr said.
"He'll enjoy working with North Queensland's best youngsters, helping them take their games to the next level.
"The success he had with the Tigers isn't easy to achieve, but he'll be given every opportunity to do that here with the Cowboys.
"His addition gives us an outstanding coaching staff for the coming season."
