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Cowboys announce Todd Payten as new head coach

Todd Payten set to be named North Queensland Cowboys coach. (Getty Images)
Todd Payten set to be named North Queensland Cowboys coach. (Getty Images)

North Queensland confirm the appointment of Todd Payten as the NRL club's new head coach on Friday.

Payten, who has impressed this year in a caretaker role at the Warriors, is set to be named as Paul Green's replacement on a three-year deal at the Cowboys.

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The ex-Wests Tigers player was a member of Green's coaching staff during the Cowboys' 2015 premiership season and will be making a return to Townsville.

Payten has been steering the Warriors ship since June following the sacking of Stephen Kearney, but declined to take on the job permanently due to his desire to live in Australia to support his ill father-in-law.

The Warriors sit ninth on the NRL ladder despite being located in Australia since early May and Payten has indicated he wants to see out the season before linking with the Cowboys.

New NRL CEO

Peter V'landys has declared Andrew Abdo will be the NRL's greatest ever CEO, insistent he can now take a back seat as ARL Commission chairman with a full-time boss in place.

The leading contender and interim chief since Todd Greenberg walked in April, Abdo will take charge of the game's next chapter out of COVID-19.

"We didn't need to look far. Andrew will probably be the best CEO the NRL will ever have," V'landys said.

"He's had the longest job interview ever.

"Andrew has led the ship through this emergency, he's been calm and his work ethic has been extraordinary.”