Payten keen on keeping Clifford

NEW North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten has admitted the “Jake Clifford scenario” was not handled well by the club, but declared the playmaker was “absolutely” part of the club’s plans for next season.

The playing future of the Tully Tigers junior has been the subject of speculation after reports the Cowboys were interested in off-contract Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall last month, and subsequent reports the emerging halfback asked the Cowboys for a release.

Clifford was originally given permission to end his contract a year early, and had been linked with a move to Newcastle, but with the Cowboys unable to meet Marshall’s asking price, Payten, who was in Cairns for his first public engagement as coach of the Cowboys, made no secret of the club’s desire to keep the 22year-old on the club’s books.

“The whole Jake Clifford scenario wasn’t handled well by our club and I played a small part in that,” Payten said.

“But we’ve had a sit-down meeting with Jake, his father and his manager last week and he’ll be with us this year.

“And, if things go to plan the way I want them to go, he’ll be here for a long time.”

Clifford was tipped to take the mantle of Cowboys’ chief playmaker following the retirement of NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, but has struggled to maintain a place in the starting side, making 35 appearances since his NRL debut in 2018.

He faces a challenge to get back into the starting side, sitting behind Michael Morgan and Scott Drinkwater in the halves pecking order.

“He needs to improve but he’s not on his own in that regard,” Payten said.

“I’ve made it pretty clear in the areas that I need him to improve in and he’s given his assurance that he’s here to dig in.”