# Aaron Payne > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aaron_Payne > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aaron_Payne.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Payne > Source revision: 1325134468 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Australian rugby league footballer & coach (born 1982)}} {{For|the American sprinter|Aaron Payne (sprinter)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Aaron Payne |fullname = |image = |caption = |position = {{rlp|HK|HB}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|11|18|df=y}} |birth_place = [Townsville, Queensland](/source/Townsville%2C_Queensland), [Australia](/source/Australia) |retired = yes |height = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|86|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = [North Qld Cowboys](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) |year1start = 2002 |year1end = 12 |appearances1 = 219 |tries1 = 25 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 1 |points1 = 101 |teamA = [NRL All Stars](/source/NRL_All_Stars_team) |yearAstart = 2012 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |updated = |source = [http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/player?playerid=108504&teamid=3399 Herald Sun][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/aaron-payne/summary.html RLP] }} '''Aaron Payne''' (born 18 November 1982) is an Australian [rugby league](/source/rugby_league) coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the [Townsville Blackhawks](/source/Townsville_Blackhawks) in the [Intrust Super Cup](/source/Intrust_Super_Cup). Primarily a {{rlp|hk}}, he played his entire career for the [North Queensland Cowboys](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/12/04/legend-qa-aaron-payne/|title=Legend Q&A: Aaron Payne|date=4 December 2019|website=NRL}} ==Background== Born in [Townsville, Queensland](/source/Townsville%2C_Queensland), Payne played his junior rugby league for the Central Tigers and attended [Kirwan State High School](/source/Kirwan_State_High_School) before being signed by the [North Queensland Cowboys](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys). His father, Mark, played two games for [Queensland](/source/Queensland_rugby_league_team) in 1979.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/the-quintessential-cowboy/story-e6frep5x-1111114462965|title=Aaron Payne is a north Queenslander to his bootstraps|last=Marshall|first=Matt|date=21 September 2007|work=[The Courier-Mail](/source/The_Courier-Mail)|publisher=[News Limited](/source/News_Limited)|accessdate=20 September 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/03/07/11202_cowboys.html|title=Payne out to regain authority|last=Stewart|first=Antony|date=7 March 2008|work=[Townsville Bulletin](/source/Townsville_Bulletin)|publisher=[News Limited](/source/News_Limited)|accessdate=20 September 2010}} ==Playing career== In 1999, while playing for Centrals, Payne represented the Queensland under-17 team, starting at halfback in a loss to New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://18thman.com/representative/under-17s-origin/1999-2/|title=1999|website=18th Man|date=25 October 2017}} In 2001, he represented the Queensland under-19 team, coming off the bench in a 28–14 win over the Blues.{{Cite web|url=https://18thman.com/representative/under-19s-origin/2001-2/|title=2001|website=18th Man|date=26 October 2017}} In Round 12 of the [2002 NRL season](/source/2002_NRL_season), Payne made his NRL debut for the Cowboys in a 40–32 win over the [St George Illawarra Dragons](/source/St_George_Illawarra_Dragons). In his rookie season, he played five games, starting one at {{rlp|hb}}. In 2003, Payne represented the [Queensland Residents](/source/Queensland_Residents_rugby_league_team) team and played four NRL games, scoring two tries.{{cite news|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2007/12/15/9122_sport.html|title=Payne's flag pledge|last=Stewart|first=Antony|date=15 December 2007|work=[Townsville Bulletin](/source/Townsville_Bulletin)|publisher=[News Limited](/source/News_Limited)|accessdate=20 September 2010}} In 2004, after a permanent move to {{rlp|hk}}, Payne became a regular in the Cowboys' side. He played 25 games that season, including the club's first ever finals appearances. His form earned him a spot in [Queensland's](/source/Queensland_Maroons) [Emerging Origin](/source/List_of_QAS_Emerging_Origin_squads) squad for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/07/27/players-unlucky-not-to-have-worn-the-maroons-jersey/|title=Players unlucky not to have worn the Maroons jersey|date=27 July 2019|website=QRL}} In 2005, Payne played all 28 games for the Cowboys, including the [2005 NRL Grand Final](/source/2005_NRL_Grand_Final), in which they lost 16–30 to the [Wests Tigers](/source/Wests_Tigers).{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys-side-better-than-2005-nrl-grand-final-team-says-aaron-payne/story-fnp0lyn6-1227462235238|title=Cowboys side better than 2005 Grand Final team|date=29 July 2015|website=The Courier Mail}} In 2006, he won the Paul Bowman Medal, the Cowboys Player of the Year award, for the first time.{{cite web|url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=honours |title=Honours: North Queensland Cowboys |work=cowboys.com.au |publisher=[North Queensland Cowboys](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) |accessdate=30 October 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012233017/http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=honours |archivedate=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/thaidays-triple-treat/story-e6frep76-1111117729194|title=Sam Thaiday Broncos best; Aaron Payne No.1 at Cowboys|last=Davis|first=Greg|date=11 October 2008|work=[The Sunday Mail](/source/The_Sunday_Mail_(Brisbane))|publisher=[News Limited](/source/News_Limited)|accessdate=20 September 2010}} In Round 18 of the [2007 NRL season](/source/2007_NRL_season), Payne played his 100th NRL game in a 16–24 loss to the [Brisbane Broncos](/source/Brisbane_Broncos).{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-13/nrl-preview-round-18/2502706?pfmredir=sm|title=NRL Preview: Round 18|date=13 July 2018|website=ABC}} In 2008, in what was a poor season for the Cowboys, Payne won the Paul Bowman Medal for the second time and also received the Players' Player and Club Person of the Year awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/aaron-payne-the-heart-and-soul-of-north-queensland-cowboys/story-e6frepbf-1226044387281?sv=a308641af0959d6a87631559b4714296|title=Aaron Payne the heart and soul of North Queensland|date=25 April 2011|website=The Courier Mail}} In 2009, Payne played just 16 games due to injury. The injury occurred in a [Round 17](/source/2009_NRL_season) win over the [Cronulla Sharks](/source/Cronulla_Sharks), in which Payne was playing his 150th NRL game. The injury ruled him out for the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/gutsy-cowboys-suffer-triple-injury-blow-20090705-gdtme2.html|title=Gutsy Cowboys suffer triple injury blow|date=5 July 2009|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} In 2010, Payne played 21 games for the club, missing three weeks due to an ankle injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-04-13/payne-out-for-up-to-six-weeks/393884|title=Payne out for up to six weeks|date=13 April 2020|website=ABC}} Payne is often considered an underrated player, operating in the shadows of high-profile Cowboys players such as [Johnathan Thurston](/source/Johnathan_Thurston) and [Matt Bowen](/source/Matt_Bowen). Former [Australian](/source/Australian_Kangaroos) captain [Gorden Tallis](/source/Gorden_Tallis) has described Payne as the "glue" that holds the Cowboys together.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-forgotten-cowboy/story-e6frexnr-1111114370427|title=The forgotten Cowboy|last=Walshaw|first=Nick|date=8 September 2007|work=[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph_(Sydney))|publisher=[News Limited](/source/News_Limited)|accessdate=20 September 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys-season-over-when-aaron-payne-injured/story-e6frepbf-1225765781044|title=Cowboys season over when Aaron Payne injured|last=Tallis|first=Gorden|date=25 August 2009|work=[The Courier-Mail](/source/The_Courier-Mail)|publisher=[News Limited](/source/News_Limited)|accessdate=20 September 2010}} In 2011, he re-signed with the Cowboys for a further season as the club made the finals for the first time in four seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/payne-resigns-season-2012-4023/|title=Payne re-signs for season 2012|date=21 September 2011|website=Zero Tackle}} On 4 February 2012, Payne earned the first senior representative honour of his career when he started at {{rlp|hk}} for the [NRL All Stars](/source/NRL_All_Stars_team) in their 36–28 win over the [Indigenous All Stars](/source/Indigenous_All_Stars_(rugby_league)). Payne was a late call-up by All Stars' coach [Wayne Bennett](/source/Wayne_Bennett_(rugby_league)) for the injured [Cameron Smith](/source/Cameron_Smith_(rugby_league%2C_born_1983)).{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl-allstars-call-up-cowboy-payne-20120126-1t71u.html|title=NRL All-Stars call up Cowboy Payne|date=26 January 2012|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/aaron-payne-finally-gets-his-rep-team-break-at-30/story-e6frg7mf-1226261276759|title=Aaron Payne finally gets his rep team break at 30|last=McDonald|first=Margie|date=3 February 2012|work=The Australian|accessdate=4 February 2012}} In Round 6 of the [2012 NRL season](/source/2012_NRL_season), Payne played his 200th NRL game, the third Cowboy to do so, in a 18–42 loss to the [Melbourne Storm](/source/Melbourne_Storm).{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/payne-proud-of-200-nrl-games-with-cowboys-20120404-1wcxg.html|title=Payne proud of 200 NRL games with Cowboys|date=4 April 2012|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} On 1 August 2012, Payne announced that he would retire at the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-02/paine-to-retire-at-end-of-season/4172574|title=Payne to retire at end of season|date=1 August 2012|website=ABC}} His final game was an 33–16 elimination final win over the [Brisbane Broncos](/source/Brisbane_Broncos) at [Dairy Farmers Stadium](/source/Dairy_Farmers_Stadium). Payne was injured in the match and missed the rest of the Cowboys finals campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-13/injury-signals-end-for-retiring-payne/4259368|title=Injury signals the end for injured Payne|date=13 September 2012|website=ABC}} For his contribution to the Cowboys, Payne was awarded a life membership with the club, the fourth person at the time to receive the honour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2016/02/26/life-membership-for-club-chairman/|title=Life membership for club chairman|date=26 February 2016|website=North Queensland Cowboys}} ==Coaching career== In 2014, Payne became the head coach of the Cowboys' Academy program, mentoring players from squads in Townsville, [Cairns](/source/Cairns%2C_Queensland), [Mackay](/source/Mackay%2C_Queensland), [Rockhampton](/source/Rockhampton%2C_Queensland) and [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane). On 20 November 2015, he was named as head coach of the club's [under-20](/source/National_Youth_Competition_(rugby_league)) side. He coached the side for two seasons, taking them to the finals in both years, before the competition was ended.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2015/11/20/payne-appointed-nyc-coach/|title=Payne appointed NYC coach|date=20 November 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2017/09/05/nyc-roll-call-for-finals-destiny/|title = NYC roll call for finals destiny|date = 5 September 2017}} On 28 September 2018, he was named as head coach of the [Townsville Blackhawks](/source/Townsville_Blackhawks), signing a two-year contract. He replaced inaugural head coach [Kristian Woolf](/source/Kristian_Woolf).{{Cite web|url=http://blackhawkstsv.com.au/2018/09/28/more-payne-more-gain/|title=More Payne, More Gain|date=28 September 2018}} He coached the side to a 3rd place finish in his first season in charge. On 21 July 2020, Payne returned to the Cowboys, joining as an assistant coach for the remainder of the [2020 NRL season](/source/2020_NRL_season).{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/07/21/payne-returns-as-assistant-coach-for-remainder-of-2020/|title=Payne returns as assistant coach for remainder of 2020|date=21 July 2020|website=North Queensland Cowboys}} He returned to the Blackhawks in 2021 as the Head Coach, where he took the club to a 7th placed finish. The side fell outside of the eight the following season, finishing 10th on the ladder with 7 wins and 2 draws (10 losses). In 2023, Payne joined the Wests Tigers as an assistant coach. He left the club at the end of the 2025 season to return home to Townsville. ==Achievements and accolades== ===Individual=== *'''[Paul Bowman Medal](/source/List_of_North_Queensland_Cowboys_honours):''' 2006, 2008 *'''[North Queensland Cowboys Players' Player](/source/List_of_North_Queensland_Cowboys_honours):''' 2008 *'''[North Queensland Cowboys Club Person of the Year](/source/List_of_North_Queensland_Cowboys_honours):''' 2008 ==Statistics== ===NRL=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" |- !width=2%|Season !width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2002](/source/2002_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 5|| 0|| 0|| –|| 0|| 0 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2003](/source/2003_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 4|| 2|| 0|| –|| 0|| 8 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2004](/source/2004_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 25|| 4|| 0|| –|| 0|| 16 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2005](/source/2005_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 28|| 5|| 0|| –|| 0|| 20 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2006](/source/2006_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 21|| 6|| 0|| –|| 0|| 24 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2007](/source/2007_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 27|| 0|| 0|| –|| 1|| 1 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2008](/source/2008_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 24|| 1|| 0|| –|| 0|| 4 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2009](/source/2009_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 16|| 4|| 0|| –|| 0|| 16 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2010](/source/2010_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 21|| 0|| 0|| –|| 0|| 0 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2011](/source/2011_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 23|| 2|| 0|| –|| 0|| 8 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| [2012](/source/2012_North_Queensland_Cowboys_season) |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [North Queensland](/source/North_Queensland_Cowboys) | 25|| 1|| 0|| –|| 0|| 4 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan=2| Career totals ! 219 ! 25 ! 0 ! – ! 1 ! 101 |} ==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{North Queensland Cowboys Life Members}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Payne, Aaron}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league coaches Category:Australian rugby league players Category:North Queensland Cowboys players Category:NRL All Stars players Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league halfbacks Category:People educated at Kirwan State High School Category:Rugby league players from Townsville Category:Townsville Blackhawks coaches Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aaron Payne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Payne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Payne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.