"Making the numbers up": Parker pans Cowboys over lacklustre loss

Corey Parker has criticised North Queensland after their season came to an end on Saturday night.

With 2026 being a contract year for coach Todd Payten, the pressure was on the Cowboys to avoid missing out on finals.

After losing the first two games of the season and floating in and out of the eight in the back half of the season, North Queensland landed the final spot in the final series despite dropping two of their last three games.

This saw them travel to Allianz Stadium, where they faced fifth-placed Cronulla.

And despite getting Reuben Cotter off a grade two careless high tackle charge to make him available for the do-or-die clash, the error-laden Cowboys were overrun by the Sharks, losing 26-16 and seeing their season come to an end.

Reflecting on the match, the Broncos legend admitted the Cowboys’ performance showed the gulf between them and their fellow finals contenders.

“I must confess I watched it, but boy, I wasn't on the edge of my seat, put it that way,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.

“The Sharks and the Cowboys… the Cowboys just, see you later.

“They were just making the numbers up, coming into the eight, and that's why it panned out.”

With North Queensland's season coming to an end, they will lose the likes of Scott Drinkwater, John Bateman and Matthew Lodge amongst others from their list.

They’ll gain Sharks duo Sione Katoa and Jesse Raimen and Melbourne second-rower Joe Chan to their roster.