Todd Payten has revealed a new contract at North Queensland is imminent with the Dally M coach of the year set to extend his stay until 2026.
Off-contract at the end of next year, Payten is nearing on signing a new three-season extension at the club after taking them to the top four this year.
The Cowboys are desperate to lock up the rising mentor, given he would loom as a genuine option for several clubs if they part ways with coaches early in 2023.
But that would require Payten to want to leave north Queensland. And as far as he is concerned, that won't be happening any time soon.
"It's close," Payten said of the deal.
"I've actually clocked off since Friday ... I haven't answered my phone.
"I've got to apologise to our staff members because they are asking me questions ... and I haven't been in the right spot to (respond).
"So as far as our contract goes, it's going to happen. I want to stay, they want me to stay. It's days away."
After growing up in country NSW, Payten has found a home in Townsville with his young family, after previously serving there as an assistant.
His passion for the club is also clear, as evidenced by his endearing speech after being awarded as coach of the year at Wednesday night's Dally Ms.
"When we first moved there the kids were six, four and two. They're now 13, 11 and nine," Payten said.
"After a month, (his wife) Jules and I spoke about how much we love the town.
"And we're country people. So going from Sydney back to a country town, the values of the people are the the same as what we have. It's a great town.
"We punch well above our weight in the league, if you look at our stadium and performance facility.
"It's rugby league heartland and that's why I love coaching there."
Regardless though, Payten said he was still coming to terms with the 24-20 home preliminary-final loss to Parramatta.
"It'll burn for me. And it will burn for the coaching staff," he said.
"Some of our kids, it's probably an experience that they were really happy to be involved in.
"But we're trying to remind them about the opportunity that we had at the back end of the season and how hard it is to get to where we got to.
"I've learned that over time. Hopefully our kids don't have to learn that the hard way."
Meanwhile North Queensland have confirmed to AAP that Jason Taumalolo will serve his three-match ban for dangerous contact at the World Cup.
One of those matches will come in a pre-tournament trial, before the Cowboys lock sits out the first two group games and frees himself to start the next NRL season.
