The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have strengthened its Football Department for the 2026 season and beyond with the additions of Assistant Coaches Blake Green and Paul Wellens, recently retired Cowboys prop Jordan McLean as Transitions Coach and the highly respected Don Singe in the newly created role of Head of Leadership and Culture.

Green joins Todd Payten’s staff after kicking off his coaching career at the Knights, featuring in multiple finals appearances.

The 39-year-old played in over 200 top-flight games across the NRL and Super League during a 15-season career, before transitioning into coaching immediately after retiring in 2021, occupying various roles in the Knights organisation.

“Blake is a huge addition to our coaching staff,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.

“He is one of the most sought after young coaches in the game and he comes to our club with tremendous experience both as a player and now as a coach, having developed his craft over the last four years.

“From speaking to a number of players Blake has coached and staff he has worked alongside, his connection to the playing group and appetite for helping individuals improve will be a terrific addition to our program.”

Wellens appeared in a monumental 499 games for St Helens in the UK Super League between 1998 and 2015. He also registered 21 games for Great Britian and 11 for England.

A talented fullback, Wellens was a part of five grand final-winning squads, as well as five Challenge Cup triumphs during his 18 seasons in the Super League. He also claimed the Man of Steel Award in 2006.

After a number of seasons as an Assistant Coach at St Helens, he spent three seasons as Head Coach of the Saints, winning 60 of 95 games.

“Paul was one of the great players of the modern era in the Super League, who has developed into a very accomplished coach.,” Luck said.

“He is a winner and he is a competitor. He has extensive experience as both an assistant and head coach and we are thrilled to secure his services.”

Following his retirement after the 2025 season, Jordan McLean continues his tenure at the Cowboys, working alongside Steve Sheppard as Transitions Coach, ensuring the club’s younger players receive the best attention possible as they begin their NRL careers.

McLean appeared in 156 games, the 17th most in club history, for the Cowboys over the course of eight seasons after joining the club from Melbourne in 2018.

“Jordan’s leadership and guidance for the younger members of our squad was vital in the latter stages of his playing career and we believe he has a tremendous amount to offer as a coach,” Luck said.

“As a player, he was technically very smart and consistently among the top defensive front rowers in the game throughout his career, which is what we are looking for him to pass on to our playing group in a coaching role.”

With a strong police and military background, Singe joins the Cowboys with a resume boasting more than two decades of experience in the NRL, including two premiership campaigns as Head of Performance at the Sea Eagles, as well as senior performance roles with the Bulldogs and the New Zealand Kiwis.

Since departing Manly in 2022, Singe has worked as a Leadership Consultant and Change Management Specialist with various corporate companies in Sydney.

“We are very lucky to be able to secure someone as experienced as Donny, both in rugby league and in the corporate world in his most recent work,” Luck said.

“We are excited about what he can add to our club and especially our football program.”

In a further boost, Jonathan Crawley has been appointed as an additional full-time physiotherapist, providing support to long-time Head Physiotherapist Steve Sartori and Ash Graham.

Crawley has been involved with the Cowboys on a part-time basis since 2009 and has been the Head Physiotherapist for the Tongan Test side since 2014.

“JC has been with our club in various capacities for more than 15 years and we’re excited to have him join us full-time,” Luck said.

“He is a highly respected physio throughout the game, both at NRL level and Internationally through his work with Tonga.”

Cowboys NRL Head Coach Todd Payten endorsed the new appointments.

“It’s exciting to have such great additions to our football program,” he said.

“Each of our staff bring a unique skillset and we’re looking forward to working together to give our team the greatest opportunity to be at their best week in and week out.”