Cowboys coach Todd Payten is set to miss his side's next two games after being forced into a 14-day isolation, having been within close distance of a confirmed COVID-19 case in Townsville.
As Payten awaits the result of a COVID-19 test, assistant Dean Young is preparing to coach North Queensland over the next fortnight, against Newcastle and South Sydney.
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Despite the COVID-19 scare, Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel has assured that Saturday's clash with the Knights in Newcastle will go ahead, provided all players return negative test results.
Not only Payten, but youngsters Tom Gilbert, Griffin Neame and Laitia Moceidreke, are in isolation and awaiting test results after travelling to Magnetic Island on Saturday.
And strength-and-conditioning coach Mark Henry is in the same predicament, after a visiting family member boarded a flight linked to a COVID-19 case.
"Todd's in good spirits," Reibel said.
"I spoke to him before I came on (a media conference via Zoom) and he's very keen to ensure that the team has very little disruption as we go into Saturday."
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