Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney to join Cowboys on long-term deal

Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney has agreed to a long-term deal to join the North Queensland Cowboys from next season.

Mahoney will see out the year at the Bulldogs before joining the Cowboys in 2026. The Bulldogs have agreed to release Mahoney from the final year of his contract after giving him permission to test the market a couple of months ago.

The Bulldogs have been open to releasing Mahoney as they begin to juggle their salary cap following two impressive seasons under coach Cameron Ciraldo.

Mahoney joined the club in 2023 from Parramatta. He has come from the field twice recently to make way for Lachlan Galvin in the halves, forcing Toby Sexton into the No.9 role.

Mahoney will join the Cowboys as a replacement for the Sydney Roosters-bound Reece Robson. Robson agreed to a deal with the Roosters earlier this year and will join the Tricolours as a replacement for Brandon Smith.

The Cowboys had shown interest in Tallyn Da Silva and Broncos hooker Cory Paix. They have been in negotiations with Mahoney for a couple of months, and this week landed his services.

Mahoney has played 165 NRL games after debuting in 2018. He was part of the Eels 2022 grand final team that lost 28-12 to the Panthers.

Mahoney’s shift from the Bulldogs is part of a wider team restructure, with halfback Toby Sexton also exiting the club at the end of the season following the signature of Lachlan Galvin mid-season.

Sexton signed a two-year deal with the Catalans in the Super League this week, with coach Cameron Ciraldo backing emerging talents such as Galvin and lock Bailey Hayward. The latter is expected to become the team’s first-choice No.9 in 2026.

Mahoney has been an integral part of the Bulldogs success since joining the club in 2023 alongside Viliame Kikau, followed by the signing of captain Stephen Crichton in 2024.

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