Playing Career
Growing up in Temora, New South Wales, Payten signed a scholarship with the Canberra Raiders when he was 16.
A student at Erindale College, Payten had played just 2 reserve grade games when made his first grade debut with Canberra in the 1996 ARL season. Over the next few years he gradually made more appearances for the Raiders, initially playing from the bench, until he cemented a position as starting prop in 2000. He was a member of the Raiders team that played semi final football in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
Released from the final two years of his contract with the Raiders, Payten signed with the Roosters, but did not play in the semis with their successful 2003 side. Released again due to salary-cap pressure, he was being paid by three clubs when he joined Wests Tigers in 2004. Coach Tim Sheens said of the signing, "We had players like Johnny Skandalis who could take the ball up but what we were looking for was someone with a little bit of nous around his game."
Payten was a member of the Wests Tigers side which won the 2005 NRL Grand Final, scoring a try in the final minute of the game.
In the latter part of his career, Payten was often called a "half-back in a front-rowers body," a compliment to his ball-handling ability.
In 2010, Payten was named in the Australian train-on squad for the Four Nations.
During the 2010 semi-finals, Payten suffered an injury to his ankle when he stepped on a tennis ball. He took no further part in the season, and missed games at the start of 2011 with knee and ankle problems. In an effort to return to full fitness, Payten underwent experimental stem-cell therapy, saying, "At the moment I'm retiring unless this works dramatically.".
In early June, 2011, prior to the week 13 clash against the Newcastle Knights, Payten announced that it would be his last season, after being one of an elite few players to have amassed over 250 games in the NRL. Payten said, "This isn't the way I wanted it to finish. If I'm really honest with myself, I'd be hard-pressed to continue on the way it's going at the moment. I can't." Already a certificate-2 level coach, Payten said he intended to pursue coaching in the future. Payten made a few more appearances off the bench towards the end of the season, but was unable to participate in the semis due to another injury.
Read more about this topic: Todd Payten
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