THE Cowboys are playing the best football in the club’s history, including the 2005 grand final side, according to club stalwart Aaron Payne.

Payne said a major reason behind the team’s exceptional form was the performance of rising hooker Jake Granville, who has finally filled the hole Payne left when he retired in 2012.

Payne played in fine Cowboys teams in an 11-season career but said it was only this year that they have found the ability to win away regularly.

This season the Cowboys have a better away record than they do at home. They have lost one of nine away games and have beaten South Sydney and St George Illawarra on the road.

The Cowboys lost nine away games in 2005, including the grand final loss to Wests Tigers.

The Cowboys should also set a club record for wins in a season this year, breaking the mark of 15 which was set in 2007 and equalled in 2012. They have already won 14 games this season.

“I think they are going better now than they ever have and the main reason is they are winning away from home and that’s what you need to win a grand final,” Payne said.

“They are playing confident and that is very important. The two keys in rugby league are confidence and momentum.

“They are doing very well but there’s a lot to go yet.”

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media_camera The Cowboys still need to put that 2005 pain behind them.

Payne, who works for the Cowboys as an elite pathways coach, hailed the arrival of Granville.

The Cowboys were caught short at hooker when Payne retired and James Segeyaro left for Penrith.

Granville has been a revelation. He has scored seven tries and broken 29 tackles this season while averaging 70 metres a game scooting from dummy-half.

Under-appreciated at Brisbane for two seasons, the Wynnum Manly star has proven he should have been a starting hooker years ago.

Payne said Granville’s best asset was creating time and space for Johnathan Thurston who had found freedom this season.

“He’s really sharp out of dummy-half and that makes him a threat to the opposition which takes pressure off our ball players,” Payne said.

“He’s been an asset to our side and made that spot his own but he would be the first to say he needs to keep playing well.”

Granville, a carpenter and golfing tragic from central Queensland, dismissed talk of being a star.

“I just am enjoying playing alongside these bunch of blokes.”