Drinkwater has shown signs of his sparkling best for the past three weeks, looking back on song in wins over Gold Coast, Melbourne and St George Illawarra.
In many ways the Cowboys No.1 is the barometer of the Cowboys attack, at times inconsistent but threatening and dangerous when at his best.
He endured a tough start to the season after suffering rib cartilage damage in Las Vegas, before a poor outing against Wests Tigers in round two.
That prompted suggestions he was set to be dropped against the Titans in round three, before Payten pulled him aside at the end of training.
"The ribs are sweet, that was fine," Drinkwater said.
"I was going into the games with the rather wrong headspace, just the shapes and getting on those instead of just getting the ball in my hands.
"I went to the Thursday main session thinking I was going to get dropped. Everyone was sending me stuff going 'you're not playing'.
"He asked if I needed the rest, but no, straight up answer was 'no, no way'. I guess I was dialled in and probably had a little chip on my shoulder too after that."
Drinkwater said the biggest change had been simplifying his game, with the Payten chat acting as a wake-up call and giving the 28-year-old a point to prove.
"I had two-and-a-bit-days to think about it. I was stewing on it," he said.
"I didn't speak to anyone in the sheds before the (Titans) game, headphones on. When you get that mindset, it's good.
"With how fast it is these days, the shapes and the set plays aren't really the things that are working. It's just playing footy and getting the ball.
"I would never give up my jersey. I would never give someone the jersey unless I actually can't play. So that was the mindset too."
At the same time as his early-season slump, reports emerged of the Cowboys attempting to offload him with the Tigers denying interest in the fullback.
But Drinkwater insists he has no plans of leaving North Queensland and ideally wants to extend at the club beyond the end of next year.
"I'm in Townsville next year as well so it's kind of up to me," Drinkwater said.
"If they wanted to get rid of me (early) I could stay no anyway. So I wasn't too bothered.
"I wasn't at my best at the start of those first two games, I wasn't getting involved too much.
"I've just got to have that mindset (change) and as long as that's going on and I'm getting involved and doing positive things, I'm happy."
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