Ben Jeffries has quit as North Queensland's NRLW coach after only one season.
AAP understands Jeffries, the Cowboys' foundation coach, requested a release from his contract, which was granted publicly on Friday.
The news comes after reports linked Jeffries with the vacant head coaching job at Newcastle's NRLW side this week.
The Knights have won the past two NRLW premierships, but coach Ron Griffiths stepped down last month to take charge of the men's NSW Cup team.
In two stints with the Cowboys, Jeffries had taken on such other roles as under-20s assistant coach, elite pathways coach and director of coaching.
He also leads the women's Indigenous All Stars team.
"We would like to thank Ben for his service to the club through his roles as both elite pathways coach and most recently NRLW head coach," Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel said.
In their first NRLW season, the Cowboys finished ninth on the ladder with a 2-7 record, ahead of only last-placed Parramatta.
An upset defeat of the all-conquering Knights was the brightest spot of an otherwise disappointing season, during which the Cowboys lost all three games in Townsville.
The club has signed Wests Tigers winger Jakiya Whitfield in preparation for their second campaign and extended the contracts of co-captains Kirra Dibb and Tallisha Harden.
