Over the next two seasons, he gradually made more appearances for the Raiders, initially playing from the bench, until he cemented a position as starting prop in 2000.

He played 18 games for the Roosters in his lone season at the club, missing their run to the Grand Final after suffering a foot injury in their Round 23 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

[4] 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.

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.".

[13] In June 2011, prior to the Tigers' Round 13 game against the Newcastle Knights, Payten announced that he would retire at the end of the season.

They went on to win all their post-season games, including beating pre-game favourite Canberra Raiders 46–6 in the grand final.

[20] On 4 October 2015, Payten was a member of the Cowboys' coaching staff in the side's 17-16 Grand Final victory over the Brisbane Broncos.

On 8 August 2018, Payten signed with the New Zealand Warriors as an assistant coach for the 2019 season, replacing his former Raiders' teammate Andrew McFadden.

[21] On 20 June 2020, Payten was appointed interim head coach of the New Zealand Warriors following the sacking of Stephen Kearney.

[26] On 24 February 2023, Payten signed a three-year contract extension to remain as North Queensland head coach until the end of 2026.