In a glorified Cowboys training run against a Panthers side comprising just 11 games of NRL experience, Mahoney was at the centre of a 44-0 first half in Mackay.
Mismatch or not ahead of North Queensland's season opener against Newcastle in Las Vegas, what was clear is that Mahoney is clearly ready to make a statement.
Benched and released by the Bulldogs last year as part of the Lachlan Galvin reshuffle, Mahoney admitted recently he still didn't know what went wrong for him at Canterbury.
Now replacing Reece Robson at the Cowboys, the former Bulldogs captain got out of dummy-half well, produced a booming kick early and sent two men over for tries.
The hooker's first assist came when he went to the line and hit Drinkwater with a short ball to send the fullback over.
Another came when the No.9 packed at lock in a scrum and found Jake Clifford unmarked on the short side.
Beyond that, Cowboys coach Todd Payten will have liked Mahoney's willingness to engage the line and get on the front foot.
While Mahoney wears No.9, the big question for Payten will be who plays five-eighth at Allegiant Stadium.
Clifford scored a second try via a ricochet, and had first crack at five-eighth on Friday as the only man to partner Tom Dearden while the No.7 was on the field.
Purdue showed he remains a threat anywhere with a first-half try after pouncing on a loose ball, along with two assists.
Playing left centre in the first half, he broke free from the halfway line in the lead up to score.
And after moving to No.6 for the start of the second half, Purdue also sent Kai O'Donnell over for the first of three tries for the second-rower.
Scott Drinkwater also looked good at No.1, putting on a cut-out pass for Braidon Burns before a smart inside ball for Murray Taulagi to go over.
The other positive will have been Heilum Luki crashing over for a first-half try off Dearden, after an ACL rupture ruined his 2025 season.
North Queensland's only concern for the Cowboys was centre Zac Laybutt being sin-binned for a dangerous throw, leaving him facing a nervous wait ahead of Vegas.
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