North Queensland Cowboys

Roosters overpower Cowboys as sin-bins prove costly

Prop Tom Gilbert, second-rower Griffin Neame and star halfback Chad Townsend all spent stints in the sin-bin as the Roosters ran in six tries-to-one with coach Trent Robinson watching from home after contracting COVID-19.

Assistant coaches Jason Ryles and Matt King oversaw the Roosters' best performance of the season, led by centre Joey Manu, who scored two tries and threw the final pass for two more.

Cowboys v Roosters: Hess ruled out; Naiqama called up

After scoring just one try in their season opener against the Bulldogs, North Queensland have piled on 10 in the next two games, including four to gun back-rower Jeremiah Nanai.

With their kicking game on song and their speed men combining well out wide, the Cowboys were far too slick for Brisbane and they'll need to be on song again if they're to down one of the benchmark sides of the past decade.

Nanai grabs three as Cowboys run riot to punish Broncos

A hat-trick to Cowboys forward Jeremiah Nanai and five-star performances from Valentine Holmes and former Bronco Tom Dearden led the visitors, who set up a 14-6 lead in the first half before going on with the game in the second.

It was a sweet homecoming in his second game against the Broncos for Dearden, who scored a try and set up three to outplay Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds.

Reynolds' first match at home was a mixed bag with the former Rabbitohs kicking the ball out twice on the full in the minutes leading up to Holmes' try in the 45th minute.

Broncos v Cowboys: Jensen into 17; Cotter in for Dunn

The arrival of Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell has the Broncos buzzing and their influence has been clear for all to see in the first two games.

Further north and the Cowboys have their own star recruits in Chad Townsend and Peta Hiku, two experienced campaigners who bring composure and class to a proud club crying out for a return to the glory days of 2015 and the gutsy days of 2017.

There is no better setting than Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday afternoon for the latest instalment in a rivalry which has been going strong since 1995 and rarely fails to deliver.

Cowboys v Raiders: Hess, McLean to start; Starling No.9

The Raiders showed plenty of positive signs against the Sharks, holding their nerve to get home on the back of a late Hudson Young try after going 19-18 behind with seven minutes to play.

Ricky Stuart's men face a long road trip to Townsville but the Cowboys have failed to turn Queensland Country Bank Stadium into a fortress, losing their past five home matches.

One game the Cowboys did manage to win at home in 2021 came in round seven when they charged back from18 points down to beat the Raiders 26-24.

Kevvie facing ‘sleepless nights’; the ‘biggest priority’ in Cowboys’ $1m switch — 3 Big Hits

All eyes were on the halves with Billy Walters picked at halfback alongside Tyson Gamble for the Broncos after Albert Kelly was ruled out due to Covid protocols.

Gamble stuck his nose out in front when he set up Jordan Riki for the opening try with a smart grubber.

The Cowboys answered back through gun fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who put in a grubber for himself.

Then six minutes later Holmes crossed untouched and then converted to take his team to a 12-6 lead.

PNG In Cowboys Young Guns Squad

Zac Laybutt, rising star and kid brother of PNG Kumul five-eight Kyle Laybutt, alongside fellow Papua New Guineans Robert Derby and Ragarive Wavik, headline the Young Guns outfit boasting the Cowboys’ best emerging talents.

Laybutt scored a try and had another disallowed in the Cowboys’ NRL trial win against the Rabbitohs in Cairns last weekend.

The rangy outside back will form a dangerous centre pairing with Wavik, a Townsville Blackhawks junior.

Derby has been named on the wing alongside first year Young Guns flyer Lewis Mene.

Jeffries To Coach PNG Orchids At World Cup

Jeffries, who earlier this month coached the Indigenous All-Stars women to an 18-8 over the Māori women, said that he is honoured to coach the Orchids in their second World Cup appearance.

“I see PNG as an untapped playing market in the women’s game,” Jeffries said. 

“If they play with the passion and pride that they normally demonstrate with some football smarts added in, it is a good recipe for success.

$600k Titans star set for Wayne reunion; Cowboys ward off rivals for young gun: Transfer Whispers

Meanwhile the Cowboys have staved off the Knights to re-sign a young gun back-rower.

DOLPHINS TARGET TITANS VETERAN AS DAD’S ARMY GROWS

Gold Coast forward Jarrod Wallace is reportedly set for a reunion with Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins in 2023.

Wavik: It’s one of my goals to represent my motherland

The recently graduated Kirwan High school captain has begun his first pre-season with the Cowboys, eager to ensure the experience is not short-lived and launches him onto the international stage.

Wavik has made a name for himself in the junior ranks as an enigmatic fullback, inspiring the Blackhawks to the Mal Meninga Cup final and the Bears deep into the Aaron Payne Cup.

But with those days now behind him, he has far loftier goals in mind, as he seeks to emulate the feats of Maroons winger Xavier Coates, who thrust himself into the spotlight via his own Kumuls debut.