Match Discussion: Round 1 vs North Qld @ Allegiant Stadium, Paradise / Las Vegas NV

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2026 - Round 1
Newcastle Knights v North Queensland Cowboys
Allegiant Stadium, Paradise / Las Vegas NV (TICKETS)

Sunday 1 March 2026
Kickoff 6:15pm Sat local, 1:15pm Sun AEDT (NSW), 12:15pm Sun AEST (QLD)
Live on Fox League, Kayo Sports

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Tyson Frizell

14. Sandon Smith 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Francis Manuleleua

20. Tyson Gamble 21. Cody Hopwood 22. James Schiller

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter

14. Soni Luke 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Kai O'Donnell 18. Griffin Neame 19. John Bateman

20. Liam Sutton 21. Matthew Lodge 22. Robert Derby

Referee: Ashley Klein
Sideline Officials: Dave Munro, Belinda Sharpe
Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 1995 - 2025​

	TOTAL	NEWCASTLE	NORTH QLD	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	47	22	25	0
ALLEGIANT	0	0	0	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 9	NORTH QLD 36-16	QLD C. Bank	14463
2023	Round 8	NORTH QLD 18-16	QLD C. Bank	17970
2024	Round 2	NORTH QLD 21-20	QLD C. Bank	18986
2024	Elimination Final	NORTH QLD 28-16	QLD C. Bank	24861
2025	Round 24	NORTH QLD 38-4	QLD C. Bank	16640

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2005	Round 4	NORTH QLD 52-18	Dairy Farmers	22347
2025	Round 24	NORTH QLD 38-4	QLD C. Bank	16640
2021	Round 16	NEWCASTLE 38-0	McD. Jones	7610

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5
NEWCASTLE	MANLY (A)	WARRIORS (H)	CANTERBURY (A)	CANBERRA (H)
NORTH QLD	WESTS TIGERS (A)	GOLD COAST (H)	MELBOURNE (H)	ST GEO ILLA (A)

 

[Knight Tales]

Well it’s nearly here. I am curious to see if Brown playing right is a sign that Kalyn will be switching edges in some capacity. It would be a clear identification from Holbrook that we can’t just allow the norm of KP playing left and hope to persist, if we are ever going to evolve this attack.

 

[Zoidberg]

I have this feeling when I’m optimistic when I think about the game, but then I think a little more on it and become less optimistic.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Now this is what the Knights front office should aspire to. On the front foot promoting the brand, innovative, well planned, ambitious, and proactive. The article itself is a free kick for promoting the Bulldogs and their sponsors.

When the Knights management reach this level I'll know a Premiership is near.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/a3c3c98631d9ce946bf646d434a2143a

 

[Knight Tales]

Now this is what the Knights front office should aspire to. On the front foot promoting the brand, innovative, well planned, ambitious, and proactive. The article itself is a free kick for promoting the Bulldogs and their sponsors.

When the Knights management reach this level I'll know a Premiership is near.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/a3c3c98631d9ce946bf646d434a2143a

It is about the advantage of them having an Arab fanbase. So while it is ambitious let us not lose sight of the context here. Despite it being spun as another Bulldogs genius move, it is a pretty clear correlation which the NRL would have pushed from within. If it is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania then they will be knocking on our door. A place which is basically the US equivalent of us. Horses for courses.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

It is about the advantage of them having an Arab fanbase. So while it is ambitious let us not lose sight of the context here. Despite it being spun as another Bulldogs genius move, it is a pretty clear correlation which the NRL would have pushed from within. If it is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania then they will be knocking on our door. A place which is basically the US equivalent of us. Horses for courses.

That's only a small part of the story, although they're at least on the front foot and expressed interest in the international proposal.

Vegas is the story - the arrangements for their fans and the marching band, all staff are onboard the Vegas trip, strategic meetings with 49rs,UFC Performance Institute etc etc, surnames on the back of the jerseys ( players earning a comm) , old boys contingent, the article itself represents positive brand exposure.

That's what real front office leadership looks like. That's what winning looks like.

The Knights? As usual just happy to make up the numbers.

 

[Knight Tales]

That's only a small part of the story, although they're at least on the front foot and expressed interest in the international proposal.

Vegas is the story - the arrangements for their fans and the marching band, all staff are onboard the Vegas trip, strategic meetings with 49rs,UFC Performance Institute etc etc, surnames on the back of the jerseys ( players earning a comm) , old boys contingent, the article itself represents positive brand exposure.

That's what real front office leadership looks like. That's what winning looks like.

The Knights? As usual just happy to make up the numbers.

Those strategic meetings you speak of cost many thousands of dollars to even get them to answer the phone. The niners are worth close to 9 billion dollars and rank 5th in franchises. We don’t have that corporate reach. So like I said horse for courses. We are not in that corporate realm. You know this. So don’t pretend it will just happen because we have ambition.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Those strategic meetings you speak of cost many thousands of dollars to even get them to answer the phone. The niners are worth close to 9 billion dollars and rank 5th in franchises. We don’t have that corporate reach. So like I said horse for courses. We are not in that corporate realm. You know this. So don’t pretend it will just happen because we have ambition.

everything happens on the back of ambition, in terms of scale the Knights and Bulldogs "corporate reach" are barely discernable to the goliath that are US sports. Get a grip of reality.

And all the other initiatives ? like I said - that's what winning looks like. When the Knights have in place a management team that is in that "realm" we'll know we are on the path to victory.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

6. Sharpe
7. Brown



What

 

[The Axe of Druss]

The halves option noone expected

Well played Justin

 

[MakeItStop85]

Coach has no clue.
Brown is a 6 not a 7.
Cowboys by 46 and the Knights to be HUMILIATED for the world to see.

 

[mozza91]

Or you know maybe wait to see how it goes on Sunday.

 

[slotmachine]

Bench is grim, before we have any injuries.

 

[Zoidberg]

All our questions have been answered… well, sorta.
Go back to the old days. Halves feed each other and don’t stick on one side.

 

[Knight Tales]

Backs and halves look absolutely gold plated. The engine room need to stand up.

 

[Burwood]

Smith should be absolutely filthy with himself. He was handed a golden opportunity to make the halfback position his, but completely bottled it against the Bulldogs.

 

[perverse]

It ain't great when you're forced to play the halves that didn't play themselves out of the jersey rather than the halves that played themselves into it.

We know what they're capable of as individuals - I just hope that outweighs the difficulties. If Sharpe can't be a fullback then I do think his next best spot is 5/8th. God I just don't wanna waste this kids career, we're such specials for it. I don't see how him and Brown are a balanced pairing, and the backup plan of "well at least they're both talented" won't work without a dominant pack imo. My expectations are quite low.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

View attachment 109939
Or you know maybe wait to see how it goes on Sunday.

M8, that is NOT how things are done around here

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Smith should be absolutely filthy with himself. He was handed a golden opportunity to make the halfback position his, but completely bottled it against the Bulldogs.

he was long odds to get the nod if wer'e being honest. He doesn't have the skills or the look to develop the skills to be a top 7

Brown on the other hand is blue chip, he could handle the transition to being a top line 7. It will take time.

Sharpe is blue chip ( kid could be anything ) he could handle the transition to being a top line 6 . It will take time

Smith could offer a point of difference out of dummy half - we desperately need it. It will take time.

The coach has 1) shown he isnt worried to make the tough decisions for long term good of the team 2) has backed his players to make the transition 3) has backed the coaching staff to develop the spine

Plenty to like. In fact if he'd gone Smith @ 7 I'd be resigned for more mediocrity for the future.

There will be some rough weeks ahead but I'm confident the long term looks good.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

he was long odds to get the nod if wer'e being honest. He doesn't have the skills or the look to develop the skills to be a top 7

Brown on the other hand is blue chip, he could handle the transition to being a top line 7. It will take time.

Sharpe is blue chip ( kid could be anything ) he could handle the transition to being a top line 6 . It will take time

Smith could offer a point of difference out of dummy half - we desperately need it. It will take time.

The coach has 1) shown he isnt worried to make the tough decisions for long term good of the team 2) has backed his players to make the transition 3) has backed the coaching staff to develop the spine

Plenty to like. In fact if he'd gone Smith @ 7 I'd be resigned for more mediocrity for the future.

There will be some rough weeks ahead but I'm confident the long term looks good.

All this relies on him sticking to his guns though. I am ok with this selection provided it’s still the same combo that he’s picking in 2-3 months even if the results haven’t been what we want. A lot of it will depend on injuries too. I really want to see this combo given a proper chance to grow into what it could be.