2026 R1 Sun - Newcastle 28-18 North Qld @ Vegas

[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)

 

[Fangs]

Cowboys by 25.

 

[Bazal]

Knights halves are a mistake IMO. Not that they can do a tonne better but Smith is probably the most halfbacky bloke they have. I guess hooker is a problem too though. Weird that balance might be an issue with a 10 year billion dollar five-eighth and fullback

 

[Captain Apollo]

Knights halves are a mistake IMO. Not that they can do a tonne better but Smith is probably the most halfbacky bloke they have. I guess hooker is a problem too though. Weird that balance might be an issue with a 10 year billion dollar five-eighth and fullback

Yep. Many media pundits have talked up the Knights on the back of Dylan Brown's performances for NZ at the end of last year. However they overlooked how bog poor he was for the Eels all season. He's not a game managing type, he's more a ball runner, which is exactly what Sharpe is (and he's not a specialist half anyway).

Sandon Smith is a better choice for halfback with Brown at five eight for them.

I agree they have way too much money tied up in 2 players which effects the balance and quality of the rest of the side. Almost reminds me of Parramatta in the late 1980s when they had so much of its salary cap tied up in Sterlo and Kenny.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I see the Knights having a similar year to the Eels 2025 season. Will start slow as it will take a while to get rid of the AOB stench around the joint. But it will come together eventually late in the season.

As for this game who knows, if the Cows play their best they probably win but they have more poor 10-20 min periods then anyone, and a team with Ponga/Best/Brown/Sharpe could wreck havoc in that.

Im going Knights but purely a guess.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Knights halves are a mistake IMO. Not that they can do a tonne better but Smith is probably the most halfbacky bloke they have. I guess hooker is a problem too though. Weird that balance might be an issue with a 10 year billion dollar five-eighth and fullback

Ponga will play mostly 1st receiver with Brown and Sharpe running the edges. Its a risky play but given this team is coming off a spoon and the worst attacking record in decades, bold choices are really the only option.

They have the current NZ hooker so cant see why thats specifically an issue, especially given Smith will sub off the bench there too.

This game is going to be a spin it wide fest as neither have middles to write home about. Cowboys are weaker without Nanai out there but Luki is a danger none the less.

Whoevers defence holds the best will win

Knights by 10

 

[The Axe of Druss]

I agree they have way too much money tied up in 2 players which effects the balance and quality of the rest of the side. Almost reminds me of Parramatta in the late 1980s when they had so much of its salary cap tied up in Sterlo and Kenny.

Thats pretty wild considering the salary cap was only introduced to the NSWRL in 1990....

 

[Captain Apollo]

Thats pretty wild considering the salary cap was only introduced to the NSWRL in 1990....

Maybe I should have said early 1990s then as both were still playing for the Eels. My bad

 

[Bazal]

Ponga will play mostly 1st receiver with Brown and Sharpe running the edges. Its a risky play but given this team is coming off a spoon and the worst attacking record in decades, bold choices are really the only option.

They have the current NZ hooker so cant see why thats specifically an issue, especially given Smith will sub off the bench there too.

This game is going to be a spin it wide fest as neither have middles to write home about. Cowboys are weaker without Nanai out there but Luki is a danger none the less.

Whoevers defence holds the best will win

Knights by 10

Yeah that's the shape I imagine they'll go with. I think the Knights will blow some teams away this year like the Dolphins last season, and probably battle against sides with genuine halves.
I just wonder whether Smith isn't the more steady starting halfback to get into the season at least. Ultimately the bulk of attack will come through Brown and Ponga anyway.

Crossland had a breakout season or two after not being very good for a long time, but really the depth at 9 is what I was touching on. Boods isn't it, as much as like what he can offer at times. So the balance is Smith off the bench or I guess Sharpe off the bench and the latter probably looks a bit worse on the whole

 

[Someone2]

Knights by 6

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Knights by 4

 

[mozza91]

Would be nice to get a win and be on top of the table for a couple of hours.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Spoonbowl to begin the season? How good.

Nah I kid, the Dragons are in the other game. Cows by 18

 

[Rudy]

Knights by 12

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[Marshall_magic]

Spoonbowl to begin the season? How good.

Nah I kid, the Dragons are in the other game. Cows by 18

Not a spoonbowl per se, but definitely a lacklustre fixture to open the season with.

 

[Desert Qlder]

Newcastle are our bitches. We should be painting their faces tomorrow.

 

[Pugzley]

Cowboys by 12 and Drugcastle to be held up in the States with public intoxication and drug possession in the casinos after the match.

 

[MakeItStop85]

Newcastle are our bitches. We should be painting their faces tomorrow.

Game isn’t played in Townsville unfortunately…

 

[Valheru]

You would think Cowboys. I think Newcastle will steadily improve under Holbrook and with injury luck be a capable and efficient team by end of season. The first 8 games might be rough though.

Got a feeling something isnt quite right in cowboys land though.

Knights by 6