2026 North Queensland Cowboys season

2026 North Queensland Cowboys season
Team information
Coach	Todd Payten
Captain	Reuben Cotter Tom Dearden
Stadium	Queensland Country Bank Stadium
←  2025

The 2026 North Queensland Cowboys season will be the 32nd in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden, they will compete in the NRL's 2026 Telstra Premiership.

The club will play its first game in the United States in 2026 when they play their Round 1 fixture against the Newcastle Knights in Las Vegas. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Season summary

Squad

North Queensland Cowboys 2026 squad

• view
• talk
• edit

Top 30 squad – 2026 NRL season						Development list		Coaching staff
John Bateman – SR Braidon Burns – WG Tom Chester – CE, FB Jake Clifford – FE, HB Reuben Cotter (c) – LK Tom Dearden (c) – HB, FE Robert Derby – WG Scott Drinkwater – FB Harrison Edwards – LK, PR		Coen Hess – PR Ethan King – FB, CE Mason Kira – SR Kaiden Lahrs – PR Karl Lawton – HK Zac Laybutt – CE Heilum Luki – SR Reed Mahoney – HK Sam McIntyre – PR, LK		Thomas Mikaele – PR Jeremiah Nanai – SR Griffin Neame – PR Kai O'Donnell – SR Jaxson Paulo – WG, CE Jaxon Purdue – CE, FE Murray Taulagi – WG Jason Taumalolo – PR, LK Viliami Vailea – CE		Zac Herdegen – HB, HK Extended squad Xavier Kerrisk – HK Jeremiah Matautia – SR Henry Teutau – PR Matthew Watts – PR		Head coach Todd Payten Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Supplementary list [4] Extended squad [5] Train and trial [6] Updated: 16 September 2025 Source(s): NQ Cowboys

Squad movement

Gains

Player	Signed from	Until end of	Notes
Ethan King	Sydney Roosters	2027	[7]
Reed Mahoney	Canterbury Bulldogs	2028	[8]

Losses

Player	Signed to	Until end of	Notes
Marly Bitungane	Released	–	[9]
Tom Duffy	Brisbane Broncos	2026	[10]
Nic Lenaz	Released	–	[9]
Jordan McLean	Retired	–	[11]
Reece Robson	Sydney Roosters	2029	[12]
Jamal Shibasaki	Released	–	[9]
Semi Valemei	Castleford Tigers	2027	[13]

Fixtures

Regular season

Main article: 2026 NRL season results

Matches

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, February 28	Round 1	Newcastle Knights	Allegiant Stadium
TBA	Round 2	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 3	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 4	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 5	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 6	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 7	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 8	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 9	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 10	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 11	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 12	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 13	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 14	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 15	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 16	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 17	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 18	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 19	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 20	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 21	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 22	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 23	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 24	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 25	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 26	TBA	TBA
TBA	Round 27	TBA	TBA
Legend:   Win  Loss  Draw  Bye

Representatives

The following players played a representative match in 2026.

Feeder clubs

Queensland Cup

• Mackay Cutters
• Northern Pride
• Townsville Blackhawks

References

1. "The Cowboys are off to Las Vegas in 2026!". NQ Cowboys. 14 May 2025.
2. "Rugby League in Las Vegas 2026". NRL.
3. "Bulldogs, Cowboys, Knights and Dragons set for Las Vegas". ABC. 14 May 2025.
4. Development players train with the Top 30 squad but cannot play NRL until after Round 10.
5. Players in the extended squad train with the Top 30 squad but are on train and replacement or junior contracts.
6. Train and trial players are not contracted to the club but train with them over the pre-season.
7. "Roosters young gun confirms club switch for 2026". Zero Tackle. 21 August 2025.
8. "Cowboys sign Mahoney". NQ Cowboys. 6 July 2025.
9. "Cowboys to farewell seven departing players". NQ Cowboys. 3 September 2025.
10. "Broncos Sign Duffy For 2026". Brisbane Broncos. 20 August 2025.
11. "McLean calls time". NQ Cowboys. 27 August 2025.
12. "Reece Robson to join the Roosters in 2026". Sydney Roosters. 6 December 2024.
13. "Valemei Signs For Tigers On A Two Year Deal". Castleford Tigers. 2 September 2025.