As it happened: Cowboys break their duck; Eels outlast Dragons

Full-time: Scott Drinkwater ran for 217 metres and scored a slashing solo try as the Cowboys cracked it for their first win of 2026. The Titans have won only once in eight attempts at Queensland Country Bank Stadium and are one of only two winless teams along with the Dragons after three rounds.

76 min: Lachlan Ilias finally gets a chance with Jayden Campbell going off but he puts the ball down with his first touch and that's 11 errors for the Titans.

76 min: Jayden Campbell explodes into the back field after some good lead-up play and is caught high by a swinging arm from Tom Chester who cops 10 minutes in the sin bin. Campbell is sent for a HIA so that's night over for both men.

75 min: Jake Clifford schemes up the short side but the ball comes loose and the Titans come out of their own end.

73 min: Sam Verrills leaves the field with a head cut after copping an accidental elbow as he tried to make a tackle.

70 min: Murray Taulagi zeroes in on Keano Kini and jams him under the ribs to force an error and the Cowboys have a chance to put the game to bed.

69 min: Soni Luke gets into dummy half after a powerhouse Jason Taumalolo surge and tries to burrow over but he is held up by the Titans.

67 min: Scott Drinkwater chases hard on a grubber but Beau Fermor gets there first to knock the ball dead to force a dropout.

61 min: The Cowboys sweep the ball to the right and all the way back to the left with Scott Drinkwater, Tom Dearden and Sam McIntyre involved before Jaxon Purdue finds Jake Clifford backing up on the inside and the five-eighth touches down. Clifford converts his own try. Cowboys 30-16.

59 min: Tom Dearden is taken high by Tuki Simpkins and the Cowboys elect to take a shot for goal to go out by eight. Jake Clifford bangs it over. Cowboys 24-16.

57 min: The Titans are forced to scramble in defence and Keano Kini is ruled to have knocked the ball on while on the ground. The Titans throw in a captain's challenge but come up empty.

53 min: Matt Lodge muscles up in defence and forces an error from Tuki Simpkins just as the Titans had threatened to draw level.

50 min: Murray Taulagi chips into the in-goal and Jojo Fifita tries to tap it dead before Jake Clifford almost grounds the ball and is ruled to have knocked on so the Titans have possession.

49 min: Sam Verrills is penalised and placed on report for high contact on Tom Chester and the Cowboys load up inside the red zone. 

47 min: A sizzling 50-metre kick return by Keano Kini puts the Titans on the front foot and they finish the set with Jojo Fifita climbing high to try and bring down a bomb to score but he knocks it on in the contest with Jaxon Purdue.

42 min: On the back of two quick penalties the Titans march into the red zone and Kurt Morrin powers straight through Scott Drinkwater to score next to the posts. Jayden Campbell converts. Cowboys 22-16.

Welcome back, Jayden: The Titans look far more dangerous with Jayden Campbell in the halfback role and he came up trumps with two tries, 120 run metres and three tackle breaks. Playing his first game of the season after overcoming a hamstring injury, Campbell was at his dynamic best.

Great Scott: Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was at his electric best with a sensational solo try and 164 run metres to go with eight tackle breaks and a try assist. 

Half-time: On the back of 61 per cent of possession the Cowboys take a 12-point lead to the break as they chase a first win of the season. The Cowboys completed 22 of 24 sets at 91 per cent and had three line breaks to one.

37 min: AJ Brimson plays flat and tries to find Beau Fermor but the back-rower puts it down and the Cowboys are on the attack again.

34 min: Jake Clifford puts in a deft kick towards the left corner and the ball is tapped back by Murray Taulagi for Jaxon Purdue to score. Clifford adds the extras. Cowboys 22-10.

29 min: A long-range special from Scott Drinkwater who explodes into space from 70 metres out and then gets around Keano Kini to score a superb individual try. Jake Clifford converts. Cowboys 16-10.

26 min: Keano Kini takes a safe catch at the back and is taken high by Coen Hess. The penalty allows the Titans to come out of trouble.

24 min: Murray Taulagi matches Jayden Campbell's double as Jaxon Purdue shows quick hands to create space for his winger who rides the bump and plants it down. Jake Clifford misses the conversion. 10-10

22 min: The Titans fail to get through the first set after points again when Moeaki Fotuaika puts the ball down.

20 min: It's Jayden Campbell again as he picks off a Scott Drinkwater pass and races 85 metres to score. The Cowboys had gone up the short side on tackle five but Campbell showed great anticipation to intercept the pass and sprint away. Titans 10-6.

18 min: Reed Mahoney tries to put in a grubber but it's a shocker and the Titans come out of trouble. An offside penalty against Sam McIntyre piggybacks the Titans upfield.

16 min: Moeaki Fotuaika comes up with an error bringing the ball back from the kick-off and the Titans are under the pump again.

15 min: A sparkling return for Jayden Campbell as he steps Griffin Neame and swerves around Scott Drinkwater to score from 25 metres out to put the Titans right back in the game. Campbell converts his own try. 6-6.

11 min: After completing their first seven sets the Cowboys come up with an error through Tom Chester and the Titans get a chance to go inside the opposition half.

8 min: The Cowboys strike first when Scott Drinkwater shows strength to evade a couple of defenders before offloading for Murray Taulagi to score in the left-hand corner. Jake Clifford swings the conversion in from left to right. Cowboys 6-0.

7 min: Jake Clifford chips for the corner, Sialetili Faeamani turns his back on the ball and it hits his back and has to be cleaned up by Keano Kini for a dropout.

6 min: The Titans are penalised for a flop as Scott Drinkwater comes away from his own line.

3 min: Magnificent goal line defence by the Titans as they stand firm for three consecutive sets on the back of six-again calls.

Late Mail

Cowboys: Griffin Neame will start and Coen Hess goes to the bench in a game day change after Matthew Lodge was added to the six-man bench in place of Harrison Graham on Saturday. Inspirational skipper Reuben Cotter is straight back into the starting side after missing last week's loss to Wests Tigers due to family reasons. Cotter's return will see Kai O'Donnell shift to the bench. 

Titans: Jayden Campbell returns from a hamstring injury in a major boost for new coach Josh Hannay. The playmaker was named on the six-man bench on Tuesday but the coach confirmed on Saturday that Campbell would start at halfback and Lachlan Ilias would move to the bench. Fullback Keano Kini suffered a minor cork last week's game against the Dolphins but has trained well and is good to go.

Numbers Game

• The Cowboys scored 80 points in two wins against the Titans in 2025.
• The Titans have won only once in seven attempts at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
• Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi has scored a try in his last three games against the Titans.
• Titans lock Chris Randall will make his 100th NRL appearance.
• Cowboys centre Jaxon Purdue has scored five tries in his last six NRL appearances.

 

Eels v Dragons at CommBank Stadium

No.1 gun: Isaiah Iongi was magnificent at the back under the high ball and defused plenty of dangerous situations. He ran for 139 metres and had three tackle breaks. Wingers Josh Addo-Carr (15 runs for 205m) and Bailey Simonsson (23 runs for 232m) also carried the ball back strongly and aimed up in defence.

Full-time: Parramatta's defence in the second half was outstanding as they lock in their second win of the season. The Eels have now won their last five games against the Dragons at CommBank Stadium. Both sides lost a player to the sin bin in a tense contest that was broken open in the end by a runaway try to Josh Addo-Carr, who is now 10th on the all-time premiership trycoring list.

78 min: More clunky Dragons attack and it comes to nothing when Luciano Leilua tries to tap the ball on but it goes behind his winger and into touch.

77 min: Isaiah Iongi puts a bomb down with Kyle Flanagan applying the pressure. The Dragons have a scrum feed 15 metres out.

74 min: The Dragons go to the right and a poor pass from Dan Atkinson is spilled by Val Holmes. The loose ball is scooped up by Sean Russell who pops it up for Josh Addo-Carr to sprint 70 metres for the 160th try of his career. The CommBank Stadium crowd erupts as The Foxx celebrates in style. Eels 30-20.

71 min: A booming klck by Mitch Moses goes dead and the Dragons get seven tackles but the Eels can set their line.

68 min: Dan Atkinson hoists the ball high but Isaiah Iongi again shows his aerial skills to bring down the catch.

66 min: Consecutive sets for the Dragons inside the red zone but they come up empty as the Eels dig deep in defence. Parra are now back to 13 men.

62 min: Mitch Moses deliver a 'hospital pass' to Junior Paulo who puts the ball down in contact.

61 min: Eels forward Sam Tuivaiti leaves the field for a HIA.

57 min: A pinpoint left foot grubber by Kyle Flanagan sits up perfectly for Moses Suli to score and the Dragons are back in it. Val Holmes adds the extras. Eels 24-20.

56 min: Charlie Guymer is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul to leave the Eels a man down.

55 min: A high tackle penalty against Sam Tuivaiti gives the Dragons field position.

54 min: The Dragons continue to cruel themselves with errors as Val Holmes fails to control a tough pass with the Eels defence all over him.

48 min: Mitch Moses chips over the top and Clint Gutherson makes a mess of the clean-up to hand the Eels a shot at points from 25m out but Kitione Kautoga comes up with an error.

46 min: Poor marker defence by Luciano Leilua and Josh Kerr is exposed by Tallyn Da Silva who darts over from dummy half to complete his double. Mitch Moses converts. Eels 24-14.

Mixed bag for Toby: Red V workhorse Toby Couchman was all effort in the opening 40 as he got through 11 runs for 116 metres and made 20 tackles. He was forced from the field in the 32nd minute for a HIA after a head clash.

Half-time: Two tries in the space of five minutes to Tallyn Da Silva and Kitione Kautoga give the Eels the lead at the break despite having only 48 per cent of possession and running for 200 less metres.

40 min: Jordan Samrani is helped from the field with a leg injury with the Eels already missing J'maine Hopgood who went off with a knee injury.

39 min: The Dragons are back to 13 men but they can't stop Parra's left edge when Matt Doorey is pulled down just short and Tallyn Da Silva gets into dummy half quickly and picks up Kitione Kautoga who scores. Mitch Moses again adds the extras. Eels 18-14.

37 min: Mitch Moses goes to the air and Kyle Flanagan is penalised for running an escort on Isaiah Iongi.

35 min: Tallyn Da Silva grabs a try after slick lead-up from Mitch Moses, Kelma Tuilagi, Jordan Samrani and Jonah Pezet on the right edge. Moses converts. Dragons 14-12.

32 min: Toby Couchman leaves the field for a HIA.

30 min: A chance goes begging on the right edge for the Dragons when Val Holmes delivers a flick pass that gives Setu Tu no chance and rolls into touch.

29 min: Mitch Moses grubbers for the in-goal and Kitione Kautoga and Clint Gutherson both dive for the ball with the referee ruling it went dead off the Eel.

28 min: Just 10 minutes after coming onto the field in his return from suspension J'Maine Hopgood is dragged down from behind by Ryan Couchman who is placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle.

27 min: Clint Gutherson puts Val Holmes into space but the centre's pass to Dan Atkinson is ruled to have gone forward.

24 min: Damien Cook scoots out of dummy half and picks up Dan Atkinson who delivers a short ball to a rampaging Jaydn Su'A who surges past Jonah Pezet to score. Val Holmes converts. Dragons 14-6.

18 min: Jonah Pezet launches a bomb, Clint Gutherson lets it bounce and it finishes up with Kelma Tuilagi who decides to kick but his banana kick is a shocker and is easily cleaned up by the Dragons.

13 min: Kyle Flanagan drifts across field from 10 metres out and turns Luciano Leilua underneath him with the back-rower surging through the middle of the ruck to score under the sticks. Val Holmes converts. Dragons 8-6.

11 min: A huge moment in the match with the Eels awarded a penalty try to Jonah Pezet after Jaydn Su'A dragged him back as he loomed in support of Kitione Kautoga. The bunker ruled that Pezet would have scored had he not been dragged back despite the fact Clint Gutherson was in close proximity to make the tackle. Eels 6-2.

9 min: Luciano Leilua tries to push a pass in traffic but comes up with an error 10 metres inside the Eels half.

7 min: Kyle Flanagan runs the ball on the last and is dragged down just a metre short by Junior Paulo and Ryley Smith.

6 min: Another Dragons high ball, another escort penalty, this time by Kitione Kautoga on Val Holmes. The Dragons elect to tap and go for a try.

3 min: An early penalty against Ryley Smith for an escort as the Dragons went to the air. Val Holmes makes no mistake with the shot. Dragons 2-0.

Late Mail

Eels: Dylan Walker starts at lock, Jack Williams goes to prop and J'maine Hopgood slides to the bench in a late switch 90 minutes before kick-off. Jack de Belin dropped out of the squad on Saturday and was replaced by Charlie Guymer. 

Dragons: Blake Lawrie starts and Hamish Stewart goes to the bench in a game day swap. Jacob Liddle is on track to make his return from a hamstring injury and will form a one-two punch with starting hooker Damien Cook. 

Numbers Game

• The Eels have won their last four games against the Dragons at CommBank Stadium.
• The Dragons have lost their last eight away games.
• Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored eight tries in his last four games at CommBank Stadium.
• Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson has scored try doubles in his last three games at CommBank.
• The Eels have scored 115 points in their last three games at CommBank.