Live Blog: Chance missed to reclaim second spot on ladder

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Broncos

Cowboys

Carl Webb Medal update: Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter was awarded the Carl Webb Medal, named after the powerful prop who played with both clubs. Cotter made 44 tackles, ran for 69 metres with a tackle break as well. 

Full-time: Another classic Queensland derby - this time with the Cowboys coming out on top in an entertaining 18-10 win. With plenty riding on the result with both teams needing to win for their finals hopes - North Queensland started well and were able to deny the desperate Broncos. 

80th min: A eventful ending to the match with the Broncos throwing all they have at the Cowboys, but to no avail, with a promising play breaking down. Another HIA in the process too with Soni Luke coming off for the Cowboys. 

75th min: An unsuccessful captain's challenge now from the Broncos with Deine Mariner protesting he was taken off the ball - but it was deemed a fair contest from Murray Taulagi who was also going up for the ball. He then comes from the field for a HIA.

70th min: An unsuccessful captain's challenge from the Cowboys with Heilum Luki pinged for losing the ball while trying to play it. 

Injury update - Shibasaki has returned to the field. 

68th min: The Cowboys get a penalty from a dropout, a short attempt which was touched by Josiah Karapani. Scott Drinkwater slots another penalty goal and the lead goes out to 18-10 to North Queensland. 

64th min: End-to-end play with firstly Nanai bursting through with a line break to get his side out of trouble, bouncing away from Walsh, but not able to get away from Deine Mariner, who strips the ball away. Walsh then scoops up the ball and runs away, but is sent over the sideline by Clifford. 

Injury update - Broncos back Gehamat Shibasaki comes from the field with a leg injury.

55th min: The Broncos are fighting back and pounce on a Cowboys error almost instantly. Ezra Mam shows strength when running onto a pass from Walsh, going over on their left. Reynolds - who has returned following a HIA - slots it and it's a tight game again with the Cowboys leading 16-10. 

53rd min: Happy news for Broncos fans with Billy Walters coming on for his first NRL game since the first week of the finals last year against the Raiders. He comes on for Ben Talty.

50th min: A penalty is awarded to the Cowboys for a tackle in the air from Kotoni Staggs on Zac Laybutt who goes high for a kick, despite the protestations of Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds. Drinkwater slots the goal to extend the lead to 16-4. 

43rd min: A captain's challenge from the Cowboys is successful, halting some of the momentum that had been building to start the second half. 

Prop v Prop: It was billed as a headline act and it's delivering with Jason Taumalolo and Payne Haas leading the way for their sides. The Tonga talisman has run for 104 metres in the first half with 60 post contact, while Samoa's star has 89 with 46. Kiwis and Cook Islands gun Xavier Willison however is leading the metres for the Broncos with 90, with a try in his tally as well. 

Half-time: The home side with a 14-4 advantage after a rocking first half. The sold out stadium have seen plenty of action as well as a few denied tries with the Queensland derby living up to expectations so far. 

40th min: A try to Jake Clifford to put the Cowboys out to a healthy lead. An impressive try from their own half, Drinkwater throws a face ball out to Braidon Burns on the edge who charges ahead and bumps off Walsh in defence before running again then passing back inside for his half to score. Drinkwater converts and it's 14-4. 

37th min: The Cowboys stretch their lead with a penalty goal from Scott Drinkwater after Reece Walsh concedes an escort penalty. Score is now 8-4 to North Queensland. 

Injury alert - Cowboys skipper Reuben Cotter is sent from the field for a HIA after copping a boot in the face when reaching out to try and tackle Reece Walsh. 

32nd min: The Cowboys now are denied a try, with Jake Clifford and Coen Hess getting the way of each other trying to bring down a high kick over the top of the defending Broncos. Hess comes close, but knocks the ball on over the line. Still 6-4 to the home side. 

31st min: Broncos are denied a try, with Gehamat Shibasaki unable to cleanly collect and put the ball down, with Luki putting in a huge defensive effort to disrupt the Origin representative. Scores remain 6-4 to the Cowboys. 

Injury update - Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds comes from the field for a HIA after he is accidently collected while falling by Jake Clifford, drawing a penalty. 

24th min: The Broncos hit back with a similar looking try, with Xavier Willison, playing out on an edge tonight, running through on an Ezra Mam kick to score. The Cowboys gave up back-to-back penalties to shift the momentum and the Broncos didn't need any more invitation. Adam Reynolds misses the conversion attempt from five metres in from touch, so the Cowboys lead 6-4. 

20th min: First points finally in an highly-competitive game so far, with Heilum Luki getting over for the Cowboys. Set up by a big run from Jason Taumalolo, the home side were on the front foot, allowing an attacking kick from Jaxson Purdue, playing in the halves. Scott Drinkwater converts for a 6-0 lead. 

Injury alert - Cowboys hooker Reed Mahoney comes from the field for a HIA after hitting his head on the ground after a big tackle. Update - deemed a Cat 1 head knock, so his night is done. 

5th min: Successful captain's challenge from Brisbane, with Josiah Karapani originally pinged for a knock on. 

4th min: Broncos are denied first blood - with Preston Riki penalised for an impeding run on Jeremiah Nanai, conceding a penalty. The visitors thought they had capitalised on an early error at the back from Scott Drinkwater, with Jordan Riki able to pounce on an Adam Reynolds kick. However, the Bunker overturned the on-field call of try. Scores remain 0-0.

Kick off: The Cowboys kick off and the Broncos are met with some strong defence to start the game. 

Match preview

Late Mail

Cowboys: Griffin Neame comes into the starting side with Tom Mikaele reverting back to the bench in a late switch. Star playmaker Tom Dearden was ruled out due to an ankle injury on Friday. Jaxon Purdue shifts back into the halves to partner Jake Clifford at five-eighth. Zac Laybutt comes from the bench to play in the centres, with Sam McIntyre coming up from the reserves. 

Broncos: The Broncos are 1-19 with no late changes. Hooker Billy Walters is primed for his first NRL game since suffering an ACL injury against the Raiders in last year's finals series. Walters has played three Queensland Cup games with Souths Logan to build his fitness. Xavier Willison moves from prop to second row to cover for Brendan Piakura (concussion). Preston Riki returns to the starting front row after coming off the bench last week.

Numbers Game

• The Cowboys have won only one of their last seven games against the Broncos.
• The Broncos have won their last three games at QCB Stadium.
  Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi has scored eight tries in five games at QCB Stadium this season.
• Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has scored six tries in his last six games against the Cowboys.
• Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has scored six tries in seven games against the Broncos.

 

Bulldogs v Warriors at Accor Stadium

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Warriors

Bulldogs

Full-time: The Bulldogs have now won five of their past six games and make a huge statement against a top-four side. The return of Stephen Crichton was huge for the Bulldogs who are looking ominous ahead of a clash with the Storm next week.

77 min: Another chip over the top on last tackle by Wayde Egan but Connor Tracey is in perfect position to tidy it up.

75 min: A try from nowhere for the Warriors as Mitch Barnett of all people chips over the top and Chanel Harris-Tavita chases hard to scoop the ball up and race away to score. The five-eighth converts his own try. Bulldogs 18-6

74 min: Razzle dazzle footy from the Bulldogs after a Jacob Preston line break and it finishes up with Jethro Rinakama who loses the ball in contact and the Warriors hang on.

71 min: The Warriors concede a penalty for hands in the ruck. Stephen Crichton lines up a shot at penalty goal from 30m out and slots it. Bulldogs 18-0

70 min: A trysaver by Matt Burton on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad before the ball is sent to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the next play and the final pass is ruled forward as he goes over in the corner.

67 min: James Fisher-Harris tries to get to his feet to play the ball quickly with the Warriors hard on attack but he loses control and knocks on.

64 min: Another chance for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak but the Bulldogs scramble across and as he tries to step back inside he slips over and his legs go out. The Bulldogs are closing in on two full matches without conceding a point after a 32-0 win over the Tigers last week.

62 min: Max King comes up with an error under pressure from Erin Clark. Just the second incomplete set of the night for the Dogs who are 32 of 34.

57 min: Jacob Laban comes up with a dropped ball in contact and that's 11 errors for the night for the Warriors who are well below their best.

55 min: Jacob Kiraz is ruled to have knocked on a bomb and Josh Curran picks the ball up in an offside position. The Dogs are penalised and throw in a captain's challenge which they win as replays show Adam Pompey had come up with the first knock on in the contest.

54 min: Jethro Rinakama goes high to try and bring down a bomb but knocks the ball on and it goes dead. 

52 min: A terrible pass by Te Maire Martin with the Warriors hot on attack goes to no one and the Bulldogs scoop it up and come away.

47 min: From a set scrum 10 metres out the Bulldogs go to the right and Lachlan Galvin sends it on to Connor Tracey whose catch-and-pass is a beauty for Jacob Kiraz who crosses in the corner. Bulldogs 16-0

44 min: The Warriors create space for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak but Connor Tracey gets across in cover and takes him into touch with a superb legs tackle.

42 min: Stephen Crichton goes high, the Bulldogs pour through and put pressure on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who puts it down. Josh Curran picks up the scraps and scores but Matt Burton is penalised for taking out DWZ and making no realistic attempt to catch the ball.

Welcome back, skipper: Stephen Crichton exploded out of the blocks with an early try in his return after a week off. By half-time, 'Critta' had 79 run metres, two line breaks and 209 kick metres as his leadership and composure put the Bulldogs on track for an upset.

Half-time: The Bulldogs controlled proceedings superbly as they completed 20 of 22 sets at 90 per cent. After getting the jump with two tries in the first 11 minutes, the Bulldogs got into the grind with the Warriors and maintained the 12-point margin through to the break.

39 min: The Warriors choose to run the ball on the last but Alofiana Khan-Pereira is wrapped up on halfway and the Bulldogs get a late chance at points but Stephen Crichton's chip over the top is easily cleaned up by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

38 min: The Warriors burn their captain's challenge after Demitric Vaimauga is penalised for ruck interference in a clear cut decision but for some reason they choose to challenge.

37 min: Josh Curran leaves the field for a HIA which he passes.

36 min: Taine Tuaupiki scrambles back to clean up a kick and sprints 30 metres out of trouble but gets up and leaves the field with an foot injury that has troubled him for much of the first half.

32 min: Viliame Kikau leaves the field for a HIA after a head clash with teammate Harry Hayes. Kikau passes and is able to return.

28 min: The Warriors come up empty as Jacob Laban is ruled to have knocked on in a Connor Tracey tackle.

27 min: Stephen Crichton goes high on Jacob Laban. Penalty. The Warriors are on the attack from 25m out.

24 min: Connor Tracey makes good ground to field a kick on the full and then is caught in a crusher tackle and earns his side a penalty.

20 min: The Warriors create an overlap on the left edge but Chanel Harris-Tavita's lofted pass to Alofiana Khan-Pereira is a poor one and goes behind the winger and into touch.

18 min: Stephen Crichton goes to the air on the last but it comes off the boot badly and sails out on the full. The Warriors take over on halfway.

16 min: Massive metres again for the Bulldogs as Matt Burton's long run is followed up by Lachlan Galvin skipping out of dummy half but the Warriors scramble back to shut him down.

15 min: Chanel Harris-Tavita bombs, Adam Pompey takes the catch, the Bulldogs wrap him up immediately. 

12 min: Lachlan Galvin goes to the line and picks up a rampaging Jacob Preston who is unstoppable from close range. Stephen Crichton converts. Bulldogs 12-0

11 min: An expansive start from the Bulldogs as Jacob Kiraz breaks the line and picks up Stephen Crichton. The Warriors scramble back but give away a six-again.

6 min: Superstars Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau combine on the left edge and the back-rower delivers a brilliant offload for his skipper to take the ball and dummy his way past Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score. Crichton converts. Bulldogs 6-0

4 min: Taine Tuaupiki gets across field and looks to pick up support but Leo Thompson tracks him down and dislodges the ball as he comes in to make the tackle.

3 min: The Bulldogs get a penalty but fail to find touch as Alofiana Khan-Pereira jumps high and manages to tap the ball back in.

 

Late Mail

Bulldogs: No late changes for the Bulldogs. Coach Cameron Ciraldo confirmed on Friday morning that skipper Stephen Crichton is good to go after being rested last week following his injury scare in Round 19. Sean O'Sullivan moves to the bench after his starring role in Crichton's absence against Wests Tigers. Star back-rower Viliame Kikau returns to the starting side after coming back from injury via the bench last week so Josh Curran moves to the interchange. 

Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klostad and Luke Metcalf have been confirmed on the six-man bench 90 minutes before kick-off. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Marata Niukore and Rocco Berry were all omitted to play NSW Cup. The Warriors will field the same starting line-up used in last Saturday’s win over the Dragons.

Numbers Game

• The Bulldogs have won their last three games against the Warriors.
• Warriors winger Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira has scored 12 tries in 10 games this season.
• The Bulldogs have won four of their last five games at Accor Stadium.
• The Warriors have won eight from nine against teams currently sitting outside the top eight.
• Bulldogs winger Jethro Rinakama has scored six tries in his last six games.

 

Raiders v Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium

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Slashing Simi: Raiders centre Simi Sasagi racked up a double century with 200 run metres to go with two line breaks and five tackle breaks. Xavier Savage also helped himself to 176 run metres and Joe Tapine 175 metres as the Raiders completed at 88 per cent and converted that into their biggest win of the season.

Full-time: The Raiders climb to 10th on the ladder on the back of a 10-try romp over the hapless Wests Tigers, who finish a horror week with a thumping defeat.

77 min: Matt Timoko gets in on the action as Ethan Sanders again delivers the final pass, this time for Timoko to slice between Patrick Herbert Faaletino Tavana. A huge boost for Canberra's points differential and the end can't come soon enough for the Tigers. Raiders 56-10

73 min: Matty Nicholson is penalised and placed on report for a dangerous tackle.

70 min: Ethan Sanders racks up another try assist as he lobs a pass over the top for Jed Stuart to cruise into the corner to complete his double. Sanders adds the extras from wide out. Raiders 52-10

68 min: Daine Laurie has a first career hat-trick courtesy of a line break by Ethan Sanders who draws the fullback and gives Laurie a clear run to the line. The halfback adds the extras. Raiders 46-10

67 min: Jarome Luai grubbers on the first tackle and it is way too deep and the Tigers turn over possession. 

66 min: The carve-up looks to have continued as Kaeo Weekes embarrasses Sunia Turuva and Jarome Luai on the Tigers' left edge and cruises in for a 'try' but the bunker rules obstruction in the lead-up by Simi Sasagi. 

65 min: Patrick Herbert muscles up in defence and back slams Ethan Strange and is penalised. He then goes on report for an elbow to the head while Strange was on the ground.

61 min: Sloppy defence from the Tigers close to their own line allows Daine Laurie to grab a second try as he dances around several players and gets the ball down with three defenders trying to deny him. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 40-10

57 min: Matty Nicholson enters the field off the bench for his first NRL action of the season after a shoulder reconstruction.

53 min: The Tigers put the kick-off over the dead ball line and the Raiders have a penalty on halfway and reload.

52 min: On the back of a pair of six-again calls the Raiders grab another four-pointer as Daine Laurie powers through Javon Andrews and scores adjacent to the posts. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 34-10

50 min: The Tigers allow a high ball to bounce, it ends up in the in-goal but Xavier Savage can't control the pick-up with Jahream Bula getting across to pressure him. Tigers come away.

48 min: Concerted pressure for the Tigers comes to nothing as Patrick Herbert jumps out of dummy half and tries to pick up Jahream Bula but the pass is slightly behind the fullback and goes to ground.

47 min: Sione Fainu gets over the line for the second time in 60 seconds and both times the Raiders held him up.

44 min: A clever grubber by Jarome Luai for Jahream Bula to chase and gets hands to but he can't control the ball and get it to ground.

43 min: The Raiders run the ball on the last and Ethan Strange creates space and picks up Ethan Sanders who offloads for Daine Laurie but his pass goes forward as he tries to link with support.

Sanders supreme: Young gun halfback Ethan Sanders goes from strength to strength for Canberra, coming up with a try assist, a line break, two tackle breaks and a long-range solo try that had the Green Machine faithful in raptures. The 22-year-old also had 241 kick metres as he peppered Jahream Bula with high balls.

Half-time: The Raiders take a commanding 18-point lead to the break on the back of a 94 per cent completion rate (18 of 19). The home team had 210 more run metres and made just one error compared to the Tigers' four.

37 min: Faaletino Tavana pulls one back for the Tigers courtesy of a superb long ball from Jahream Bula to put the winger away. That's four tries in seven NRL games for Tavana. The conversion attempt from Api Koroisau is wide. Raiders 28-10

33 min: Ethan Roberts is penalised for an obstruction as the Tigers threatened on the right edge and the Raiders make them pay as they get the ball to the right edge and Xavier Savage burns Junior Tupou and races away for Canberra's fifth try of the day. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 28-6

29 min: Javon Andrews hoists high, the ball spills free into the in-goal where Kaeo Weekes tries to kick it dead but Alex Seyfarth comes around behind him and grounds the ball. The bunker disallows the try as they rule Faaletino Tavana had touched the ball in the contest with Jed Stuart and knocked it on.

25 min: Javon Andrews' bomb is spilt backwards by Xavier Savage, the ball is picked up by Simi Sasagi who finds space and then unloads to Kaeo Weekes who races 70 metres to score, slipping the grasp of Jahream Bula who tried to reel him in. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 22-6

21 min: Ethan Strange takes the ball 10m out and bamboozles the defence with slick stepping and speed and he plunges over for his fifth try of the season. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 16-6

20 min: Jarome Luai throws a long ball to Junior Tupou who is wrapped up by Xavier Savage and Simi Sasagi. The ball comes loose and a knock on is called. The Tigers challenge the call and come up empty. Loose carry by Tupou. Raiders ball 30m out from their own line.

19 min: A big play from Api Koroisau as he comes up with a 40-20, the first of the season for Wests Tigers.

16 min: A sensational solo try from the halfway line by Ethan Sanders as he breaks the line and then dummies his way past Jahream Bula who fails to commit to the tackle. Sanders converts his own try. Raiders 10-6

15 min: The Tigers make plenty of metres in the set after points and turn it over five metres out from the Canberra line when Ethan Roberts is grassed.

12 min: Terrell May offloads for Api Koroisau who turns it under to Ethan Roberts who powers through Tom Starling and Morgan Smithies to score under the sticks. Koroisau converts. Tigers 6-4

11 min: Javon Andrews puts in a kick and Corey Horsburgh makes late contact with no arms wrapped. Horsburgh goes on report and the Tigers go inside the red zone.

7 min: Jed Stuart has the first try of the day as he climbs above Faaletino Tavana to bring down an Ethan Sanders bomb and plunge over in the corner. Sanders fails to convert. Raiders 4-0

6 min: Jarome Luai chooses to run the ball on the last but his pass to left winger Junior Tupou is a poor one and the Raiders take over on halfway.

3 min: Ethan Sanders launches a bomb which gets caught in the breeze and comes down almost where he kicked it from. Ethan Strange gathers and picks up 40 metres with a kick that Jahream Bula has to field in his own in-goal.

Late Mail

Raiders: Back-rower Noah Martin suffered a quad strain at training on Thursday afternoon and has come out of the side. His place is taken by Ata Mariota. Englishman Matty Nicholson comes from the bench in his first appearance of 2026 after shoulder surgery. Vena Patuki-Case is the new man on the bench. With Owen Pattie serving a one-game suspension, Tom Starling starts the game at hooker and Jayden Brailey joins the bench. The loss of Hudson Young to a season-ending Achilles injury sees Zac Hosking slide to second row and Morgan Smithies line up at lock.

Wests Tigers: No further game day changes for the Tigers after Adam Doueihi's walkout and Jock Madden injury at training on Thursday. Young gun Javon Andrews will make his NRL debut at halfback in Doueihi's absence. The Tigers were granted an exemption from the NRL to bring Heath Mason onto the six-man bench. Patrick Herbert returns from a shoulder injury in the centres while Sunia Turuva moves from wing to centre. Junior Tupou and Faaletino Tavana are the new wingers. 

Numbers Game

• The Raiders have won 10 of their last 12 games against Wests Tigers.
• Wests Tigers have not won at GIO Stadium since 2018.
• The Raiders have scored 98 points in three consecutive wins.
• Wests Tigers have not defeated the Raiders twice in a season since 2011.
• The Raiders have won only one of their last five games without Hudson Young.