North Queensland Cowboys: Players, Coach, 2026 Team & Schedule

If you’ve been keeping tabs on the NRL’s off-season moves, you already know the North Queensland Cowboys have been busy reshaping their roster heading into 2026. With a season opener against the Newcastle Knights scheduled for 28 February 2026 in Las Vegas, fans have plenty to track before the campaign kicks off. This article walks through the Cowboys’ current squad, key signings, coaching setup, and what the 2026 draw looks like from Townsville.

Home City: Townsville · Facebook Likes: 465,930 · Instagram Followers: 291K · Official Website: Cowboys.com.au · NRL Club Profile: NRL.com

Who are the North Queensland Cowboys players?

The North Queensland Cowboys operate from Townsville as a professional NRL club, playing home games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Their official 2026 squad list (published 13 November 2025) features a mix of experienced campaigners and developing talent.

Current roster

The top 30 roster for 2026 includes key names across positions. Co-captains Reuben Cotter (LK) and Tom Dearden (HB, FE) anchor leadership, while Jason Taumalolo (PR, LK) brings power to the engine room. Scott Drinkwater lines up at fullback, with Jake Clifford covering five-eighth and halfback roles. John Bateman, Braidon Burns, Tom Chester, and Robert Derby round out the backline options.

Key players

Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden carry the co-captaincy into 2026, per Wikipedia (community-edited season record). Reed Mahoney arrives as the starting hooker, filling the gap left by Reece Robson’s departure to the Sydney Roosters. Jason Taumalolo, whose contract sits at $950K for 2026 according to Zero Tackle (NRL contract analyst), remains one of the squad’s highest-profile forwards.

The development squad features six players: Mason Barber, Xavier Kerrisk, Ethan King, Ronald Philitoga, Liam Sutton, and Matthew Watts.

The implication: fans should watch how quickly the new spine combination gels in the opening rounds.

North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks

The rivalry between the Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks plays out across multiple rounds each season, with matchups typically drawing strong crowds to Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Match preview

The 2026 draw puts the two sides on course for an Anzac Round clash on Friday 24 April 2026, with gates opening at 3:15PM and kickoff at 6:00PM. This home fixture is one of six Saturday games allocated to the Cowboys this season, according to Queensland Country Bank Stadium (venue operator schedule, dated 20 February 2026).

Head-to-head context

While the 2026 draw sets the Anzac Round meeting, historical results between the clubs have seesawed over recent seasons. Fans looking to dig into past encounters will find archived match records through the club’s official draw page and NRL.com archives.

The implication: Anzac Round at Queensland Country Bank Stadium typically sells strongly, and the Friday timeslot gives the Sharks a rare away-game prime time slot. Expect attendance to push toward capacity.

Who makes up the North Queensland Cowboys team for 2026?

The 2026 Cowboys roster took its current shape after two major announcements in November 2025: the squad list on the 13th and the season draw on the 14th.

Squad overview

The club confirmed the full 2026 squad through Cowboys.com.au (official club announcement). Players confirmed for 2026 include Coen Hess, Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai, Griffin Neame, and Jason Taumalolo alongside the core top-30 group. The squad was updated as of 30 March 2026, as noted in Wikipedia (crowd-verified season tracker).

Changes for 2026

Reece Robson’s exit to the Sydney Roosters (signed through 2029) represents the most significant departure. Jordan McLean retired. On the incoming side, Ethan King arrived from the Sydney Roosters (contracted until 2027), Matthew Lodge joined from Manly Sea Eagles (through 2026), and Reed Mahoney moved from Canterbury Bulldogs (through 2028), per Wikipedia (roster movement records).

John Bateman’s status for early rounds remains uncertain—Sporting News (NRL prediction coverage) reports he was omitted from extended reserves in early team projections.

What this means: the spine chemistry will be the defining storyline of the first two months.

Who is the North Queensland Cowboys coach?

Todd Payten remains head coach for the 2026 season, overseeing a management team that includes assistants Paul Wellens, Blake Green, and Brett O’Farrell, according to Wikipedia (coaching staff record).

Current coach

Payten has been at the helm since taking over the role, guiding the club through several seasons of roster transition. His leadership will be tested early as the team integrates new signings and manages the Robson departure.

Coaching history

Payten’s tenure has included navigating salary cap pressures and developing younger players into first-grade starters. The 2026 setup represents one of the more structured assistant arrangements in recent years, with Wellens bringing Super League experience and Green offering a halves perspective from his playing career.

The pattern: Payten has steered the Cowboys through transition periods before, but the Robson-to-Mahoney swap at hooker represents his most significant spine adjustment since taking charge.

What are the North Queensland Cowboys signings for 2026?

The Cowboys made three notable signings for the 2026 campaign, each filling a specific gap identified during the 2025 season review.

New signings

• Ethan King — from Sydney Roosters, contracted through 2027
• Matthew Lodge — from Manly Sea Eagles, contracted through 2026
• Reed Mahoney — from Canterbury Bulldogs, contracted through 2028

Contract updates

Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden signed extensions to take on co-captaincy duties. Reed Mahoney’s four-year deal (through 2028) signals the club’s commitment to building around a structured spine. Jason Taumalolo’s $950K salary for 2026 places him among the highest-paid forwards on the list.

What this means: the club has prioritized continuity in leadership while injecting fresh talent at hooker and in the forward pack. The shorter Lodge deal suggests flexibility—likely a one-year trial with evaluation points built in.

North Queensland Cowboys schedule 2026

The 2026 NRL draw delivers a mix of marquee events and regular-round fixtures, with six home Saturday games giving local fans premium scheduling.

Home game highlights

Round 1 takes the Cowboys to Las Vegas for a Saturday 28 February showdown with the Newcastle Knights—the season opener and a major broadcast event. Round 3 marks the home opener against the Gold Coast Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Sunday 22 March 2026, with gates at 3:45PM and kickoff at 5:15PM.

Round 21 (Saturday 25 July 2026) delivers the XXXX Derby against the Brisbane Broncos as part of a double-header: NRLW Cowboys versus Titans at 5:15PM, followed by the NRL main event at 7:30PM. An Anzac Round fixture against the Sharks lands on Friday 24 April 2026, with the Storm also visiting on Saturday 28 March.

Away game highlights

Notable away fixtures include Round 6 versus the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Magic Round against the Roosters, and Round 16 versus the Warriors in Christchurch, New Zealand. The NRLW season opens 4 July 2026 against the Broncos away.

The pattern: five key matchups anchor the season—two rivals in the Broncos and Sharks, one high-profile Las Vegas opener, one trans-Tasman trip, and Magic Round.

North Queensland Cowboys membership and tickets

Full-season membership for 2026 includes a complimentary ticket to the Cowboys versus Broncos fixture, per Ticketmaster (official ticketing partner). This stacks against the $950K Taumalolo salary and other high-profile deals as part of the club’s retention strategy.

With our season opener against the Newcastle Knights in Las Vegas just over 100 days away, we take a look at our 2026 squad.

— North Queensland Cowboys (Official Club Statement, 13 November 2025)

He’s been in our top three for the first three rounds.

— Todd Payten (Head Coach, Round 5 team announcement, 4 April 2026)

Related reading: Sydney FC Games – Fixtures Tickets Schedule 2025/26

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