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

The club played its first game in the United States in 2026 with their Round 1 fixture against the Newcastle Knights in Las Vegas. They finished 8th, returning to the finals, but were eliminated by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Season summary Milestones Round 1: Reed Mahoney and Matthew Lodge made their debuts for the club. Round 2: Soni Luke made his debut for the club. Round 6: Scott Drinkwater played his 150th NRL game. Round 6: Soni Luke scored his first try for the club. Round 7: Scott Drinkwater played his 150th NRL game for the club. Round 8: Reed Mahoney scored his first try for the club. Round 10: Jason Taumalolo played his 295th NRL game for the club, overtaking Johnathan Thurston as the club's most capped player. Round 11: Liam Sutton made his NRL debut. Round 11: Wiremu Greig made his debut for the club. Round 11: Griffin Neame played his 100th NRL game for the club. Round 11: Jake Clifford played his 100th NRL game. Round 12: Xavier Kerrisk made his NRL debut. Round 12: Liam Sutton scored his first NRL try. Round 13: Ethan King made his debut for the club. Round 13: Thomas Mikaele played his 100th NRL game. Round 14: Coen Hess played his 200th NRL game for the club. Round 17: Jason Taumalolo played his 300th NRL game for the club, becoming the first player to do so. Round 20: Jeremiah Nanai scored his 50th NRL try. Finals Week 1: Braidon Burns played his 100th NRL game.

Squad <noinclude>

Squad movement Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesEthan King Sydney RoostersMatthew Lodge Manly Sea EaglesReed Mahoney Canterbury BulldogsRonald Philitoga Wynnum Manly SeagullsLiam Sutton Wynnum Manly SeagullsJames Walsh Dolphins

Losses Player Signed to Until end of NotesMarly Bitungane London BroncosTom Duffy Brisbane BroncosHarrison Edwards Parramatta Eels (mid-season)Temple Kalepo Wynnum Manly SeagullsNic Lenaz Townsville BlackhawksMatthew Lodge Leeds Rhinos (mid-season)Jeremiah Mata'utia Leeds RhinosJordan McLeanRetiredReece Robson Sydney RoostersJamal Shibasaki Wynnum Manly SeagullsSemi Valemei Castleford Tigers

Re-signings Player Until End of NotesBraidon BurnsTom ChesterJake CliffordKaiden LahrsSoni LukeThomas MikaeleJaxon Purdue

Ladder

Fixtures Pre-season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance Saturday, 7 FebruaryTrial 1 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsJubilee Oval34 – 30Derby (2), Barber, Laybutt, Luki, O'Donnell Clifford (4/5), Sutton (1/1) 3,926Friday, 13 FebruaryTrial 2 Penrith PanthersBB Print Stadium66 – 24O'Donnell (3), Burns (2), Clifford (2), Drinkwater, Luki, Mikaele, Purdue, Taulagi Drinkwater (6/8), Clifford (2/3), Sutton (1/1) Legend:

Regular season

Matches Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, February 28Round 1 Newcastle KnightsAllegiant Stadium18 – 28 Luki, Taulagi Clifford (3/3) 45,719 Saturday, 14 MarchRound 2 Wests Tigers Leichhardt Oval 16 – 44 Burns, Chester, Purdue Clifford (1/3) 17,367Sunday, 22 MarchRound 3 Gold Coast Titans QCB Stadium 30 – 16 Taulagi (2), Clifford, Drinkwater, Purdue Clifford (5/6) 16,999Saturday, 28 MarchRound 4 Melbourne Storm QCB Stadium 28 – 24 Burns (2), Clifford, Luki, McIntyre, Taulagi Clifford (1/4), Drinkwater (1/2) 20,931Saturday, 4 AprilRound 5 St George Illawarra Dragons Jubilee Oval 32 – 0 Drinkwater, Purdue (2), Burns, Taulagi, Clifford Clifford (4/6) 8,491Friday, 10 AprilRound 6 Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium 35 – 31 Purdue, Laybutt, Luke, Drinkwater, Chester, Luki Clifford (5/6), Drinkwater (FG) 45,582Thursday, 16 AprilRound 7 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles QCB Stadium 6 – 38 Hess Clifford 17,476Friday, 24 AprilRound 8 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks QCB Stadium 46 – 34 Drinkwater, Taulagi (3), Mahoney, Burns, Luke, Dearden, Luki Clifford (5/9) 17,886Friday, 1 MayRound 9 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Accor Stadium 38 – 12 Drinkwater, Burns, Clifford, Cotter Clifford (4/5) 15,132 Friday, 8 MayRound 10 Parramatta Eels QCB Stadium 30 – 33 Chester, Clifford, Luki, Mahoney, Purdue Clifford (5/5) 17,626Sunday, 16 MayRound 11 Sydney Roosters Suncorp Stadium 18 – 12 Burns (2), Drinkwater Clifford (3/3) 49,601Sunday, 24 MayRound 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs QCB Stadium 30 – 18 Chester, Laybutt, Luki, Mahoney, Sutton Clifford (4/5, 2PT FG) 18,888Sunday, 31 MayRound 13 Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium 26 – 12 Luki, Sutton Clifford (2/2) 12,258 Saturday, 6 JuneRound 14 Dolphins QCB Stadium 14 – 40 Chester (2), Taulagi Clifford (1/3) 21,911Round 15ByeSunday, 21 JuneRound 16 New Zealand Warriors One NZ Stadium 20 – 38 Burns (2), Drinkwater, Nanai Clifford (2/4) 24,365Saturday, 27 JuneRound 17 Penrith Panthers QCB Stadium 26 – 12 Nanai (2), Clifford, Nanai Clifford (5/7) 22,888Round 18ByeSunday, 12 JulyRound 19 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 4 Pines Park 19 – 18 Burns (2), Chester, Cotter Clifford (1/4), Drinkwater (FG) 16,892 Sunday, 19 JulyRound 20 Dolphins Suncorp Stadium 36 – 16 Dearden, Drinkwater, Nanai Drinkwater (2/3) 35,213Saturday, 25 JulyRound 21 Brisbane Broncos QCB Stadium 18 – 10 Clifford, Luki Drinkwater (5/5) 25,461Thursday, 30 JulyRound 22 Sydney Roosters QCB Stadium 12 – 82 Burns, Chester Drinkwater (2/2) 15,835Thursday, 6 AugustRound 23 Gold Coast Titans Cbus Super Stadium 30 – 8 Luki, Clifford, Purdue, Taumalolo Drinkwater (5/5) 11,740Saturday, 15 AugustRound 24 Parramatta Eels CommBank Stadium 30 – 32 Mahoney, Burns, Purdue, Cotter, Tom Chester Drinkwater (5/5) 12,804Round 25ByeSaturday, 29 AugustRound 26 Wests Tigers QCB Stadium 24 – 10 Chester (2), Luki, PurdueDrinkwater (4/5) 17,888Saturday, 5 SeptemberRound 27 Canberra Raiders QCB Stadium 30 – 50 Bateman, Burns, Clifford, Drinkwater, Taumalolo Drinkwater (5/5) 18,982 Legend:

Finals Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceFriday, 20 SeptemberElimination Cronulla-Sutherland SharksAllianz Stadium 16 – 26 Burns, Laybutt, Purdue Drinkwater (2/3) 17,429 Legend:

Statistics NameAppTGFGPts 7 1 – – 4 21 16 – – 64 24 11 – – 44 24 9 53 1 144 22 3 – – 12 14 2 – – 8 2 – – – – 25 10 31 2 104 1 – – – – 3 – – – – 25 1 – – 4 1 – – – – 5 – – – – 2 – – – – 20 3 – – 12 15 – – – – 19 2 – – 8 25 11 – – 44 22 4 – – 16 16 1 – – 4 21 – – – – 10 4 – – 16 23 – – – – 7 – – – – 25 10 – – 40 4 2 – – 8 17 11 – – 44 24 2 – – 8 Totals 103 84 3 584

Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2026.

All Stars match State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Prime Minister's XIII World CupReuben Cotter Kaiden Lahrs Jeremiah Nanai

Honours Club Paul Bowman Medal: Reuben Cotter Players' Player: Scott Drinkwater Cowboys Way Award: Soni Luke Rookie of the Year: Liam Sutton JCU Education Award: Xavier Kerrisk Affiliate Player of the Year: Ethan King Club Person of the Year: Mark Taviani Member's Player of the Year: Tom Chester Townsville Bulletin Fan Award: Tom Chester

Feeder clubs Queensland Cup Mackay Cutters – 7th, lost elimination final Northern Pride – 10th, missed finals Townsville Blackhawks – 5th, lost semi final

Women's team

References