Cowboys vs Titans
Round 3 2026, Sunday 22 March 2026
Verdict: Cowboys by 5
CowboysTitans
Result: Cowboys 30 defeated Titans 16 ✓ Tip correct
Match facts
- Kick-off
- Sun 22 Mar, 6:15pm AEDT
- Venue
- Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
- Ladder going in
- Cowboys 16th, Titans 17th
- Referee
- Peter Gough
- Crowd
- 16,999
- Weather
- Fine, good ground
How the experts tipped
Cowboys 92%8% Titans
| Expert | Tip | Tip correct |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Baker | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Chris Barrett | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Zoe Samios | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Zac Bailey | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Frances Howe | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Christian Nicolussi | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Billie Eder | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Adrian Proszenko | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Dan Walsh | Titans | ✗ |
| Andrew Johns | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Emma Kemp | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Neil Breen | Cowboys | ✓ |
Going in
| Club | Ladder going in | Last five, oldest first | Model rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 16th | LL | -4 |
| Titans | 17th | LL | -5 |
Last five games
Cowboys
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 2 | at Wests Tigers | L 16–44 |
| Round 1 | at Knights | L 18–28 |
| Round 26 2025 | v Broncos | L 30–38 |
| Round 25 2025 | at Wests Tigers | W 34–28 |
| Round 24 2025 | v Knights | W 38–4 |
Titans
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 2 | at Dolphins | L 14–18 |
| Round 1 | at Sharks | L 10–50 |
| Round 27 2025 | v Wests Tigers | W 36–28 |
| Round 26 2025 | at Dolphins | L 30–36 |
| Round 25 2025 | v Warriors | L 18–32 |
Head to head since 2024
| Season | Round | Game | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Round 23 | Titans v Cowboys | 8–30 | Cbus Super Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 17 | Titans v Cowboys | 24–30 | Cbus Super Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 8 | Cowboys v Titans | 50–18 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 10 | Titans v Cowboys | 20–18 | Cbus Super Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 5 | Cowboys v Titans | 35–22 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
Team lists
Cowboys
- 1 Scott Drinkwater Fullback
- 2 Braidon Burns Winger
- 3 Jaxon Purdue Centre
- 4 Tom Chester Centre
- 5 Murray Taulagi Winger
- 6 Jake Clifford Five-Eighth
- 7 Tom Dearden (c) Halfback
- 8 Coen Hess Interchange
- 9 Reed Mahoney Hooker
- 10 Jason Taumalolo Prop
- 11 Heilum Luki 2nd Row
- 12 Sam McIntyre 2nd Row
- 13 Reuben Cotter (c) Lock
- 14 Soni Luke Interchange
- 15 Kai O'Donnell Reserve
- 16 Griffin Neame Prop
- 18 Zac Laybutt Reserve
- 20 Kaiden Lahrs Interchange
- 21 Matthew Lodge Interchange
Coach: Todd Payten
Titans
- 1 Keano Kini Fullback
- 2 Sialetili Faeamani Winger
- 3 Jojo Fifita Centre
- 4 Max Feagai Centre
- 5 Phillip Sami Winger
- 6 AJ Brimson Five-Eighth
- 7 Lachlan Ilias Replacement
- 8 Moeaki Fotuaika Prop
- 9 Sam Verrills Hooker
- 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (c) Prop
- 11 Arama Hau 2nd Row
- 12 Beau Fermor 2nd Row
- 13 Chris Randall Lock
- 14 Kurtis Morrin Interchange
- 15 Tukimihia Simpkins Interchange
- 16 Klese Haas Interchange
- 17 Cooper Bai Interchange
- 19 Jayden Campbell Halfback
- 22 Josh Patston Reserve
Coach: Josh Hannay
Same 17 as last game (Round 2 v Dolphins)
Numbers as named by each club on nrl.com. Changes are measured against the club's previous game.
Why the model leaned this way
Going in, Cowboys rated -4 and Titans -5 on our scale, a gap of 1.0 points, plus 4.5 points for playing at their own ground.
Scoring
- Cowboys
- Tries Murray Taulagi 7', Murray Taulagi 23', Scott Drinkwater 28', Jaxon Purdue 33', Jake Clifford 60'
- Goals 4/5, pen Jake Clifford 58'
- Half-time 22
- Titans
- Tries Jayden Campbell 14', Jayden Campbell 19', Kurtis Morrin 41'
- Goals 2/3
- Half-time 10
Draw, teams and scoring: nrl.com match centre. Expert tips: The Sydney Morning Herald panel.