St George Illawarra Dragons

Dragons vs Cowboys

Round 5 2026, Saturday 4 April 2026

North Queensland Cowboys

Verdict: Dragons by 3

DragonsCowboys

Result: Cowboys 32 defeated Dragons 0 ✗ Tip wrong

Match facts

Kick-off
Sat 4 Apr, 5:30pm AEDT
Venue
St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Ladder going in
Dragons 17th, Cowboys 11th
Referee
Wyatt Raymond
Crowd
8,491
Weather
Fine, good ground

How the experts tipped

ExpertTipTip correct
Jordan BakerCowboys✓
Chris BarrettDragons✗
Zoe SamiosCowboys✓
Zac BaileyCowboys✓
Frances HoweCowboys✓
Christian NicolussiDragons✗
Billie EderCowboys✓
Adrian ProszenkoCowboys✓
Dan WalshDragons✗
Andrew JohnsDragons✗
Emma KempCowboys✓
Neil BreenCowboys✓

Going in

ClubLadder going inLast five, oldest firstModel rating
St George Illawarra Dragons Dragons17th LLLL-4.7
North Queensland Cowboys Cowboys11th LLWW-2.9

Last five games

Dragons

RoundOpponentScore
Round 4at TitansL 14–22
Round 3at EelsL 20–30
Round 2v StormL 20–46
Round 1at BulldogsL 14–15
Round 27 2025v PanthersL 20–40

Cowboys

RoundOpponentScore
Round 4v StormW 28–24
Round 3v TitansW 30–16
Round 2at Wests TigersL 16–44
Round 1at KnightsL 18–28
Round 26 2025v BroncosL 30–38

Head to head since 2024

SeasonRoundGameScoreVenue
2025Round 21Cowboys v Dragons38–32Queensland Country Bank Stadium
2024Round 3Dragons v Cowboys24–46Jubilee Stadium

Team lists

Dragons

  1. 1 Clinton Gutherson (c) Fullback
  2. 2 Christian Tuipulotu Winger
  3. 3 Moses Suli Centre
  4. 4 Valentine Holmes Centre
  5. 5 David Fale Winger
  6. 6 Lyhkan King-Togia Five-Eighth
  7. 7 Daniel Atkinson Halfback
  8. 8 Emre Guler Prop
  9. 9 Damien Cook (c) Hooker
  10. 10 Toby Couchman Interchange
  11. 11 Luciano Leilua 2nd Row
  12. 12 Jaydn Su'A 2nd Row
  13. 13 Hamish Stewart Lock
  14. 14 Jacob Liddle Interchange
  15. 15 Blake Lawrie Prop
  16. 16 Jacob Halangahu Interchange
  17. 17 Hame Sele Interchange
  18. 18 Josh Kerr Reserve
  19. 19 Tyrell Sloan Reserve

Coach: Shane Flanagan

In David Fale, Lyhkan King-Togia, Moses Suli, Toby Couchman

Out Kyle Flanagan, Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

vs Round 4 v Titans

Cowboys

  1. 1 Scott Drinkwater Fullback
  2. 2 Braidon Burns Winger
  3. 3 Jaxon Purdue Centre
  4. 4 Tom Chester Centre
  5. 5 Murray Taulagi Winger
  6. 6 Jake Clifford Five-Eighth
  7. 7 Tom Dearden (c) Halfback
  8. 8 Coen Hess Prop
  9. 9 Reed Mahoney Hooker
  10. 10 Jason Taumalolo Prop
  11. 11 Heilum Luki 2nd Row
  12. 12 Sam McIntyre 2nd Row
  13. 13 Reuben Cotter (c) Lock
  14. 14 Soni Luke Reserve
  15. 15 Griffin Neame Interchange
  16. 16 Thomas Mikaele Interchange
  17. 17 Matthew Lodge Reserve
  18. 19 Zac Laybutt Interchange
  19. 20 Kai O'Donnell Interchange

Coach: Todd Payten

In Matthew Lodge, Thomas Mikaele, Tom Chester

Out Kai O'Donnell, Zac Laybutt

vs Round 4 v Storm

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, Dragons rated -4.7 and Cowboys -2.9 on our scale, a gap of 1.8 points, plus 4.5 points for playing at their own ground.

Scoring

Dragons
Goals 0/0
Half-time 0
Cowboys
Tries Scott Drinkwater 11', Jaxon Purdue 29', Jaxon Purdue 38', Braidon Burns 50', Murray Taulagi 61', Jake Clifford 77'
Goals 4/6
Half-time 16

Draw, teams and scoring: nrl.com match centre. Expert tips: The Sydney Morning Herald panel.