Knights vs Cowboys
Round 1 2026, Sunday 1 March 2026
Verdict: Cowboys by 5
KnightsCowboys
Result: Knights 28 defeated Cowboys 18 ✗ Tip wrong
Match facts
- Kick-off
- Sun 1 Mar, 1:15pm AEDT
- Venue
- Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
- Referee
- Ashley Klein
- Crowd
- 45,719
- Weather
- Indoor, good ground
How the experts tipped
Knights 17%83% Cowboys
| Expert | Tip | Tip correct |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Baker | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Chris Barrett | Knights | ✓ |
| Zoe Samios | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Zac Bailey | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Frances Howe | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Christian Nicolussi | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Billie Eder | Knights | ✓ |
| Adrian Proszenko | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Dan Walsh | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Andrew Johns | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Emma Kemp | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Neil Breen | Cowboys | ✗ |
Last five games
Knights
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 27 2025 | at Eels | L 10–66 |
| Round 26 2025 | at Sharks | L 16–40 |
| Round 25 2025 | v Broncos | L 12–46 |
| Round 24 2025 | at Cowboys | L 4–38 |
| Round 23 2025 | v Panthers | L 12–48 |
Cowboys
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Round 23 2025 | at Eels | L 18–19 |
| Round 22 2025 | at Sharks | L 12–32 |
Head to head since 2024
| Season | Round | Game | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Round 24 | Cowboys v Knights | 38–4 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Finals Week 1 | Cowboys v Knights | 28–16 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 2 | Cowboys v Knights | 21–20 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
Team lists
Knights
- 1 Kalyn Ponga (c) Fullback
- 2 Dominic Young Winger
- 3 Dane Gagai Centre
- 4 Bradman Best Centre
- 5 Greg Marzhew Winger
- 6 Fletcher Sharpe Five-Eighth
- 7 Dylan Brown Halfback
- 8 Jacob Saifiti Prop
- 9 Phoenix Crossland Hooker
- 10 Trey Mooney Prop
- 11 Dylan Lucas 2nd Row
- 12 Jermaine McEwen 2nd Row
- 13 Tyson Frizell Interchange
- 14 Sandon Smith Interchange
- 15 Mat Croker Lock
- 16 Thomas Cant Interchange
- 17 Pasami Saulo Interchange
- 18 Fletcher Hunt Reserve
- 19 Francis Manuleleua Reserve
Coach: Justin Holbrook
First game of the season
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 Prop
- 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 Reserve
- 15 Thomas Mikaele Interchange
- 17 Kai O'Donnell Interchange
- 18 Griffin Neame Interchange
- 21 Matthew Lodge Interchange
- 22 Robert Derby Reserve
Coach: Todd Payten
First game of the season
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, Knights rated -6.5 and Cowboys -1.6 on our scale, a gap of 4.9 points at a ground neither club calls home.
Scoring
- Knights
- Tries Fletcher Sharpe 6', Greg Marzhew 13', Bradman Best 45', Dominic Young 47', Trey Mooney 72'
- Goals 4/5
- Half-time 12
- Cowboys
- Tries Heilum Luki 25', Murray Taulagi 30', Murray Taulagi 51'
- Goals 3/3
- Half-time 12
Draw, teams and scoring: nrl.com match centre. Expert tips: The Sydney Morning Herald panel.