NRL Pre-Season Challenge Round 1: Cowboys Edge Bulldogs, Dragons Storm Home Late

The NRL season just got closer. Round 1 of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge delivered two entertaining fixtures on February 7-8. The North Queensland Cowboys survived a spirited Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs fightback to win 34-30. The St George Illawarra Dragons produced a stunning late rally to defeat the Newcastle Knights 28-18.

Cowboys 34 def Bulldogs 30

Jake Clifford was the dominant figure in Friday night’s contest, steering the Cowboys around the park with precision kicking and sharp ball distribution. The halfback looked in midseason form, controlling tempo and creating opportunities for his outside backs throughout the first half as North Queensland raced out to a commanding lead.

Robert Derby was the chief beneficiary, crossing for two well-taken tries on the left edge. Derby’s finishing was clinical, and his combination with Clifford on the short side will give Cowboys fans genuine optimism heading into the regular season.

The Bulldogs, to their credit, refused to go quietly. Canterbury mounted a furious second-half comeback that brought them within four points, testing the Cowboys’ composure under pressure. Ultimately, North Queensland’s first-half buffer proved just enough to see them home in what was a genuine arm-wrestle over the final 20 minutes.

Dragons 28 def Knights 18

Saturday’s fixture in Wollongong produced one of the more remarkable pre-season finishes in recent memory. The Knights controlled the opening 60 minutes, building an 18-10 advantage through disciplined defence and clinical completions. Newcastle looked well-drilled under new coaching structures and appeared set for a comfortable victory.

Then the Dragons flicked a switch. Three tries in the final 11 minutes turned the contest on its head, as St George Illawarra scored 18 unanswered points to storm home 28-18. The comeback was built on broken-field running and quick play-the-balls that left the Knights scrambling in defence. While pre-season results carry no points, the ability to produce that kind of finish under pressure will have pleased the Dragons’ coaching staff immensely.

Round 2 Squad Announcements

Attention has quickly turned to Round 2 of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge, with several clubs naming squads that have set tongues wagging across the rugby league landscape.

The Dolphins have confirmed that off-season recruits Morgan Knowles and Selwyn Cobbo will both make their debuts in Dolphins colours. Knowles, the English international forward who arrived from St Helens, brings a physicality and work-rate that will bolster the Dolphins’ middle rotation. Cobbo’s switch from the Brisbane Broncos was one of the most talked-about moves of the transfer window, and fans will get their first glimpse of the explosive outside back in his new system.

Meanwhile, Benji Marshall has named his first squad of 2026 as head coach of the Wests Tigers. The Tigers are entering a critical season in their rebuild, and Marshall’s squad selection will be closely scrutinised for clues about his preferred spine combination and the pecking order among the club’s emerging young talent.

Looking Ahead

Pre-season fixtures serve their purpose: live-game environments to test combinations, manage workloads, and give fringe players a shot at round one selection. The NRL season proper is fast approaching. Intensity ramps up from here.

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LF — Breaking news correspondent, australiafootball.com