Newcastle Knights vs Cowboys: Preview & Prediction

Knights

vs

Cowboys

Sun 1 Mar 2026, 02:15

Round 1 of the 2026 season takes Newcastle and North Queensland to Las Vegas. A new year. A fresh stage. Big expectations on both sides.

Newcastle Knights—state of play

The Knights enter the season with pressure building. Their preseason was inconsistent. Attack looked clunky at times. Completions hurt them.

However, the arrival of Dylan Brown adds control and defensive steel in the halves. If Kalyn Ponga is fully fit, Newcastle’s ceiling rises instantly.

When he plays with freedom, the Knights look dangerous. The question is cohesion. Round 1 rarely brings fluency.

North Queensland Cowboys—state of play

North Queensland look more settled. Their forward pack had a strong pre-season. Jason Taumalolo still sets the tone through the middle.

Jeremiah Nanai adds strike on the edge. Tom Dearden controls tempo well and rarely overplays his hand.

The Cowboys’ strength is balance. They don’t need to force it. They grind. Then they strike.

This feels like a contrast in readiness. Newcastle have upside. But they are still building combinations. The Cowboys look sharper and more structured. In Round 1, structure matters.

If Ponga produces something special, the Knights stay close. If not, North Queensland’s middle dominance should wear them down late.

Knights vs Cowboys: Best Odds

Prediction for Knights vs Cowboys

Expect intensity early. Expect physical contact through the middle.

The Cowboys look slightly more prepared.

North Queensland Cowboys to win, 26–18.