A savage attacking display in Townsville has put the NRL on notice as the North Queensland Cowboys made a major statement against the Penrith Panthers.
The rocky nature of last season’s campaign was put behind the Cowboys, thrashing a junior Penrith Panthers outfit 66-24.
The difference in the level of football in first and reserve grade was clear in Townsville, with several Cowboys stars pushing their case to make the trip to Las Vegas.
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But it was the brilliance of Reed Mahoney that stood out on Friday.
Mahoney did not have the happiest 2025, departing the Canterbury Bulldogs for the Cowboys after being overlooked as the starting No.9 once Lachlan Galvin’s arrival put the squeeze on the club’s spine.
Mahoney looked at home back in the No.9 for the Cowboys, with the gun hooker showing that he has what it takes to flourish in North Queensland.
It took the Cowboys just two minutes to get on the scoreboard in Townsville, with Braidon Burns firing over the tryline thanks to a slick ball from Scott Drinkwater.
Reed Mahoney in action for the Cowboys. NRL Imagery
An error just two minutes later by Penrith fullback Jaxen Edgar gifted Jaxon Purdue the opportunity to pounce, sweeping up a loose ball and diving over from close range.
Mahoney then wasted no time showing he has settled into life in new colours, making it clear that he is “the dominant number nine” that the team can benefit significantly from.
Australian coach Kevin Walters insisted Mahoney’s assistance in sending Scott Drinkwater over for the club’s third try reinforced that case.
“He has found his new home up north and he is looking pretty good to me,” Kevin Walters said on Fox League.
“He is in Townsville to prove a point. He’s been in everything good for the Cowboys so far … he is showing us he is a very good player.”
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Burns then crossed for a double before Jake Clifford went over for two tries himself, leaving a junior Penrith team scrambling for answers.
Not even a sin bin for Zac Laybutt could slow the Cowboys down, with a 12-man outfit adding two tries to the scoreboard to make it 44-0 at half time.
Murray Taulagi crosses for a try against the Penrith Panthers. NRL Imagery
With a comfortable lead over their visiting rivals, Todd Payten opted to rest some key players, including Mahoney, for the final 40 minutes.
However, Penrith came back eager to get on the board.
Star centre Jesse McLean was the first to get over the line for the visitors, flying over in the corner.
A 10-minute stint without a try then followed in some positive signs for Penrith’s defence, but it was not long until Kai O’Donnell crossed for a double.
Jirah Liddiard then snatched a remarkable intercept 25 metres out from Penrith’s goalline and ran the length of the field to bring the visitors’ score up to 12.
Penrith’s promising young halfback Keahn Skipps followed suit in the 70th and 76th minutes, earning praise from Walters.
“He’s just playing backyard footy. He just skips away,” Walters said.
“It has been a good second half for these young Panthers players. They have done well to keep in it.”
But it was not enough to make the scoreboard too flattering, with a try for Thomas Mikaele sealing a 40-plus point margin, with the final score 66-24.