Finally, the off-season wait is over NRL fans.

It’s been 147 long, hot days since the Brisbane Broncos hoisted the 2025 NRL premiership trophy at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on October 5.

Now, more than 12,400 kilometres away under the bright Saturday night lights of Las Vegas, Nevada the quest has begun for the 2026 NRL title with a clash between two of last season’s most disappointing sides—the North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights.

Unsurprisingly the off-season saw plenty of changes for both clubs with Newcastle in particular welcoming a new coach in Justin Holbrook and two new spine players, Dylan Brown and Sandon Smith, who will both be critical to turning the club’s fortunes around in 2026.

MORE: NRL team lists: Confirmed Vegas lineups and predicted teams for Round 1

The Cowboys–Knights match-up at Allegiant Stadium kicked things off, closely followed by the star-studded Canterbury Bulldogs taking on the St. George Illawarra Dragons—two more teams with plenty to prove in 2026, even if Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is already downplaying his team’s chances.

LIVE updates from Las VegasMatch 3: Canterbury Bulldogs vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons

Final teams have been confirmed with Sean O’Sullivan left off the reserves bench for the Bulldogs in a show of confidence in Matt Burton’s hamstring. Hame Sele comes into the starting side for the Dragons with Hamish Stewart back to the bench. Tyrell Sloan has been left out altogether.

FIRST HALF. Two matches down, one to go, as the local time approaches 8:30 p.m. in Las Vegas. Dragons are out first, but the Bulldogs will start this one as strong favourites.

 

Match 2: Newcastle Knights vs. North Queensland Cowboys

Cowboys started 1-13 while the Knights made one late change with Mat Croker coming into the starting side at lock with Tyson Frizell pushed back to the bench.

FIRST HALF. North Queensland are first to hit the field, followed by Newcastle. Big cheers, both teams have plenty of fans at Allegiant Stadium.

Knights kick off and the 2026 season is underway!

Newcastle goes very close to opening the scoring in the 5th minute, but Dane Gagai is ruled to have lost the ball before going over. Cowboys dodge an early bullet there.

Fletcher Sharpe chases a pinpoint kick from Kalyn Ponga and the man with the mullet gets the first try of the 2026 NRL season. Knights looking good, especially Ponga. 6-0 Knights.

Phoenix Crossland is with the Knights trainer in back play, looks like a finger dislocation.

Another Knights attacking kick, this time from new recruit Dylan Brown, is picked up by Sharpe who shifts the ball to Greg Marzhew who bulldozes his way over. 12-0 to the Knights after just 14 minutes.

Now a 40-20 kick from Phoenix Crossland, his finger may be sore but his foot is fine! It’s all Newcastle at the moment.

Cowboys No.1 Scott Drinkwater looks to have picked up a rib injury, he took a hit making an earlier tackle and has now taken himself straight off the field. Potentially huge news for the Cowboys if he can’t come back, Purdue deputising at the back for now.

Now Fletcher Sharpe goes down with a left leg injury for the Knights, looks bad, but he’s staying out there for now.

Cowboys immediately attack Sharpe’s side in defence and Heilum Luki busts through to get over for the Cowboys. Newcastle leads 12-6 as Sharpe limps forlornly off the field. Sandon Smith runs on to make his Knights debut. Big momentum shift here.

Jaxon Purdue makes a deep attacking run from fullback, and shortly after Sam McIntyre throws a brilliant pass for Murray Taulagi to go over in the left corner for the Cowboys. Clifford slots it from the sideline and suddenly it’s 12-all. Game on.

Tyson Frizell is put report for a dangerous tackle as Scott Drinkwater returns to the field for North Queensland, who are getting on top approaching half time.

Kalyn Ponga puts Dom Young away down the right sideline, but a desperate challenge from Murray Taulagi defuses the risk. He’s scored a try and saved one in the last 10 minutes.

That’s half time. 12-all. Both teams looked great at times. The Knights shot out early and the Cowboys came back late. Who knows what the second 40 minutes has in store?

SECOND HALF. North Queensland kick off. Accidental off-side call against the Cowboys gives the Knights early field position in the second half.

Lovely inside ball from Sandon Smith puts Ponga through a yawning hole and Bradman Best backs up for a slick four-pointer. Knights back in front 18-12.

Jake Clifford sends the kick-off dead on the full, big mistake from the Cowboys. Penalty on half way. Momentum right back with Newcastle who score in the next set through Dom Young in the corner. The Knights spine is looking good here as the second half begins in almost a carbon copy of the first.

Cowboys hit back in the 52nd minute as Murray Taulagi dives over for his second try of the match after a deft kick from Jake Clifford who’s in everything at the moment, good and bad!

Anyone’s match with 20 minutes to play here, been a wildly see-sawing contest.

Cowboys pressuring the Knights’ line but the men from the Hunter hold firm as the match approaches the final ten minutes. Who’s going to stand up when it matters?

Braidon Burns poleaxes Kalyn Ponga with a high shot with 8:40 to go. Huge moment as Burns is put on report and sent to the bin. Cowboys down by four points – and one player for the rest of the match. Ponga seems fine.

Trey Mooney scores for the Knights from the penalty set and things are looking good for Newcastle, up 28-18 with 6 minutes to go.

It was far from perfect from the Knights, but the 2025 wooden spooners overcome the loss of Fletcher Sharpe to open their campaign with a 10-point win against the Cowboys. Final score: Newcastle 28 def. North Queensland 18.

Match 1: Hull KR vs. Leeds Rhinos

FIRST HALF. The Super League match is underway with the Hull KR and Leeds fans in full voice. Allegiant Stadium isn’t full, but it’s rocking.

A player very familiar to NRL fans gets the scoring underway with former Eels winger Maika Sivo landing the opening TWO tries in Las Vegas for 2026. Leeds on top early.

Another former NRL star gets a third try for Leeds as Brodie Croft slices through. They might be World Club Champions but Hull KR are in a bit of strife here, lots of errors.

Former Broncos and Titans forward Keenan Palasia bulldozes over for the Rhinos, slight controversy on the grounding but it’s 24-0 to Leeds after 29 minutes. 

Sivo spectacularly re-gathers a short Leeds drop out from his own in-goal and runs 90 metres as the Rhinos score again off the next play. 28-0. Entertaining stuff!

Hull KR looked to have struck back, but the try is ruled out through obstruction. Nothing going right for the Robins and it’s 28-0 to Leeds at half time.

SECOND HALF. Brodie Croft goes over for Leeds’ sixth try, followed by another as Maika Sivo brings up his hat-trick. It’s 40-0 to Leeds with 20 minutes still to play in the second half. Hull KR being embarrassed here.

Hull KR finally gets on the board with a try in the corner to Joe Burgess. 40-6 to Leeds.

Sivo goes over AGAIN for Leeds, that’s four tries for the Fijian star who’s been at his brilliant best today, cashing in big time in Vegas! It’s 46-6 and with 10 minutes still to go, Leeds might hit 50 here.

Two late tries to Cooper Jenkins and it’s a complete demolition job. Final score: Leeds 58 def. Hull KR 6. 

NRL Las Vegas 2026 – Schedule, Start Time, Results

 

Start time (AEDT)

TV/streaming

Result

Hull KR vs. Leeds Rhinos (Super League)

11:00 a.m.

Fox League, Kayo

Leeds 58 def. Hull KR 6.

Newcastle Knights vs. North Queensland Cowboys

1:15 p.m. 

Fox League, Kayo

Newcastle 28 def. Cowboys 18.

Canterbury Bulldogs vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons

3:30 p.m.

Channel 9, 9Now, Fox League, Kayo

First half: Bulldogs 0 Dragons 0