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The opening two games of the NRL<\/a> pre-season challenge are in the books, with juniors impressing, players stamping their authority over Round 1 spots, and questions still looming.<\/p>\n Here are all the talking points from the double-header at Kogarah, where the North Queensland Cowboys<\/a> beat the Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a> by four points, and the St George Illawarra Dragons<\/a> to the better of the Newcastle Knights<\/a> by ten points.<\/p>\n Jake Clifford must start at halfback for the Cowboys<\/p>\n It really is as simple as the statement, and there are no two ways about it.<\/p>\n For much of 2025, the Cowboys played their \u2018best’ footy when Jake Clifford<\/a> was on the park, wearing the number seven jumper.<\/p>\n That’s not to say the Cowboys looked like world beaters even then, but there were other issues holding up the progression of Todd Payten’s side away from the form of Clifford.<\/p>\n Him being replaced by Jaxon Purdue<\/a> in the halves – Purdue played five-eighth and Tom Dearden<\/a> played halfback – saw the Cowboys slump, their wins dry up, and kicking game become all but non-existent.<\/p>\n Clifford provides game management and a kicking game, as well as being really the perfect foil for Dearden.<\/p>\n Clifford is never going to get the raps of some other stars around the competition, but even against a Canterbury virtually reserve grade side on Saturday evening, he provided that calming influence, set up tries, and was involved in everything.<\/p>\n Purdue played very strongly in the centres throughout 2025, and that, at this point of his career, is evidently his best position, in the same way Clifford is a halfback.<\/p>\n
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