Footy’s back and what better way to kick off the 2026 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge than the four teams bound for Las Vegas strutting their stuff in a Jubilee Oval double-header.

First up it’s the Bulldogs and Cowboys squaring off before the Dragons and Knights look to blow out the cobwebs.

The Dragons were runners-up in last year’s Witzer Pre-Season Challenge and will be out to go one better in 2026 before making the journey to Vegas to take on the Bulldogs.

Follow all the action from Round 1 of the 2026 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on NRL.com’s live blog.

Dragons v Knights at Jubilee Oval

3rd minute: The Dragons outside backs have made their intent clear in defence, rushing in to put pressure on the Knights attackers. The tactic has delivered results on both sides of the field, with Newcastle fullback Fletcher Hunt spilling the ball under heavy pressure. Dragons 0 – Knights 0.

Kick-off: The second game of our double-header is underway, with Newcastle kicking off to the Dragons. Both teams are looking to hit the ground running as they build towards a Las Vegas season-opener in three weeks time. It’s been an eventful opening minute, with Josh Kerr dropping the ball in the opening tackle, putting the Knights on the attack. Dragons 0 – Knights 0.

Late Mail: The Dragons will start the match 1-13, however Newcastle have made one late change to their squad. Jermaine McEwen has dropped out of the team, with Brodie Jones coming into the starting side in jumper No.18. 

Bulldogs v Cowboys at Jubilee Oval

Full-time: Cowboys winger Ronald Philitoga has produced a desperate cover tackle to save the match for his side. Canterbury fought valiantly in the second half, with a number of their youngsters producing impressive performances. North Queensland’s big guns did all the work in the first half before receiving an early shower. Halfback Jake Clifford pulled the strings, Heilum Luki impressed in his first match since 2024 and Robert Derby put his hand up for a starting wing spot in an entertaining start to the 2026 Pre-Season Challenge. Bulldogs 30 – Cowboys 34. 

79th minute: This match might have one last twist left in it. A Cowboys error handed possession back to the Bulldogs before Justin Matamua produced a great carry to put his side into attacking territory. The Bulldogs attacked right, Alex Conti produced an excellent cut-out pass and Mikey Nassar scored in the corner. It’s a four-point game with just over a minute to play. Bulldogs 30 – Cowboys 34.

76th minute: North Queensland have given themselves some breathing room now. The penalty allowed the visitors to work into attacking territory and they quickly capitalised. A deflected kick allowed the Cowboys to attack a disjointed Bulldogs line, with Mason Barber eventually breaking through to extend his side’s lead. Bulldogs 24 – Cowboys 34.

73rd minute: Canterbury have spent the past few minutes camped on the Cowboys line and looked destined to score before Liam Sutton produced a try-saving tackle. The five-eighth forced an error in the process, which the Bulldogs then compounded by failing to pack the scrum in time. The penalty handed North Queensland an easy exit from their own end. Bulldogs 24 – Cowboys 28.


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Jope Rauqe Try

67th minute: The Bulldogs are rolling right now and they have another try. Joseph Teaupa put up a towering bomb, Jope Rauqe chased through, challenged for the ball and collected the loose ball to score his team’s fifth. Aaymon Fitzgibbon landed the conversion and we have a four-point ball game on our hands. Bulldogs 24 – Cowboys 28. 

65th minute: Canterbury have four in a row after Joseph Teaupa produced another piece of brilliance. The five-eighth shrugged off the rushing defenders, put the ball on the toe and there was no stopping Louis Grossemy. The deficit is now 10 with 14 to play. Bulldogs 18 – Cowboys 28.


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Cooper Toy Try

58th minute: The Bulldogs have had all the momentum in the second half and they’ve crossed for their third to set up a grandstand finish. After rolling down the field, five-eighth Joseph Teaupa orchestrated a short-side move to set up Cooper Toy in the corner. The winger had plenty of work to do but did the job to beat the cover defence. Bulldogs 14 – Cowboys 28.


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Aaymon Fitzgibbon Try

47th minute: It hasn’t taken long for Aaymon Fitzgibbon to have an impact on this contact, the son of Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon racing through to gather a grubber and ground the ball. At 18 years old, Fitzgibbon is the youngest player on the field tonight, but he has played beyond his years so far. Bulldogs 10 – Cowboys 28. 

Kick-off: We are back for the second half, with Cowboys coach Todd Payten turning to a number of his emerging players after an impressive opening 40 from his veterans. Zac Herdegen has slotted into halfback, with Liam Sutton moving to five-eighth. The Bulldogs have also injected a number of youngsters, with Aaymon Fitzgibbon entering the fray. Bulldogs 6 – Cowboys 28.


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Rugby League, we’ve missed you

Half-time: That is the end of a superb half of football by the Cowboys, with a host of big names standing tall. Halfback Jake Clifford was pulling the strings, winger Robert Derby scored a double and Heilum Luki crashed over for a try in his first match since 2024. There were some bright spots late in the half for the Bulldogs, with Justin Matamua crossing to score his side’s first points of 2026. Bulldogs 6 – Cowboys 28.


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Justin Matamua Try

38th minute: The Bulldogs are on the board. A string of set restarts allowed the hosts to work into attacking territory and while the Cowboys tried valiantly to defend their line, the fatigue eventually proved too great. Justin Matamua was the man to break through, the forward stepping past some tired defenders to slam the ball down. Bulldogs 6 – Cowboys 28


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Kai O’Donnell Try

27th minute: Jake Clifford has another try assist, hitting Kai O’Donnell on a short ball. The back-rower looked to have been wrapped up by the Bulldogs defence but somehow wrestled his way out of the grasp of three defenders to sneak over the try line. Bulldogs 0 – 28


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Robert Derby 2nd Try

24th minute: Robert Derby has his second as the Cowboys continue to flex their muscle here at Kogarah. The visitors produced a slick right-edge move to expose the Bulldogs defence and while Derby made it slightly more difficult than it could have been, the winger slammed the ball down to continue his side’s dominance. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 22


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Zac Laybutt Try

18th minute: Cowboys five-eighth Jaxon Purdue has now got in on the action, producing a towering bomb that Bulldogs fullback Taye Cochrane was unable to secure. North Queensland centre Zac Laybutt was on the spot to extend his side’s lead. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 16.


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Robert Derby Try

16th minute: Robert Derby has extended his side’s lead, winning the race for a Jake Clifford grubber, latching on to the ball and slamming it down to score the second try of the night. Clifford has been excellent in the No.7 jumper tonight as has looks to prove he belongs in the Cowboys halves alongside Tom Dearden. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 10.


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It’s all happening here

10th minute: We’ve had a second Captain’s Challenge, with the Bulldogs successfully arguing an early tackle. The penalty handed Canterbury their first chance to attack and while they threatened the line, an errant pass brought an end to the opportunity. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 6.


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Heilum Luki Try

6th minute: Heilum Luki has crashed over for the opening points of the game. The punishing edge forward is playing in his first match since September 2024 after tearing his ACL at training last pre-season. The 24-year-old is set to make a key difference to the Cowboys attack this season and will be on the plane to Las Vegas if he can get through the next two weeks unscathed. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 6.

3rd minute: It’s taken just three minutes for our first Captain’s Challenge of the year, with Thomas Mikaele lodging an appeal after he was ruled to have dropped the ball in the play the ball. The skipper has come up trumps, North Queensland awarded a penalty for ruck interference. The Cowboys will have the first attacking opportunity of the match. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 0.


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Payten has some good headaches

Kick-off: Rugby league is officially back for 2026. Jonathan Sua has kicked off and the Cowboys will have first use of the ball. Both coaches have opted to field young squads filled with stars of the future. A number of off-season recruits will also make their first appearances for their new clubs, with Gordon Chan Kum Tong headlining the list for Canterbury. Bulldogs 0 – Cowboys 0.


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The Doggies are ready to go!

Late Mail: The final teams are in for the opening game of 2026, with the Bulldogs making one late change. Daniel Suluka-Fifita drops out of the squad, with Fletcher Baker moving from the bench to the starting side in his first match in Canterbury colours. Suluka-Fifita is not injured and is expected to line up next weekend against the Knights. No late changes for the Cowboys, who will start the match 1-13. 

 

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