NRL Super Saturday Round 26: Live scores, latest team news and analysis
The top eight is officially locked in for 2026, with the Cowboys surviving a scare from the Tigers to knock the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs out of the finals race. Follow live for the latest NRL news.
The Cowboys will play finals football in 2026 after surviving a Wests Tigers ambush to claim a 24-10 victory and lock in the NRL’s top eight teams.
It wasn’t pretty but North Queensland got the job done in front of a nervous crowd of 17,888 in Townsville, coming to life in the final 25 minutes to seal the result.
It means Canterbury-Bankstown and Manly-Warringah’s premiership dreams are officially over, with no mathematical possibility of playing finals.
North Queensland’s second-half surge was inspired by the return of Jason Taumalolo, who was monstrous with the ball in hand as he ran for an impressive 163 metres – more than any Tigers players.
The Cowboys got off to a blistering start when Tom Chester shot through the line like a cannonball to score in the seventh minute, but that was their only try of the first half as Wests took a small lead into the sheds after tries from wingers Jeral Skelton and Junior Tupou.
The Tigers played the match with a steely determination that belied the fact they’re already eliminated from finals contention, coming within a whisker of a stunning upset as Jarome Luai steered the ship.
Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden made a brilliant return from injury to tame the Tigers, setting up a sublime Heilum Luki try to snatch the lead midway through the second half.
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North Queensland coach Todd Payten said Dearden would be key to his team’s finals campaign
“He’s very important for us. It’s good to have him back,” Payten said.
“He’s a really important part of what we do. He’s our leader, captain, and he’ll be better for the run again next week.
“His first game back felt a little bit heavier at different stages, so only upwards from here.”
BARNSTORMING POLE
Wests prop Fonua Pole made his 100th NRL appearance with little fanfare, bringing up the ton with a strong showing in Townsville.
The 24-year-old forward debuted with the Tigers in 2022 and has played at least 21 games in each of the last four seasons.
Pole led the Tigers forward pack in runs (15), metres (132) and post-contact metres (53) while making 26 tackles with four misses.
“We love Fonua. We love what he brings, he’s 23, a couple of years from being in the peak of his powers,” Wests coach Benji Marshall said.
“You know what you’re going to get. He is probably the most professional young front-rower I’ve seen in terms of his preparation, his recovery, his body, his diet, does everything right.
“I thought he deserved a fighting performance from the team tonight, which unfortunately we didn’t get the result, but they showed fight.”
COWBOYS WINGS CLIPPED
The Cowboys will be without winger Zac Laybutt for their round 27 clash with the Raiders after the PNG Kumuls flyer suffered a category 1 head injury.
Laybutt copped a front-on head clash with Tigers forward Tony Sukkar and lost his balance trying to play the ball, forcing the ref to stop the game so both players could be sent for HIAs.
North Queensland is already without Murray Taulagi for the rest of the season, meaning a backline shuffle is likely for Todd Payten’s side next week.
Ethan King replaced Laybutt and played 49 minutes on the left wing, breaking three tackles from his seven carries.
“I love Ethan because he will play anywhere for us,” Payten said.
“He’s a fullback by trade. I know he’s played centre, he’s played wing, he has played at lock and we’ve thrown him in a hooker out training.
“He’s an energiser bunny. He does everything full tilt. I thought he was pretty good tonight so it’s good to have him in the club.”
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Originally published as NRL Super Saturday Round 26: Live scores, latest team news and analysis