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RESULTS: 2026 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Round 1
All the results and scorers from the opening games of the 2026 NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
All listed times are AEDT (NSW/VIC/ACT).
RELATED: See the full list of 2026 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Draw and Results.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30 North Queensland Cowboys 34
Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal
Date: Sat, 7th February. Kickoff: 5:30 PM. Halftime: North Qld 28-6. Penalties: 3-all. Bonus Points: Canterbury 2-1. Referees: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 3,926.
Canterbury: Cochrane, Toy, Alatini, Reardon, Sua; Teaupa, Conti; Baker, Chan Kum Tong, Hughes, Jones, Spinks, Hopoi. Int: Finau, Maiu'u, Fitzgibbon, Underhill, Puru, Wilson, Rauqe, Nassar, Matamua, Smith, Myers, Grossemy.
North Qld: Barber, Derby, Laybutt, Sutton, Paulo; Purdue, Clifford; Edwards, Kerrisk, Mikaele (C), Luki, O'Donnell, McIntyre. Int: Herdegen, Lahrs, Kira, Watts, Toia, Philitoga, Goodwin, Greig, Moriarty, Doyle, Latu, Prest, James.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (30)
Tries: Justin Matamua, Louis Grossemy, Cooper Toy, Aaymon Fitzgibbon, Mikey Nassar, Jope Rauqe
Goals: Aaymon Fitzgibbon 2/3, Jonathan Sua 1/3
North Queensland Cowboys (34)
Tries: Robert Derby 2, Kai O'Donnell, Zac Laybutt, Heilum Luki, Mason Barber
Goals: Jake Clifford 4/5, Liam Sutton 1/1
JUDICIARY CHARGES:
Zac Herdegen (NQL) - Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (40 min on Alex Conti). Base penalty $1500, 1st offence, early plea $1000. PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $1000
Zyon Maiu'u (CBY) - Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (61 min on Matthew Watts). Base penalty $1500, 1st offence, early plea $1000. PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $1000
St George Illawarra Dragons 28 Newcastle Knights 18
Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal
Date: Sat, 7th February. Kickoff: 7:30 PM. Halftime: 12-all. Penalties: St Geo Illa 2-1. Bonus Points: 1-all. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 3,926.
St Geo Illa: Sloan, Tuipulotu, Fale, Feagai, Tu; King-Togia, Reed; Kerr, Finau, Couchman, Couchman, Halangahu, Sele. Int: Peckham-Harris, Heidke, Buchanan, Tsougranis, O'Neill, Pasifiki Tonga, Fagalilo, Lawrie, Coutts, Stanley-Traill, Hutchinson.
Newcastle: Hunt, Schiller, McCarthy, Decourcey, Marzhew; Sharpe, Smith; Saifiti, Graham, Mooney, Cant, Jones, Frizell (C). Int: Gamble, Croker, Arthur, Saulo, Votano, Latu, Kepaoa, Aoake, Hunter, Hola, Salesa Leaumoana, Manuleleua, Crouch.
St. George Illawarra Dragons (28)
Tries: Josh Kerr, Mathew Feagai, Tyrell Sloan, Setu Tu, Hayden Buchanan, Kade Reed
Goals: Kade Reed 2/4
Newcastle Knights (18)
Tries: Brodie Jones, Thomas Cant, Kyle Mccarthy, James Schiller
Goals: Thomas Cant 1/1
JUDICIARY CHARGES:
None
Table
| Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts | Bonus | PD | FPG | APG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | St Geo Illa | 1 | 1 | - | - | 28 | 18 | 13 | 1 | +10 | 28.00 | 18.00 |
| 2. | North Qld | 1 | 1 | - | - | 34 | 30 | 13 | 1 | +4 | 34.00 | 30.00 |
| 3. | Canterbury | 1 | - | 1 | - | 30 | 34 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 30.00 | 34.00 |
| 4. | Newcastle | 1 | - | 1 | - | 18 | 28 | 1 | 1 | -10 | 18.00 | 28.00 |
| 5. | Canberra | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - |
| Cronulla | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Dolphins | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Gold Coast | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Manly | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Melbourne | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Parramatta | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Penrith | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Souths | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Sydney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Warriors | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |
| Wests Tigers | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | |