Cowboys beat Rabbitohs 30-18 in Townsville

Live: Cowboys vs Rabbitohs in Townsville

By Jon Healy

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We'll sign off the blog there

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By Jon Healy

And so ends round 12 of the 2026 NRL season, which means the next time we see you it will be State of Origin.

We'll be back on Wednesday night for the men's series opener from Homebush, and Thursday for the women's finale on the Gold Coast.

I hope you can join us then!

Payten proud of the North Queensland community for digging deep

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By Jon Healy

There was a record figure raised in the 50/50 raffle at this game and $50,000 is going to Fight MND after Jai Arrow's diagnosis.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten says it gives him great pride in the North Queensland community.

"I think it's a great sentiment and I like how our community got behind it," he says.

"It's a tough time for Jai and his family and everyone dug deep. Really proud of our town, our community.

And Scott Drinkwater has some praise for young Liam Sutton after getting his first try in just his second NRL game.

"He enjoys running the footy. He's been defending outstanding. Calm head. He knows what he's good at and sticks to it."

Typically succinct from Wayne Bennett

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By Jon Healy

Wayne Bennett speaks in quick bursts, so let's just go through what he's said in his press conference:

He's proud of the effort but disappointed with the execution.

Adam Elliott has a syndesmosis injury and he expects Talanoa Penitani's second NRL game will be a long way off as his hamstring injury appears serious.

On Jai Arrow's news affecting the lead-up: "It's personal. I know it affected me but everyone's different. We can't use that as an excuse."

On Alex Johnston coming within centimetres of scoring three tries but finishing with just one: "Those were two tries he would've scored on two legs. He's running on one and a half."

Says Jye Gray was dropped for Matt Dufty due to game plan and Gray could be back next week: "There's nothing between the two of them. They're both wonderful players."

Cody Walker disappointed at the end of a tough week

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By Jon Healy

Souths captain Cody Walker is speaking to ABC Sport about a rough finish to a week where teammate and friend Jai Arrow revealed he has motor neurone disease.

"It's been a pretty emotional week for all of us at the club and disappointed in the result.

"It's been a really emotional week for us. [Jai]'s one of those blokes who does anything for his teammates. He's one of my best mates and I care for him a lot.

"Us at South Sydney and the whole wider community is behind him. Devastating news."

Cowboys donate to Fight MND

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By Jon Healy

North Queensland has donated over $50,000 to Fight MND in the wake of Jai Arrow's diagnosis.

The funds came from the 50/50 raffle at the ground tonight.

South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly gratefully accepts the cheque on behalf of Arrow and his family.

FT: Cowboys complete another glorious win over Souths

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By Jon Healy

It ends up as a 30-18 victory for the Cowboys over the Rabbitohs in a gripping contest in Townsville.

There were a few handling errors and the momentum was a bit all over the place, but we saw some desperate defence and some scintillating attack out there.

Jake Clifford credits Scott Drinkwater and Tom Chester's try-savers on Alex Johnston as the difference in the game. No coincidence as they won by two tries in the end.

80' Disaster for the debutant

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By Jon Healy

Talanoa Penitani has scored two tries in his first NRL game and he looks destined for his third in the dying seconds, but a step out of Liam Sutton's tackle ends his night in agony as his left hamstring gives way.

Alex Johnston gets there this time

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By Jon Healy

The possession tells eventually and the Rabbitohs have scored out on the left through Alex Johnston, who makes no mistake after twice being denied by the North Queensland defence.

It's the 10th straight game with a try for AJ, and the Rabbitohs are only trailing by 12 as Latrell Siegwalt curls in the sideline conversion.

There's 3:21 left on the clock. Could they pull off a miracle?

75' Souths desperate for points

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By Jon Healy

A long break by Matt Dufty takes him up over 300 running metres for the afternoon, but also sees him nursing a headache after being hammered by Heilum Luki.

Souths force a dropout and get another repeat set as Jaxon Purdue gets a hand on a long pass.

72' Another crucial Matt Dufty error

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By Jon Healy

Just as we lament not seeing Jye Gray, his replacement drops the ball again, handing the Cowboys field position.

70' Adam Elliott is off with a knee injury

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By Jon Healy

The South Sydney lock appears to have dislocated his left knee cap and he's limping off with pain and fury and frustration on his face.

That's also the last substitution for the Rabbitohs, so we won't see Jye Gray today.

TRY! Heilum Luki scores for the Cowboys!!

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By Jon Healy

North Queensland looks mighty scrappy in attack but manages to find a proper bomb from Jake Clifford.

Matt Dufty takes it and is hit by Scott Drinkwater, who forces the error.

The Cowboys waste no time and give the ball to one of their biggest weapons, as Heilum Luki bounces out of the tackle of Keaon Koloamatangi and crashes over.

67' Miraculous try-saving tackle by Tom Chester

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By Jon Healy

The Cowboys centre has been one of their best today, and he's come up with a stunning try-saving tackle on Alex Johnston, who looked certain to score on the left.

Somehow Chester defended the overlap, then turned and chased 15 metres, leapt to grab Johnston by the hips and managed to bring him down and force the error.

65' Can Jye Gray make an impact in the last 15 minutes?

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By Jon Healy

The livewire fullback hasn't made it on the field yet, but he could be a difference maker with his team in dire need of points here.

LIAM SUTTON GETS HIS FIRST TRY!

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By Jon Healy

Jason Taumalolo and Matt Lodge are back on the park and it's completely changed the game for the Cowboys, getting them rolling up the park.

Tom Chester has a dip and is just brought down, but the ragged defence is no match for the jinking footwork and a bit of power from five-eighth Liam Sutton, who gets over for his first NRL try in his second game.

Penitani has two on debut!

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By Jon Healy

The Rabbitohs accidentally charge down Scott Drinkwater's kick and Ashton Ward does exceptionally well to clean up and put Souths on the attack.

The Rabbitohs load up to the left, but Cody Walker swings to the right and gives them the extra man, with Ward throwing another superb two-man cut-out pass to Talanoa Penitani, who brushes between Liam Sutton and Drinkwater to score his second on debut.

50' Tom Chester bombs a certain try!

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By Jon Healy

The Cowboys spin it inside their own red zone and Scott Drinkwater unleashes Tom Chester. He flies 60 metres upfield and has Zac Laybutt inside as he approaches last line of defence in Matt Dufty, but instead of taking the easy option, Chester tries an in and away. He's corralled by Dufty and Chester throws a forward pass.

Laybutt and Jaxon Purdue were both looming up with 30 metres left to the tryline. A guaranteed six points go begging for the Cowboys, who have been pretty ordinary in attack to start the second half.

Drinkwater said before the game that the 18-12 win over the Roosters last week was "boring", and they're playing like they're bored with percentage footy right now.

48' An unhappy moment for the new kid

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By Jon Healy

The bomb puts Talanoa Penitani in the firing line of a flying Robert Derby. He stays grounded but he's served his purpose, clearly spooking Penitani and creating the error.