Coming off the bye, the Raiders travel to Townsville looking to finish their season on a positive note and give club legend Josh Papalii a winning farewell. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have already secured their place in the finals and will be eager to build momentum heading into September. With North Queensland seeking a confidence-boosting victory and Canberra showcasing the next generation of talent, this Round 27 clash could provide plenty of intrigue despite the contrasting fortunes of the two sides.

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Matchday Details

Saturday 5th September – 5:30PM (AEST) – Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Ash Klein | Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Braidon Burns, 3. Jaxon Purdue, 4. Tom Chester, 5. Robert Derby, 6. Jake Clifford, 7. Tom Dearden (c), 8. Coen Hess, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Jason Taumalolo, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. John Bateman, 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Soni Luke, 15. Sam McIntyre, 16. Thomas Mikaele, 17. Kaiden Lahrs, 18. Kai O’Donnell, 19. Ethan King, 20. Mason Kira, 21. Ronald Philitoga, 22. Liam Sutton

Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Jed Stuart, 3. Simi Sasagi, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Coby Black, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Owen Pattie, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Noah Martin, 12. Matty Nicholson, 13. Ata Mariota, 14. Malachi Smith, 15. Joe Roddy, 16. Morgan Smithies, 17. Vena Patuki-Case, 18. Tom Starling, 19. Daine Laurie, 20. Ethan Sanders, 21. Mark Tuialii, 22. Jesse Milin

Match Preview

The North Queensland Cowboys head into this clash on the back of a strong 24-10 victory over the Wests Tigers and will be looking to build some momentum heading into the finals with another impressive performance against a young Raiders side. Meanwhile, the Canberra Raiders return from their bye looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to the Broncos in Papa’s farewell game.

The Raiders’ season is over, but there is plenty to be excited about, with Ricky Stuart naming a different-looking squad which gives Raiders fans a small glimpse into the future. The Green Machine will no doubt be heading to Townsville looking to cause an upset and send Josh Papalii out a winner.

Meanwhile, it’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the Cowboys, but their victory over the Tigers last weekend secured their place in the 2026 NRL finals series. North Queensland will be eager to prove they are genuine contenders heading into September and will be aiming to make a statement with a convincing victory over the Raiders.

The Cowboys have made a few changes to their line-up, with Robert Derby replacing Zac Laybutt on the wing, John Bateman and Coen Hess move into the side, with Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame suffering injuries in the Tigers game. Sam McIntyre and Kaiden Lahrs have been added to the bench.

While the Raiders have made a mass amount of changes to their side, with Coby Black and Malachi Smith making their debut for the club, Sanders drops to the reserves, with Tom Starling switching out to the six-man bench. Noah Martin returns, replacing the injured Zac Hosking, Morgan Smithies replaces Corey Horsburgh, and Vena Patuki-Case is included in the 17.

The battle between the halves could prove decisive in this Round 27 clash, with both sides possessing playmakers capable of turning a game on its head. Ethan Strange’s sharp footwork and attacking instincts will be crucial for the Raiders, while Tom Dearden’s eyes-up style of football and ability to create opportunities could play a major role for the Cowboys.

The halves combination of Dearden and Jake Clifford has been instrumental for North Queensland throughout the season. Clifford is enjoying arguably his best season to date in 2026 and, despite narrowly missing out on a Queensland Maroons jersey, the Cowboys’ five-eighth has consistently stepped up and helped guide his side to several impressive victories. With Dearden missing a significant portion of the season, Clifford has been exceptional in shouldering the responsibility for the Cowboys, scoring eight tries, setting up 14 more, and accumulating 140 points throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Strange has endured a quieter campaign compared to his breakout 2025 season, with the young five-eighth yet to hit the heights many expected coming into 2026. However, the introduction of debutant Coby Black could provide the spark Strange needs to rediscover his best form. Black has been in sublime form in the NSW Cup and looms as one of the Raiders’ most exciting young prospects. If his NRL debut lives up to the promise shown in his NSW Cup performances, he could put himself firmly in the conversation for a regular spot in Canberra’s squad next season. In NSW Cup this year, Black has scored nine tries, amassed 192 points, and laid on an impressive 17 try assists.

There is plenty on the line for both sets of halves. The Raiders will be desperate to put in a big performance and send Papalii out a winner, while the Cowboys’ playmakers will be looking to take control early, get their side on the front foot, and build some serious momentum heading into the finals.

Since 1995, the Cowboys and Raiders have faced off 52 times, with the honours perfectly split at 26 wins apiece. However, North Queensland holds the advantage when playing at home, having won the last five match-ups against Canberra in Townsville.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Cowboys by 14.
Full Round 27 tips → /nrl-round-27-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Coby Black to score on debut!

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Declan Connell

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