NRL Round 1 Review: Knights Shine in Vegas as Storm, Sharks Run Riot

Check out what happened in round 1 (Las Vegas) of the National Rugby League competition.

Review

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Newcastle and Canterbury-Bankstown opened the 2026 season with wins at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

In the third Vegas season, the fixtures between three sides who missed the finals (Newcastle, North Queensland, St George Illawarra) and Canterbury didn’t look appealing, but both games were entertaining: eight tries in the Knights vs Cowboys game and a Golden Point finish (the first in the Las Vegas games) for Bulldogs vs Dragons.

After only averaging 14 points in attack last season, the Knights showed promise under new coach Justin Holbrook, scoring five tries. They led 12-0 after 14 minutes and rallied in the second half after the Cowboys tied the scores. On Knights debut, Trey Mooney sealed the game with eight minutes left, taking a pass from Dom Young after a Sandon Smith cross-field bomb. Though both sides could have headaches upon returning to Australia: Newcastle’s Fletcher Sharpe only played 26 minutes before going off with a knee injury, while North Queensland’s Braidon Burns could face suspension after being sin binned for high contact on Kalyn Ponga. GAME BREAKER: With the scores tied 12-12 at half-time, Bradman Best and Young gave the Knights a 10-point lead with two tries in two minutes.

The first Vegas Golden Point game was riveting: Canterbury dominated for periods but were unable to put the game away, while the Dragons (as they did so often last season) stayed in the battle to force extra time. An illegal steal penalty against the Dragons with one minute left in the second Golden Point period gave Canterbury the territory to set up Stephen Crichton’s game-winning field goal. Setu Tu’s try in the 58th minute not only got the Dragons back to 14-12, but it continued his incredible journey to his first grade debut. GAME BREAKER: While they took longer than they wanted to win the game, Canterbury set up a 14-8 lead with a Jacob Kiraz try in the 49th minute. The Bulldogs went left from a scrum, with Crichton drifting across field, drawing Dragons defenders, and flick passing to Kiraz in the corner.

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Results

Knights vs Cowboys

Full Time: Knights 28 – 18 Cowboys
Knights 28 (Tries: Fletcher Sharpe 6′; Greg Marzhew 13′; Bradman Best 45′; Dominic Young 47′; Trey Mooney 72′. Goals: Kalyn Ponga 7′, 14′, 46′, 73′)
Cowboys 18 (Tries: Heilum Luki 25′; Murray Taulagi 30′, 51′. Goals: Jake Clifford 26′, 31′, 53′)
Half-Time Score: 12 – 12
Date: Sunday 1st March 2026
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Knights Team

Number	Player	Position	Tries	Goals	Points
1	Kalyn Ponga (c)	Fullback	0	4	8
2	Dominic Young	Winger	1	0	4
3	Dane Gagai	Centre	0	0	0
4	Bradman Best	Centre	1	0	4
5	Greg Marzhew	Winger	1	0	4
6	Fletcher Sharpe	Five-Eighth	1	0	4
7	Dylan Brown	Halfback	0	0	0
8	Jacob Saifiti	Prop	0	0	0
9	Phoenix Crossland	Hooker	0	0	0
10	Trey Mooney	Prop	1	0	4
11	Dylan Lucas	2nd Row	0	0	0
12	Jermaine McEwen	2nd Row	0	0	0
13	Tyson Frizell	Interchange	0	0	0
14	Sandon Smith	Interchange	0	0	0
15	Mat Croker	Lock	0	0	0
16	Thomas Cant	Interchange	0	0	0
17	Pasami Saulo	Interchange	0	0	0
18	Fletcher Hunt	Reserve	0	0	0
19	Francis Manuleleua	Reserve	0	0	0
–	Team Total	–	5	4	28

Cowboys Team

Number	Player	Position	Tries	Goals	Points
1	Scott Drinkwater	Fullback	0	0	0
2	Braidon Burns	Winger	0	0	0
3	Jaxon Purdue	Centre	0	0	0
4	Tom Chester	Centre	0	0	0
5	Murray Taulagi	Winger	2	0	8
6	Jake Clifford	Five-Eighth	0	3	6
7	Tom Dearden (c)	Halfback	0	0	0
8	Coen Hess	Prop	0	0	0
9	Reed Mahoney	Hooker	0	0	0
10	Jason Taumalolo	Prop	0	0	0
11	Heilum Luki	2nd Row	1	0	4
12	Sam McIntyre	2nd Row	0	0	0
13	Reuben Cotter	Lock	0	0	0
14	Soni Luke	Reserve	0	0	0
15	Thomas Mikaele	Interchange	0	0	0
17	Kai O’Donnell	Interchange	0	0	0
18	Griffin Neame	Interchange	0	0	0
21	Matthew Lodge	Interchange	0	0	0
22	Robert Derby	Reserve	0	0	0
–	Team Total	–	3	3	18

Bulldogs vs Dragons

Full Time: Bulldogs 15 – 14 Dragons
Bulldogs 15 (Tries: Jacob Preston 10′; Jacob Kiraz 49′. Goals: Stephen Crichton 12′. Penalty Goals: Stephen Crichton 26′, 36′. 1-Point Field Goal: Stephen Crichton 89′)
Dragons 14 (Tries: Emre Guler 14′; Setu Tu 58′. Goals: Valentine Holmes 15′. Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes 7′; Kyle Flanagan 73′)
Half-Time Score: Bulldogs 10 – 8 Dragons
Date: Sunday 1st March 2026
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Bulldogs Team

Number	Player	Position	Tries	Goals	Penalty Goals	FG	Points
1	Connor Tracey	Fullback	0	0	0	0	0
2	Jacob Kiraz	Winger	1	0	0	0	4
3	Bronson Xerri	Centre	0	0	0	0	0
4	Stephen Crichton (c)	Centre	0	1	2	1	7
5	Marcelo Montoya	Winger	0	0	0	0	0
6	Matt Burton	Five-Eighth	0	0	0	0	0
7	Lachlan Galvin	Halfback	0	0	0	0	0
8	Max King	Prop	0	0	0	0	0
9	Bailey Hayward	Hooker	0	0	0	0	0
10	Samuel Hughes	Prop	0	0	0	0	0
11	Viliame Kikau	2nd Row	0	0	0	0	0
12	Jacob Preston	2nd Row	1	0	0	0	4
13	Jaeman Salmon	Lock	0	0	0	0	0
14	Kurt Mann	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
15	Sitili Tupouniua	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
16	Harry Hayes	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
17	Josh Curran	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
20	Jake Turpin	Reserve	0	0	0	0	0
21	Enari Tuala	Reserve	0	0	0	0	0
–	Team Total	–	2	1	2	1	15

Dragons Team

Number	Player	Position	Tries	Goals	Penalty Goals	FG	Points
1	Clinton Gutherson (c)	Fullback	0	0	0	0	0
2	Christian Tuipulotu	Winger	0	0	0	0	0
3	Moses Suli	Centre	0	0	0	0	0
4	Valentine Holmes	Centre	0	1	1	0	4
5	Setu Tu	Winger	1	0	0	0	4
6	Kyle Flanagan	Five-Eighth	0	0	1	0	2
7	Daniel Atkinson	Halfback	0	0	0	0	0
8	Emre Guler	Prop	1	0	0	0	4
9	Damien Cook	Hooker	0	0	0	0	0
10	Toby Couchman	Prop	0	0	0	0	0
11	Luciano Leilua	2nd Row	0	0	0	0	0
12	Jaydn Su’A	2nd Row	0	0	0	0	0
13	Hamish Stewart	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
14	Hame Sele	Lock	0	0	0	0	0
15	Josh Kerr	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
16	Blake Lawrie	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
17	Ryan Couchman	Interchange	0	0	0	0	0
18	Lyhkan King-Togia	Reserve	0	0	0	0	0
21	Mathew Feagai	Reserve	0	0	0	0	0
–	Team Total	–	2	1	2	0	14

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