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Drinkwater magic secures Cowboys first win of season
Joel Gould, AAP • March 22nd, 2026 11:47 pm
A brilliant game from Scott Drinkwater set the Cowboys on the path to their first win of the season | Photo: NRL
North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater had his fingerprints all over a 30-16 win over Gold Coast to take the pressure off coach Todd Payten.
It was the Cowboys' first win of the season after also playing at their home ground in Townsville for the first time.
Reports arose last week that Drinkwater might be dropped, but he has always been crucial to his side's victories. It proved to be the case once more against the battling Titans on Sunday.
Payten had been honest with his men during the week after their poor start to the season and saw the response he was after.
"It's good to see the boys smiling again on the back of their effort. I'm just proud of the way we held our nerve as a club and a group," Payten said.
"I challenged our lads this week about trust and effort and I got that in spades."
Gold Coast's new coach Josh Hannay is yet to taste victory this season and his side does not appear to have the class to prevail even against teams that aren't firing.
Hannay lamented the "self-inflicted pain" his side put themselves through. While pleased with the effort and sound defence on their tryline, the coach lamented a failure to apply basic fundamentals.
Drinkwater was heavily involved early and sliced through to set up winger Murray Taulagi for the opening try.
Gold Coast hit back through halfback Jayden Campbell, who stepped off his right foot and darted past woeful Cowboys defence to level.
The 26-year-old was brought straight back into the side after missing the opening two rounds with a hamstring injury and made an immediate impact on Sunday. He was clearly the Titans' best player.
Campbell, a wonderfully instinctive player, then snaffled a Drinkwater pass to race 85 metres to complete his fourth career double.
Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika dropped the ball twice on the first tackle after points.
The Cowboys made him pay the second time, with Taulagi crossing for his second try following a slick catch and pass by centre Jaxon Purdue.
Drinkwater lit up the stadium with his 55th career try, beating five defenders down the middle of the field in a moment of individual brilliance.
The Cowboys went further ahead on the cusp of halftime through Purdue after a Jake Clifford bomb.
North Queensland centre Jaxon Purdue crossed for a try just before halftime | Photo: NRL
Titans teenager Cooper Bai made an impact off the bench. His quick play-the-ball led to fellow bench forward Kurtis Morrin scoring the first try after the break, running through a poor Drinkwater attempted tackle.
Gold Coast's discipline let them down after points again. Drinkwater and Purdue combined to put Clifford in for a try that gave the hosts a crucial 14-point lead.
Cowboys centre Tom Chester was put on report and sin-binned late for a high shot on Campbell.
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