Round 22 of the NRL season kicks off on Thursday night with North Queensland hosting the Sydney Roosters.
The Cowboys will be looking to secure their top eight spot while the Tricolours will be fighting to stay in the hunt for the minor premiership.
Todd Payten’s side pulled off a big upset against the Roosters earlier this year and will be looking to repeat the dose on home soil.
Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:29pm
Update
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 8:01pm
8′ Drinkwater spared a howler
After the Cowboys wrap up Wong on the last tackle Laybutt plays the ball and Drinkwater isn’t paying attention!
Wong goes to dive on the ball but he knocks it on! Blushes dodged by the Cowboys, who have gotten off to a very slow start.
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:56pm
3′ Roosters off to ripper start
Radley pulls through some soft defence in the middle of the field and slips a beautiful offload to Robson to put him away and Tedesco is in support to score.
Outstanding start for the Chooks and once Walker converts it’s 6-0 Roosters.
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:53pm
And away we go
Cowboys kick us off, running right to left.
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:50pm
Kick-off imminent
Reuben Cotter and Connor Watson lead the teams out with the Cowboys wearing an strip commemorating Indigenous round.
We’ll have a smoking ceremony, a welcome to country and then the game will get underway.
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:23pm
Last time they met
It was a good few months ago now but here’s the good oil from the last time these two teams met. One of a number of strong Cowboys this year – most of which have come without Tom Dearden, funnily enough.
Can they give us a sequel tonight? Or will the Chooks win their sixth straight?
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:12pm
Final teams: Cowboys vs Roosters
No changes for North Queensland – a reminder, they’re still without Tom Dearden, so Jaxon Purdue is at halfback and Zac Laybutt is in at centre.
Just the one switch for the Roosters with Spencer Leniu dropping back to the bench and Salesi Foketi starting at prop. Might be a chance that Foketi is actually on an edge with Nat Butcher pushing to prop, we’ll keep an eye out.
Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:11pm
Welcome to the ABC’s NRL live blog
Hey sports fans, time for some footy.
Tonight we’ve got North Queensland vs the Roosters in an interesting clash between a top four certainty and a top eight contender.
Should be plenty of points a bit of fun.
Kick back, relax and let’s have some fun out there tonight.
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