Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys - Round 23, 2026
The result
The Cowboys led 18 to 4 at halftime and cruised home 30 to 8 at Cbus Super Stadium, with the Titans unable to get within 10 points after the break. Jason Taumalolo opened the scoring in the 5th minute and the Titans never led.
How it unfolded
The Titans made more completions, 86 percent to the Cowboys' 76 percent, and held more of the ball, 53 percent to 47. Still, the Cowboys ran for more metres, 1883 to the Titans' 1746, and that extra go-forward showed up on the scoreboard.
Against projection
Thomas Mikaele's 59 points blew past his projection of 35, and Jaxon Purdue backed that up with 58 off an expected 42, a try and a try assist included. Jayden Campbell never got going, managing only 32 against a projected 59, while Oliver Pascoe's 28 fell well short of his 53 projection despite 51 minutes on the field.
Price moves
Jaylan De Groot's price rose $37,000 after he scored 43 against a break even of just 5, and Soni Luke climbed $33,000 on a score of 38 against a break even of 3. At the other end, John Bateman fell $52,000 after managing only 14 against a break even of 58.
Ownership outcome
Scott Drinkwater, among the more popular picks in this side, returned 48 points from 80 minutes with a try assist attached. Reuben Cotter made the most of a bench role, scoring 48 in just 72 minutes, a line that will have gone under the radar for coaches who left him out.
