The North Queensland Cowboys have produced an upset win over the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers to celebrate Jason Taumalolo’s 300th NRL match.
The Panthers have now lost two matches in a row after falling to the Gold Coast Titans last week.
Earlier, the Dolphins overcame the loss of their halfback with a wrist dislocation to defeat the New Zealand Warriors 26-24.
Tonight, the Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm resume their rivalry at Brookvale Oval.
Meanwhile, Queensland can breathe a sigh of relief after three Maroons were cleared for State of Origin selection after avoiding bans by the Match Review Committee.
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.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 5:36pm
Live: Cowboys vs Panthers
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:22pm
FULL-TIME: Cowboys 26 def. Panthers 12
The North Queensland Cowboys have produced an upset win over the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers to celebrate Jason Taumalolo’s 300th NRL match.
The Panthers have now lost two matches in a row after falling to the Gold Coast Titans last week.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:20pm
77′ TRY: Clifford seals the win for the Cowboys
An interception by winger Braidon Burns gave the Cowboys an attacking set, and the chance to seal the win.
Jake Clifford reaches for the line, but the ref is going to the Bunker.
Ref Wyatt Raymond believes CLifford has dropped the ball, but Clifford is telling his teammates he absoultely scored.
The replay shows Clifford kept his fingers on the ball and grounded the footy with downward pressure.
Clifford kicks the conversion for a 14-point win.
You can call it lay-down misère, the Cowboys are going to win.
Cowboys 26
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:12pm
73′ TRY: Jeremiah Nanai scores for the Cowboys
Jeremiah Nanai. You star!
The second-rower chased a terrific bomb from Jake Clifford.
He jumped over Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards, caught the ball at full flight, landed on the ground and then reached out to ground the ball.
That is the perfect set after taking the lead with the Clifford penalty goal.
Speaking of Clifford, he has a kick to make it an 8-point lead.
Clifford nails the kick.
Cowboys 20
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:10pm
70′ PENALTY GOAL: Cowboys take the lead
From the halfway scrum, the Cowboys work the ball down towards the Panthers’ goal-line.
On the final play, Jaxon Purdue slips with the ball but gets a pass away off the ground.
A grubber kick comes off the legs of Panther Nathan Cleary.
There is a race for the ball, but Liam Martin then pulls a Cowboys off the ball and out of the contest.
Jake Clifford tells the ref he will have a shot at goal, and he makes no mistake.
Cowboys 14
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:08pm
69′ Another Panthers drop
Nathan Cleary gives an offload to Liam Martin.
Martin then tries to pass out of a tackle, and he drops the ball.
The Cowboys have a scrum on the halfway.
The Cowboys are being given a golden chance to knock off the ladder leaders.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:07pm
67′ Panthers suffer another poor drop
Two of Penrith’s best have combined for a poor error.
From dummy-half, Nathan Cleary passes to Dylan Edwards, who drops the ball.
In Edwards’ defence, the ball was way too far in front of him.
The Cowboys have a scrum 40 metres out.
The Cowboys march to the goal-line, but they too drop the footy.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:05pm
Penrith forward Isaiah Papali’i off for HIA
Jason Taumalolo takes a charging hit-up, and he runs over the top of Penrith second-rower Isaiah Papali’i.
Papali’i appears to have his head hit the shoulder of Taumalolo.
Papali’i is off for a Head Injury Assessment and he will likely not be back for the rest of this match.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 7:01pm
63′ PENALTY GOAL: Cowboys level the score
The Cowboys get a penalty for a high tackle, gifting them great field position.
The Cowboys are charging.
SET RESTART. Liam Martin is called for a ruck infringement.
The Cowboys are attacking the goal-line, and halfback Jake Clifford steps off his left foot and tries to break through.
PENALTY. Nathan Cleary is called for a strip.
Clifford tells the ref he will attempt a goal, and he kicks the goal.
Cowboys 12
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:57pm
60′ Dylan Edwards with a try-saving tackle
Cowboys second rower Heilum Luki breaks through a tackle and he is running for the line.
Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards is the last line of defence, and Edwards produces the perfect tackle around the legs.
That is a try-saver.
Cowboys 10
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:56pm
58′ NO TRY: Cowboys drop the ball trying to score
The Cowboys are attacking the goal-line.
Interchange Soni Luke burrowed from dummy-half and came inches away from scoring.
Scott Drinkwater puts in a grubber to the in-goal, and Jaxon Purdue chases.
Purdue gets his hands on the ball, but he is flirting with the dead-ball line.
The ball comes loose from Purdue’s grip, and it’s a knock-on.
Panthers five-eighth Blaize Talagi was also making a tackle on Purdue. He timed his contact to perfection and had a hand in forcing the ball loose.
Cowboys 10
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:51pm
55′ Cowboys targeting the left wing
The Cowboys are targeting the left, which is the right edge of the Panthers defence.
The home side makes a small line break, and a pass is tapped out by the Panthers.
The Cowboys have a scrum at midfield.
From the next set, the Cowboys march down the field and put up an attacking kick to the left corner.
The Panthers are able to clean up, but they are forced into a dropout.
Cowboys 10
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:41pm
45′ PENALTY GOAL: Nathan Cleary kicks Penrith to the lead
The Panthers have an attacking set at the Cowboys’ goal-line.
Cowboys forward Heilum Luki is penalised for a high tackle, and Nathan Cleary kicks the simple penalty goal.
Cowboys 10
Panthers 12
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:39pm
42′ Cowboys knock-on
With their first use of the ball in the second half, a Nathan Cleary line break gives the Panthers the chance for an attacking kick.
Blaize Talagi catches and it is tapped back for the Panthers.
Nathan Cleary then kicks for the left corner.
Cowboys winger Braidon Burns makes a great catch, then gives and offload away.
DROP.
Centre Zac Laybutt could not take the ball and the Panthers have a scrum 10 metres out.
If Laybutt holds that pass, he could have run a long way.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:37pm
Second half begins in Townsville
The North Queensland Cowboys have the first use of the footy in the second half.
The Cowboys, running to the right of your screen, have an incident-free set and Scott Drinkwater kicks clear from the halfway.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:34pm
TEAM LISTS: Sea Eagles vs Storm
For the Sea Eagles, Brandon Wakeham (hooker) and Kobe Hetherington (prop) were ruled out, with Jake Simpkin and Simione Laifai replacing them. Ethan Bullemor was named at starting prop, but he will now come from the bench.
For the Storm, Jack Howarth was ruled out yesterday with a quad issue. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown will take his place in the centres. Tyran Wishart will replace injured halfback Jahrome Hughes (hamstring).
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:28pm
Who outside the NRL top four can win the premiership?
Manly are on the up and can win the comp!
– Jason
Who else can win the comp! The Bunnies are a big chance if all their weapons can fire at the same time
– Simon
Foz Ball can take Manly to the premiership
– Manly Mark
Always got hope for my beloved Sharks Michael.
– KB
We asked who you believe, outside the NRL top four (Panthers, Warriors, Dolphins, Roosters), could win the premiership this year.
We have had a few responses.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:23pm
HT: Cowboys 10 Panthers 10
A half of a footy that was described by Luke Lewis as a “drop-a-thon” has come to an end.
The Cowboys and Panthers are locked at 10-all.
The Panthers have been horrid when compared to their elite standards.
The Cowboys have rattled them, but even with Penrith having Liam Henry sin-binned, the score is level.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:21pm
40′ Nathan Cleary almost nails a 55-metre drop goal
The halftime siren sounds.
Nathan Cleary goes for a two-point field goal from 55 metres.
SO CLOSE. The ball just ducked under the crossbar.
Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 6:17pm
38′ TRY: Bad Cowboys error leads to Tom Jenkins double
Tom Jenkins has a double, and the Cowboys’ fans have been left stunned.
Nathan Cleary puts up a MASSIVE bomb.
Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi rushes in to catch the ball, but then he pulls out.
The ball bounces into Taulagi and comes off his legs.
The Panthers collect the ball with a set restart.
The ball comes to Jack Cogger who does not care about the set restart. He puts in a cross kick to Jenkins who is unmarked on the left wing.
Perfect kick, well caught, and Jenkins has his 22nd try of the season.
Cleary misses the conversion attempt.
Cowboys 10
Panthers 10
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