North Queensland Cowboys Head Coach Todd Payten has locked in his 22‑man squad for the club’s historic season opener against the Newcastle Knights in Las Vegas, confirming a mix of established leaders, new recruits and rising talent for the trip.
Co‑captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden headline the group, joined by possible club debutants Reed Mahoney, Matt Lodge and Soni Luke. Young forward Liam Sutton has also been named and is in line for a potential NRL debut, capping off a rapid rise through the Cowboys system.
The squad will depart Australia this afternoon as preparations ramp up for the NRL’s second year on American soil. The Vegas fixture marks the beginning of a highly anticipated 2026 campaign, with competition for Round 1 spots intensifying throughout the pre‑season.
The full touring squad is: John Bateman, Braidon Burns, Tom Chester, Jake Clifford, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Rob Derby, Scott Drinkwater, Harrison Edwards, Coen Hess, Matthew Lodge, Soni Luke, Heilum Luki, Reed Mahoney, Sam McIntyre, Thomas Mikaele, Griffin Neame, Kai O’Donnell, Jaxon Purdue, Liam Sutton, Jason Taumalolo and Murray Taulagi.
