As it happened: Clifford leads Cowboys to win against injury-hit Rabbitohs

Fulltime: The Cowboys have celebrated Todd Payten's 150th match as an NRL coach with a 30-18 defeat of South Sydney to climb to sixth place on the premiership ladder. North Queensland have now won eight of their 12 matches, including seven of their past eight games. The injury hit Rabbitohs have now lost three of their past four matches and next weekend's bye will be welcomed after Adam Elliott and Talanoa Penitani joining their growing casualty toll.

80 min: Penitani has suffered a hamstring injury after breaking into the clear and come from the field.

77 min: Johnston finally gets a try off a lobbed Cody Walker pass to become the first Rabbitoh to score in 10 consecutive games, beating Benny Wearing's record of tries in nine consecutive games in the 1922 and 1923 seasons. Seigwalt converted from out wide. Cowboys 30 Rabbitohs 18.  

70 min: The news keeps getting worse for Souths, who have Johnston and Koloamatangi on one leg, after Adam Elliott was assisted from the field - also with a knee injury.

69 min: The Cowboys now have all the momentum and Luki bumped of Koloamatangi to score. Clifford converted. Cowboys 30 Rabbitohs 12

67 min: Tom Chester has produced another trysaving tackle on Johnston, who lost the ball over the line.

63 min: The Cowboys have hit back with rookie five-eighth Liam Sutton scoring his first NRL try in his second appearance. Clifford converted. Cowboys 24 Rabbitohs 12.

55 min: Penitani has scored his second try after a harbour bridge pass from Ward created space out wide. Seigwalt converted. Cowboys 18 Rabbitohs 12.

47 min: Drinkwater has produced a trysaving tackle on Johnston.

44 min: Rabbitohs centre Tallis Duncan has produced a trysaving tackle on Sam McIntrye but the visitors are penalised for a mid-air tackle by Penitani on Rob Derby.  

In case of emergency: Cowboys Jake Clifford has sent a reminder of his talents to Maroons coach Billy Slater after being overlooked for Origin I with a stunning first half. Clifford took an intercept that led to a try by Reed Mahoney and kicked a two point field goal on the stroke of halftime, while leading his team in the absence of Tom Dearden. 

Oh boy: Talanoa Penitani is the first NRL player to follow in the footsteps of his sisters and looks like he could be as good as NRLW stars Tiana and Natasha after scoring a try on debut for the Rabbitohs and chasing down Clifford to save one.   

40 min: Clifford has kicked a two-point field goal from beyond the 40m mark. Cowboys 18 Rabbitohs 6.

35 min: A Drinkwater half break and flick pass has put Tom Chester over to extend the Cowboys lead before halftime. Clifford converted. Cowboys 16 Rabbitohs 6.

27 min: Clifford intercepted a pass from Rabbitohs halfback Ashton Ward but was run down by Penitani. However, Mahoney crashed over on the next tackle. Clifford converted the try. Cowboys 10 Rabbitohs 6.

22 min: The Cowboys forced a goal line drop out after Matt Dufty was tackled on his tryline but a captain's challenge changed the decision to a Rabbitohs penalty for a mid-air tackle by Clifford.

20 min: Seigwalt puts the Rabbitohs ahead with a penalty goal after a high shot by Drinkwater on veteran playmaker Cody Walker. Rabbitohs 6 Cowboys 4.

16 min: Penitani, the younger brother of NRLW stars Tiana and Natasha, has scored in his NRL debut after receiving a long cut out pass from Matt Dufty and powering over the tryline. France World Cup hopeful Latrell Seigwalt missed the conversion. Cowboys 4 Rabbitohs 4.

14 min: Cowboys secondrower Heilum Luki has been denied a try for a double-movement after being tackled just short by Rabbitohs hooker Peter Mamouzelos. 

13 min: Cowboys hooker Reed Mahoney has kicked a 40/20 on the third tackle.

8 min: Rabbitohs rookie Talanoa Penitani almost scored on his first touch of the ball in the NRL but was stopped short of the Cowboys line.

5 min: PNG international Zac Laybutt has opened the scoring for the Cowboys after fullback Scott Drinkwater created space for the winger by holding up a long pass. Jake Clifford missed the sideline conversion. Cowboys 4-0.

3 min: Kangaroos forward Keaon Koloamatangi has conceded the first error of the game after losing the ball in a tackle by Tom Chester.

Kickoff: Liam Sutton fields the kick off and sends Jason Taumalolo for the first hit-up of the match.

Team updates

Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo returns after a Magic Round rest to start at lock with Reuben Cotter in Maroons camp. Taumalolo and Scott Drinkwater are co-captains this week. Robert Derby comes in on the wing for his first NRL game of 2026 in place of Braidon Burns, who is expected to miss 1-2 games with a hamstring injury. Last week's debutants Liam Sutton and Xavier Kerrisk retain their spots. Kai O'Donnell dropped off the interchange in Saturday's 24-hour update with Wiremu Greig added to the six-man bench.

Rabbitohs: Matt Dufty will make his 100th NRL appearance at fullback, with Jye Gray shifting to the interchange.Tryscoring machine Alex Johnston is on track to return from a knee injury but Latrell Mitchell (back) and Campbell Graham (calf are sidelined. Tallis Duncan moves to the centres alongside Latrell Siegwalt while Talanoa Penitani comes in on the wing for his NRL debut. Peter Mamouzelos earns a recall at hooker after two games in NSW Cup. Jamie Humphreys has been named to return from a knee injury on the bench. 

Stat attack

• The Cowboys have won their last three games against the Rabbitohs.
• The Rabbitohs are undefeated in two games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
• Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has scored six tries in his last seven games.
• Rabbitoh Matt Dufty will make his 100th NRL appearance.
• Cowboys coach Todd Payten will coach his 150th NRL game.