NRL round 5: North Queensland Cowboys take on the Penrith Panthers

Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson were both their own biggest critics after admittedly slow starts to the season, but confidence is high the Cowboys can upset the Panthers on Friday night. Read the latest Cowboys news.

The Cowboys will take an unchanged squad to Sydney this week in pursuit of a second straight win when they take on the Penrith Panthers on Friday night.

After taking some time to settle on his preferred 17, Todd Payten has shown plenty of confidence in the team that defeated Canberra 30-20 in round 4.

Team chemistry and connectivity has been one of the most obvious areas of improvement for a North Queensland side that is in the midst of a generational changing of the guard.

Cowboys hooker Reece Robson said going into a third straight game with the same teammates was a huge benefit to the spine and the entire group.

“To start the season we’ve had a few different players in key positions,” Robson said.

Reece Robson of the Cowboys passes the ball during the round three NRL match between Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, on March 21, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“Trying to learn how new players coming into the team, and learning to play alongside them has been a bit of a bit of a, I guess, hiccup to start the season.

“So being able to go into the game this weekend with a pretty much identical side definitely helps in terms of camaraderie and just knowing how boys like to receive the ball, especially for me from dummy half, and having that same spine there definitely helps going week in week out.”

Robson made a season high tackles (48) against the Raiders but his average running metres through North Queensland’s first four games is less than half what he averaged for the past four seasons.

The New South Wales State of Origin representative said he was starting to grow into his role after a slow start.

“It’s easy to look back on a win and think you’ve played better than when you lose, but individually we have to be playing at our best and there’s definitely a lot more improvement I can do to my game,” Robson said.

“Definitely a little bit more ruck speed in terms of getting out of dummy half a bit more than the first few weeks, so on the weekend I played a little bit more footy and to have a bit more open space, it was definitely a lot of fun for myself.”

Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter also had his best game of the season so far, playing a whopping 72 minutes – almost 20 minutes more than his previous highest total of 2025 (56) achieved in round 3.

Reuben Cotter of the Cowboys runs the ball during the round four NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on March 29, 2025, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The tireless middle forward said he would continue to improve as the year goes on.

“I reckon I was probably a bit slow for the first few rounds, and just getting my legs back, getting my lungs back, timing – a bit like everyone else,” Cotter said.

“It’s just the first few games, everyone’s starting to get back into it. So I feel like I’ll only get better as the season goes on.

“It does a lot (naming an unchanged side); your combinations are the same and they’ll only get better the more minutes we get together.

“Looking at ‘Cliffo’ (Jake Clifford), I thought he had a great game, he really focused in on his strengths and what he does well for the team, so I hope that’ll only get better and the whole group as well.”

The Cowboys take on four-time reigning premiers Penrith in Sydney on Friday night, kick-off is at 5pm AEST.

Originally published as NRL round 5: North Queensland Cowboys take on the Penrith Panthers