The opening two games of the NRL pre-season challenge are in the books, with juniors impressing, players stamping their authority over Round 1 spots, and questions still looming.
Here are all the talking points from the double-header at Kogarah, where the North Queensland Cowboys beat the Canterbury Bulldogs by four points, and the St George Illawarra Dragons to the better of the Newcastle Knights by ten points.
Jake Clifford must start at halfback for the Cowboys
It really is as simple as the statement, and there are no two ways about it.
For much of 2025, the Cowboys played their ‘best' footy when Jake Clifford was on the park, wearing the number seven jumper.
That's not to say the Cowboys looked like world beaters even then, but there were other issues holding up the progression of Todd Payten's side away from the form of Clifford.
Him being replaced by Jaxon Purdue in the halves - Purdue played five-eighth and Tom Dearden played halfback - saw the Cowboys slump, their wins dry up, and kicking game become all but non-existent.
Clifford provides game management and a kicking game, as well as being really the perfect foil for Dearden.
Clifford is never going to get the raps of some other stars around the competition, but even against a Canterbury virtually reserve grade side on Saturday evening, he provided that calming influence, set up tries, and was involved in everything.
Purdue played very strongly in the centres throughout 2025, and that, at this point of his career, is evidently his best position, in the same way Clifford is a halfback.
