As the saying goes in rugby league, where there is smoke, there is fire.

A bombshell report surfaced late last week suggesting North Queensland Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater is no guarantee to be offered a new contract at the club beyond the end of 2027.

On the surface, that seems like an incredibly easy call to make on a player who has been among the best fullbacks in the game in recent times, often single-handedly providing the attacking force for Todd Payten's struggling outfit.

But the Cowboys have struggled, Payten is a man under enormous pressure, and so any potential roster shake ups would potentially make a lot of sense for the Townsville-based outfit.

Drinkwater, who is Sydney-born but has also played in Melbourne, would be unlikely to want to hang around at the Cowboys in 2027 if push came to shove, and he knew his deal wasn't being extended.

The Cowboys would also be looking for salary cap flexibility at a time where they have few contracted players beyond the end of 2026 and could, if they chose too, totally revamp their roster.

It's absolutely conceivable that Scott Drinkwater is about to head into his final season as a Cowboy, but where could he land?

The market for fullbacks is skinny, but that's with good reason. There are few clubs that are desperate for a replacement, with the position one of the most oversubscribed with top tier talent anywhere in the NRL.

Regardless, here are the clubs who could line up for a crack at the Cowboys star, whether it be for 2027 or 2028.

2. Newcastle Knights

Kalyn Ponga leaving the Knights seems to be a rumour that comes up once every couple of weeks.

It's always a discussion topic in rugby league circles, and whether the Knights like it or not, there is no guarantee their star fullback is going to be a long-term player at the club.

If he does leave, then Drinkwater certainly should come into calculations as his replacement. He is a similar sort of explosive fullback, with a great running and passing game.

Drinkwater's try involvements in a mostly poor Cowboys outfit are off the charts, so it wouldn't be a stretch that he could do similar in the Hunter over the coming years as they desperately attempt to turn things around from a pretty lean run.

Drinkwater can also play five-eighth, and if Ponga does stay, there is no reason the Knights couldn't slot him in there, although it would make for an exceptionally expensive spine with Dylan Brown set to play at number seven as the game's highest-paid player from the start of 2026.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Newcastle – No money
    Dragons – No need (in the timeframe we are talking about)
    Roosters – No need (in the timeframe we are talking about)
    Melbourne – maybe, but they’ve got SuaFalogo pencilled in and Nick Meaney who could do the job.
    Perth – makes sense. They have the need and the money.
    Warriors aren’t as desperate as Perth, but they will need a new F/B sooner rather than later.

    • Knights don’t have a want either. Even if Ponga left this time even though he didn’t the 20 other times he was reportedly leaving they would move Sharpe to fullback with Brown and Smith in the halves. Out of all those guys only Ponga will become available soon and if he does go they wont be signing another first grade fullback they’ll be looking at either forwards or a 7 if Smith doesn’t work out