In a commanding victory, the Cowboys triumphed over the Raiders with a score of 26-0 in Townsville. Despite the team’s success, forward Essay Banu is now facing potential disciplinary action due to an incident in the second half, where she pulled the hair of Raiders player Lili Boyle after being outmanoeuvred in defence. This action resulted in a penalty and a report against Banu. Commentator Ruan Sims noted that while Banu did pull Boyle’s hair, she released it promptly, suggesting the penalty was a fair response.
The match began robustly for the Cowboys, with Jakiya Whitfeld returning to fullback, leading to an early try by Abigail Roache just a minute into the game. Jasmine Peters added another try before half-time, complemented by a penalty goal from Rosie Kelly, resulting in a 12-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Cowboys continued their dominance; Roache secured her second try, while Krystal Blackwell impressively scored two tries within a span of four minutes. This comprehensive win marked the largest victory margin in North Queensland’s NRLW history, surpassing their previous record of 20-6. Millie Elliott highlighted the Cowboys’ strong performance, emphasising the impressive development of their team this season.