[9.20pm]
The ones you’ve all been waiting for. Let’s see who will take out the two major awards for the night, and take home a brand-new Toyota Hi-Lux.
NRLW COWBOY OF THE YEAR: Fran Goldthorp
PAUL BOWMAN MEDAL WINNER: Reuben Cotter
[9.01pm]
We are down to our second last awards of the night, the Cowboys Way Award, presented to the players in both programs that demonstrate the values that make the Cowboys who we are.
Head of NRLW and Women’s Elite Pathways, Anita Creenaune, comes to the stage to acknowledge the departing inaugural captain Tallisha Harden, before presenting the women’s Cowboys Way Award. NRL Head Coach Todd Payten will present the men’s award.
NRLW COWBOYS WAY AWARD: Lily Peacock
NRL COWBOYS WAY AWARD: Soni Luke
[8.50pm]
We are back to find out who will take out the Players’ Player awards. NRLW assistant coach David Faiumu will present the women’s award, while life member Jake Granville will hard over the NRL award.
NRLW PLAYERS PLAYER: Makenzie Weale
NRL PLAYERS PLAYER: Scott Drinkwater
[8.27pm]
We are headed to our final break of the night. See you again in about 20 minutes when we will find out who wins the final six awards of the night.
[8.20pm]
The last Cowboy to become a life member, Kyle Feldt, is called upon to formally induct our newest life member, Coen Hess.
[8.10pm]
Scott Drinkwater is up next, farewelling his teammates, staff and supporters.
"Townsville became home and this club became my family."
[8.03pm]
Murray Taulagi comes to the stage to say his final words as a Cowboy:
"It's pretty hard to put 10 years into words. When I first came to Townsville, I probably didn't realise how much this place would mean to me. I came here to play footy, but I leave with so much more."
[7.59pm]
The next stage of the night to paying special acknowledgement to two huge club milestones in Jason Taumalolo (300 club games) and Coen Hess (200 club games and life membership), before hearing from departing players Scott Drinkwater and Murray Taulagi.
Michael Luck on Jason Taumalolo: "To play 300 games in any position in the NRL is a truly amazing accomplishment, one only achieved 58 times in the game’s 118 season history. To pull it off playing in the middle of the field as a human battering ram who opposition teams almost certainly always have a target on is nothing short of remarkable."
[7.57pm]
Now to the men’s, Tom Chester maintains his lead to four votes at the top of the ladder with seven games remaining.
LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 18: Tom Chester (17), Scott Drinkwater (13), Jake Clifford (12), Reuben Cotter (10)
[7.53pm]
It’s time to take a look at the leaderboard for our NRLW Player of the Year for the first five rounds.
LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 5: Fran Goldthorp (10), Makenzie Weale (9), Emma Manzelmann (3), Margot Vella (3), Abigail Roache (3).
[7.48pm]
2002 Cowboys Rookie of the Year and NRLW Assistant Coach Ty Williams is welcomed to the stage to announce our two Rookies of the Year.
NRLW ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Charlize Lloyd-Phillips
NRL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Liam Sutton
[7.12pm]
We are off to our first break of the evening. We’ll see you in 30 minutes, when we’ll see who has been crowned the NRL and NRLW Rookies of the Year.
[7.10pm]
We get our first look at the Paul Bowman Medal tally for the night
LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 9: Tom Chester (11), Reuben Cotter (7), Jason Taumalolo (5), Scott Drinkwater (5), Sam McIntyre (5), Jake Clifford (5), Coen Hess (4).
[7.10pm]
We now move to the Members Player of the Year. The heart of the club, every year we ask our members who they think has been our best player across our NRL and NRLW programs. To present the award are 2026 full season members Josie and Kristy.
NRLW MEMBERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Fran Goldthorp
NRL MEMBERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tom Chester
[6.59pm]
On to our next awards of the night, the Townsville Bulletin Fan Choice Award, presented by Editor Jill Poulsen.
NRLW TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN FANS CHOICE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Essay Banu
NRL TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN FANS CHOICE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tom Chester
[6.55pm]
Toyota Australia’s Manager, Marketing Support of the Northern Region Mel Olsen is comes up to say a few words about their long-standing partnership with the club.
[6.44pm]
Cowboys CEO – Football Micheal Luck comes to the stage to welcome everyone to the night, before previewing the first award of the night, the Club Person of the Year.
CLUB PERSON OF THE YEAR: Mark Taviani
[6.38pm]
Host Mark “Chooky” Edwards calls Cowboy No. 208 Ray Thompson to the stage for an Acknowledgement of Country
[12.30pm]
Six hours until our 2026 Presentation Night gets underway here at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.
Join us from 6.30pm tonight as we announce the winners at our 32nd Annual Presentation Night.
Awards to be presented:
- Club Person of the Year
- Townsville Bulletin Fans Choice Award (NRL & NRLW)
- JCU Education Award
- Affiliate Player of the Year
- Members Player of the Year (NRL & NRLW)
- Rookie of the Year (NRL & NRLW)
- Players’ Player (NRL & NRLW)
- Cowboys Way (NRL & NRLW)
- NRLW Player of the Year
- Paul Bowman Medal
