From the start of the campaign there has been intense scrutiny on scott drinkwater after North Queensland opened with losses to the Knights and Tigers. The 28-year-old both created tries in recent defeat and drew pointed criticism from a 309-game NRL player who says Drinkwater must become more involved on both sides of the ball if the Cowboys are to reset before a looming must-win against the Gold Coast Titans.
Scott Drinkwater under scrutiny
The spotlight on scott drinkwater has shifted from form to role. He assisted two of North Queensland’s three tries in the loss to the Tigers, but criticism centres on his defensive presence and on-field involvement. Coach Todd Payten’s side have now lost their first two matches, intensifying pressure on team leaders and on-field decision-makers. The assessment is not simply about one match; it asks whether the fullback is operating as the attacking and defensive fulcrum the team needs.
Background and context: why this matters now
North Queensland will look to nab its first win of 2026 in a fixture against the Titans on March 22 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. The sequence of early defeats has magnified the consequences of individual performances. A 309-game NRL veteran singled out scott drinkwater’s need to engage more with ball in hand, to help live halves such as Tommy Dearden, and to bring greater defensive assurance when opponents like Adam Doueihi test the back line.
Deep analysis: what lies beneath the headline
Three interlocking issues frame the debate. First, involvement: when Drinkwater plays as a genuine attacking fulcrum the Cowboys possess greater shape and short-ball options to the centres, and halves such as Tommy Dearden appear more composed. The recent match showed Drinkwater could create — he assisted two of the club’s three tries — but observers want that influence to be more consistent and broader in scope.
Second, defensive positioning: criticism centred on fullbacks being “plugging holes defensively” rather than proactively joining the line. That inertia invites targeted opposition plays and allows opponents to exploit space around the edges. The name specifically called out in the context of defensive testing was Adam Doueihi, whose presence in the contest exposed uncomfortable moments for the Cowboys’ back three.
Third, leadership and tone: despite being described as young, Drinkwater is identified as one of the team leaders. Leadership here is operational — leading by example in when to run, when to distribute, and how to shore up the backline. The veteran evaluator argued that when Drinkwater expands his off-ball and on-ball contributions, the team’s collective structure and morale improve, and the attack gains easier routes to the tryline through short passes to centres.
Expert perspectives
Andrew McCullough, a 309-game NRL player, articulated the critique in direct terms: “I know there’s a group of 16 others within that team, but as a focal point within their attack at fullback Scotty Drinkwater, ” he said. “He needs to get involved more to help Tommy Dearden with ball in hand. Because defensively and against Adam Doueihi too on the weekend was quite alarming, just to be there and assume they have him. Rather than you see the fullbacks in and involved, they’re plugging holes defensively, then they’re going out the back to take care of grubber kicks. Look, as much as you want to say it, he’s one of the leaders in that team, even though he’s young. When they’re going well, he was one of the players that was actually setting them apart and playing some really good football, both with and without the ball. When he does that, they’re a completely different team. Tommy looks more relaxed; they’ve got some shape out the back. He’s hitting these centres with a short ball. I just want to see him involved both on and off the ball offensively to really improve the Cowboys. If they don’t get this done (against Gold Coast), I don’t know how the rest of the season looks for the Cowboys. “
That assessment frames a binary outcome: either Drinkwater reasserts the attributes that previously set the side apart, or the Cowboys face structural difficulties that could compound early losses.
Regional and broader implications
At a regional level, the immediate concern is the Cowboys’ season trajectory and ticket-holder confidence. A failure to arrest the slide before the encounter with the Titans would extend pressure on coach Todd Payten and the squad’s leadership group. For the competition more broadly, the evolution of a fullback’s role — balancing defensive coverage with creative short-ball work — remains a recurring tactical hinge that other teams will observe and, where possible, exploit.
In a condensed season window, one player’s shift in involvement can ripple through structures and outcomes; scott drinkwater’s pattern of engagement will therefore be watched as a proxy for the Cowboys’ capacity to recalibrate.
Will scott drinkwater respond by increasing his on-ball influence and defensive assertiveness, and can North Queensland convert those changes into their first win of the campaign? The answer will say a great deal about the team’s short-term adaptability and long-term prospects.
