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NRL live updates: Reuben Cotter banned for week one of finals, St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers vs Wests Tigers
Posted Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:33pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:33pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:33pmSkip to timeline
North Queensland Cowboys star Reuben Cotter will miss week one of the NRL finals after being charged for a high tackle against the Raiders.
The Maroons forward was handed a grade two careless high tackle charge for his contact on Josh Papali’i in the first hit up of the match.
The Dragons and Eels look to end their seasons on a high before Penrith can wrap up the NRL minor premiership if they beat Wests Tigers by more than two points.
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PinnedSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:59pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:59pm
Live updates: Dragons vs Eels
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By Simon Smale
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Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:12pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:12pm
9′ Penalty Dragons
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By Simon Smale
The Eels are piling on the pressure to the Dragons defence, who have to deliver two goal line drop outs after two excellent kicks from Mitch Moses, the second of which came off the base of the post.
But Junior Paulo is offside at the tackle and the Dragons get a relieving penalty to just give them a bit of breathing space.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:07pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:07pm
4′ The Dragons let the ball bounce from the kick off
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By Simon Smale
The Eels elected to receive the ball from the kick off – and then forgot to catch it.
New kick off rules being implemented and it’s put the Eels right on the front foot here as the Dragons let the ball bounce 10cm inside the line and it bounces out.
The Eels will start with a scrum on the 10 metre line of the Dragons.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:05pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:05pm
2′ Eels strike early and strike hard!
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By Simon Smale
Jordan Samrani on his return from injury leaps up to grab a Mitch Moses chip kick and completes an 80-metre move in the best possible way for the visitors!
It’s a gorgeous, delicate chip kick from Moses, but hang on – has Samrani lost that in the tackle?
There may have been a bobble there.
He may even have been short…
Nope, the try confirmed and the Eels do have their excellent start.
Moses kicks from the sideline to give the Eels a 6-0 early lead.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:02pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:02pm
1′ The Eels kick us off
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By Simon Smale
The Eels in the yellow, the Dragons in the famous red V.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:01pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 2:01pm
The Dragons led out by Damien Cook
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By Simon Smale
All the Dragon dads are coming out with their kids, which is superb to see.
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A great crowd in the sunshine at Wollongong – a perfect way to spent father’s day, you’d have to say.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:56pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:56pm
Sunny skies for superb football
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By Simon Smale
Arvo Simon. Glorious weather today mate so looking forward to some good footy to match. Hope the Dragons finish on a good note, as distinct from the Sharks last night. As I always say, there is always next season.
– KB
Hello KB, lovely to have you with us again.
It’s a scorcher up in Brisbane today so I am happy for the players that there’s nothing happening up this way for them to have to deal with.
As for Wollongong, I am told it’s a beautiful 21°C at the moment with light winds.
Perfect.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:52pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:52pm
New kick off rules in place
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By Simon Smale
So, today we’ll get another match trial of the new kick off rule that the NRL seems determined to push through despite everyone else involved in the game hating it.
What is the rule?
Essentially, the team that concedes a try in this first game today will be given the option to restart by either kicking off or receiving the football.
The current rules have the team that concedes the try kicking the ball off.
Super League has trialled this rule before and tossed the plan out, which should tell us something, but that is not stopping the NRL from pushing through it.
The league tried to implement the rules ahead of this season but the clubs forced them to back down.
Paul Gallen told Channel 9 the plan was “ridiculous” earlier this week.
“We don’t need all these rule changes,” he said.
“The game’s been so good for such a long time, I don’t get this one.”
Cameron Ciraldo was unimpressed about having to trial the rule at short notice last week, and you can check out his comments here.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:47pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:47pm
Departing Damien Cook
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By Simon Smale
Damien Cook will play his 263rd NRL match today, and the final one too, as the 35-year-old heads to Castleford and the Super League next year.
As most people probably know by now, Cook used to be a beach sprinter in surf lifesaving.
Cook is unlikely to find much of a beach in Castleford – but as Nick Campton writes in this lovely profile, that won’t matter.
Cook is still looking forward to the things that he’s yet to achieve rather than looking back just now.
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:39pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:39pm
Team news: Dragons vs Eels
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By Simon Smale
Here’s how the teams line up for our first game today.
Dragons
St George Illawarra have only made the one change to the starting side from last week, with Blake Lawrie coming in at prop, Loko Pasifiki Tonga moving to lock and Ryan Couchman heading to the bench.
There are no late changes.
Eels
The Eels have sprung a late change at fullback, with Sean Russell moving into the side and Apa Twidle moving to the bench.
Jordan Samrani will return in the centres after his injury lay off, while Jack de Belin returns on the bench after three games in NSW Cup.
Tyrese Lokeni, an edge forward, is also on the bench and could make his first NRL appearance having made 35 appearances in the NSW Cup across the past two seasons.
Key Event
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:29pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:29pm
Reuben Cotter handed one-match ban
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By Simon Smale
First things first, and some housekeeping from yesterday, where it is bad news for North Queensland, who are set to lose co-captain Reuben Cotter to suspension going into the NRL finals .
The Maroons forward was slapped with a grade two careless high tackle charge for his hit on Josh Papali’i with the first hit up of the contest against the Raiders in Townsville.
The Cowboys will play Cronulla away in an elimination final next weekend.
Referee Nick Pelgrave said Cotter’s tackle was reckless and forceful to the head, but Papalii passed his HIA and returned to go out a winner.
Cotter was not charged with a reckless high tackle but the grade two careless high tackle charge comes with a minimum of one week’s suspension and two if he challenges and fails at the judiciary.
The Cowboys may as well attempt to get the charge overturned, given they play sudden death next week regardless.
with AAP
Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:24pmSun 6 Sep 2026 at 1:24pm
Sunday NRL
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By Simon Smale
Hello everyone and welcome to the ABC Sport coverage of the final two games of the NRL regular season for 2026.
My name is Simon Smale and I shall be with you right up to and beyond the moment where we find out who is going to be minor premiers, at around about 6pm AEST this evening.
Will Penrith beat the Wests Tigers by more than the two points they need to overhaul the Warriors?
Will they win at all?
Before all that, we have St George Illawarra against Parramatta Eels, where the ludicrous new kick off rule will be trialled – which is something to not look forward to.
Anyway, come 6pm we will complete the finals line up in terms of fixturing, so we can all plan our upcoming weekends.
Thanks for being with me and, to all the fathers reading, happy father’s day! I hope you’re enjoying a day with your feet up in front of the footy, the thing Sunday’s were designed for.