Dragons vs Cowboys Prediction: Flanagan failure to extend to five games in Kogarah

| Friday 3rd April 2026, 7:00

Friday 3rd April 2026, 7:00

The St George Illawarra Dragons are in desperate need of a first NRL Premiership win this season when they meet a surging North Queensland Cowboys outfit in Kogarah on Saturday (17:30 local, 07:30 BST, Watch NRL).

While the Dragons are 0-4 so far, the Cowboys stunned the Storm last week to record a second successive win. Below are my Dragons vs Cowboys predictions, with the latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Dragons vs Cowboys Betting Tips

Handicap 2-way Alt 1: Cowboys -9.5 @ 13/8
Double Result: Cowboys-Cowboys @ 13/10

*odds correct at time of publishing

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Dragons vs Cowboys Odds

St George are odds-against for this Easter Saturday fixture, and it’s little surprise given their winless start.

They’re a 6/5 shot to beat Todd Payten’s outfit, who are the 8/11 favourite for the win. That implies a 57.9% probability of the Cowboys adding a third straight triumph to the board.

On the handicap market, the Cowboys give up 2.5 points in return for a shortening to 10/11, with the Dragons quoted at 5/6 to make the most of the edge.

Team News

Shane Flanagan gets one of the Couchman twins back, with Toby coming into the front row after observing concussion protocols. Kyle Flanagan misses the game due to a head knock, meaning Lyhkan King-Togia will start in the halves.

Moses Suli is in at centre for Hayden Buchanan, with debutant David Fale added on the wing as Tyrell Sloan drops to the bench. Blake Lawrie makes way for Couchman, while Hamish Stewart is set to replace Hame Sele at 13.

Rugby League Odds

There are far fewer alterations for the settled Cowboys.

Payten calls up Tom Chester in the centres following his suspension, with Zac Laybutt dropping to the bench to make way.

Handicap 2-way Alt 1: Cowboys -9.5 @ 13/8

Watching the Cowboys this season has been a weird old ride. Coach Payten came into the year with a bullseye already on his back, and their loss to the Knights in Las Vegas seemed to signal that his leash would be short.

A hammering by Wests followed, but back-to-back home wins over the Titans and, stunningly, the Storm have seen them gain a foothold.

And the progress of their two conquerors – but the Knights and Tigers are in the top four going into Round 5 – has put their early defeats into an entirely different context.

The Dragons will win at some point, but I don’t think that they will succeed up against a Cowboys outfit which has Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater, Reed Mahoney and Jake Clifford in excellent form.

I’m happy to suggest they have enough in them to take this one by a couple of scores.

Dragons vs Cowboys - Handicap 2-Way Alt 1

Cowboys -9.5

13/8

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Double Result: Cowboys-Cowboys @ 13/10

It’s on the Dragons and the under-pressure Flanagan to show signs of life at some point. But if they slip behind early on in Kogarah then the pressure is only going to ratchet up.

Flanagan was handed a new three-year deal at the back end of last year, but a fifth straight defeat to start the season could force the St George board to think again.

And the Cowboys showed what they are capable of in putting the Storm to the sword last week, so I can see them carrying that momentum in and getting a good start against the Dragons.

It’s 13/10 for the visitors to hold a half-time lead and go on to win, and that seems a wise bet given the circumstances of recent weeks.

Dragons vs Cowboys - Double Result

Cowboys-Cowboys

13/10

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.