Scott Drinkwater has played a starring role in North Queensland’s 26-point demolition of state rivals Gold Coast as the Cowboys ran in five tries to move to sixth on the NRL ladder.

Playing fullback in place of the injured Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Drinkwater had a direct hand in three of his team’s tries, scoring one of his own, as the Cowboys’ defence held their opposition to just one try at home for third time this season, the game finishing 30-4.

The Cowboys (4-3) enjoyed the lion’s share of possession throughout at Queensland Country Bank stadium, pinning the Titans in their own half with deep kicks and the defensive line speed they’ve adopted through seven rounds.

Taking a 16-4 lead into the break, the home side ran in two unanswered tries in the second half with Gold Coast unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage when Jeremiah Nanai went to the bin in the 52nd minute.

Upon returning to the field, Nanai immediately latched onto a kick from halfback Chad Townsend to score untouched with the Titans goal-line defence appearing uninterested in getting a hand on the 19-year old. 

Drinkwater then put a hard-running Heilum Luki through a hole to score in the 72nd minute before Valentine Holmes slotted a penalty goal to complete the scoring.

In the first half, it took just five minutes for the Cowboys to get on the board as Holmes drew in David Fifita and Patrick Herbert in midfield before finding Murray Taulagi who passed inside to Tom Dearden to score. 

The home side held their nerve in defence, but were thwarted by repeat six agains on their own line as Fifita, playing at centre, offloaded to Jamayne Issako to score for the Titans.

It was all North Queensland for the remainder of the half as Drinkwater’s 19th-minute grubber ricocheted off two players and sat up for Taulagi to score.