The Mole: Scott Drinkwater's vow to Cowboys teammates after nagging issue laid bare

Star fullback Scott Drinkwater has made a vow to cut his high error rate in 2026 in a bid to get the Cowboys back to finals football.

Drinkwater was awesome in attack last season but finished sixth on the NRL error list with 36 in 24 games.

"That was too many and I've been working hard over the summer to cut those numbers," Drinkwater told Wide World of Sports in Las Vegas.

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"In close games, I pushed things a little too much and that put us under pressure.

"We weren't going well as a team and when that happens, you over-try and that can turn out badly.

"I'll be making sure it doesn't happen again this year."

Drinkwater believes the change to the Cowboys' spine with the addition of former Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney will reap rewards for the club.

"Reed is a real competitor and a class player," he said.

"He has lifted the intensity at training ... he wants to play in the NRL and that got taken away from him last year in the big games (at Canterbury).

"He is a fiery customer who speaks his mind - that might be exactly what we need."

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The Cowboys are firm favourites for the game that kicks off season 2026 but Drinkwater is wary of a Knights ambush.

"They have a new coach and some quality new players and will have something to prove," he said.

"No way will we be able to take them lightly."