Scott Drinkwater

Scott Drinkwater (born 15 May 1997) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).

He previously played for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. He has also played as a in his career.

Early life Drinkwater was born in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia and was raised on the Central Coast, New South Wales.

He played his junior rugby league for the Terrigal Sharks. While attending Terrigal High School, he represented the 2015 Australian Schoolboys.

Playing career Early career In 2015, Drinkwater played for the Central Coast Centurions in the SG Ball Cup. Later that year, he represented the Australian Schoolboys and signed a three-year deal with the Melbourne Storm.

In 2016, Drinkwater joined Melbourne's NYC team, where he played 29 games over two seasons, scoring 23 tries. In 2017, he moved up to the Storm's Queensland Cup feeder side, the Sunshine Coast Falcons, where he started at fullback in their Grand Final loss to the PNG Hunters.

2018

In 2018, Drinkwater played the majority of the season for the Melbourne club's Queensland Cup feeder side, the Easts Tigers. On 24 June, he started at fullback for the Queensland Residents in their 20–36 loss to New South Wales Residents.

In Round 25 of the 2018 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for Melbourne against Penrith, scoring a try in the 16–22 loss.

On 29 August, he was named at fullback in the Intrust Super Cup Team of the Year.

2019 On 2 March, Drinkwater tore his pectoral muscle in Melbourne's pre-season trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys, returning 13 weeks later in the Easts Tigers 40–22 win over the Northern Pride.

On 24 June, he was released by the Melbourne Storm and signed immediately with the North Queensland Cowboys, on a -year contract. Before his departure to North Queensland, Drinkwater was described as the next Billy Slater and was nominated as the player to take the vacant fullback jersey at Melbourne. In Round 15 of the 2019 NRL season, he made his debut for North Queensland, scoring a try in their 14–22 loss to the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

2020 In February, Drinkwater was a member of North Queensland's 2020 NRL Nines winning squad. He was named the Player of the Tournament and was named in the Team of the Tournament. With the arrival of Valentine Holmes to the Cowboys, Drinkwater moved to his preferred position at .

He started the season as North Queendland's starting , scoring tries in Round 2 and Round 6. In the Cowboys' Round 9 loss to the Sydney Roosters, he ruptured his MCL and missed four weeks. He returned in Round 14, filling in at for the injured Holmes. After two more games at fullback, he finished the season at five-eighth.

2021 On 5 May, Drinkwater re-signed with the North Queensland Cowboys until the end of the 2023 season.

2022 In round 20 of the 2022 NRL season, Drinkwater scored two tries for North Queensland in a 34-8 victory over St. George Illawarra. The following week, he scored a further two tries in North Queensland's victory over Canterbury. Drinkwater played 22 games for North Queensland throughout the year as North Queensland finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. Drinkwater played in both finals matches including their upset loss to Parramatta in the preliminary final which denied North Queensland a fairy tale Grand Final appearance.

2023 In round 2 of the 2023 NRL season, Drinkwater was sent to the sin bin during North Queensland's 28-16 loss against arch-rivals Brisbane after hitting Corey Oates with a shoulder charge which broke the players jaw. Drinkwater was later suspended for three matches. In round 16, Drinkwater scored two tries including the winner during golden point extra-time as North Queensland defeated Penrith 27-23. In round 18, Drinkwater scored two tries in North Queensland's 74-0 victory over the Wests Tigers. Drinkwater played 21 games for North Queensland in 2023 and scored 11 tries as the club finished 11th on the table.

2024 In round 5 of the 2024 NRL season, Drinkwater scored two tries in North Queensland's 35-22 victory over strugglers the Gold Coast. In round 22, he scored two tries in North Queensland's 48-30 win over the Wests Tigers. Drinkwater played 26 games for North Queensland in the 2024 NRL season as they finished 5th on the table. He played in both finals games for North Queensland as they were eliminated in the second week by Cronulla.

2025 Drinkwater played every game for North Queensland in the 2025 NRL season as the club finished 12th on the table.

2026 On 25 April 2026, the Cowboys announced that Drinkwater would depart the club at the end of the season and take up a three-year deal with the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

Achievements and accolades Individual NRL Nines Player of the Tournament: 2020 Queensland Cup Team of the Year: 2018 Cooper Cronk Feeder Club Player of the Year: 2018

Team 2020 NRL Nines: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners

Statistics NRL denotes season still competing SeasonTeamMatchesTGGK %F/GPts 2018 Melbourne 1 1 0 — 0 4 2019 North Queensland 10 3 0 — 0 12 2020 16 2 0 — 0 8 2021 24 5 11 78.57 0 42202222114522023211191632024 2610715620252411701842026*84119 Career totals 152 63 102 78.57 1 440

Personal life Drinkwater's brother, Josh, is also a professional rugby league footballer, who as of 2025 plays for the Oldham in the RFL Championship.