Todd Warren previews the Tigers vs Cowboys game from Campbelltown Stadium as both teams look to break their losing streaks.
FORM LINE
Wests Tigers
The boys in orange and black have lost their last two against the Raiders and the Titans and have been playing around with different team combinations to try to find a bit more consistency. They face the Knights, Panthers and Rabbitohs in the next five weeks in what will be so they really need to figure it out quickly.
North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland are also on a two game skid with double digit loses against the Warriors and the Sharks. They have a way harder draw for the next five games when they face the Knights, Eels, Roosters, Panthers, Manly and the Raiders after this game. If they stick to how they’ve been playing the last two weeks then they may struggle to win any of those games.
SQUAD NEWS
Wests Tigers
Russel Packer is suspended already, so that causes some more changes with Luke Garner back in. Luciano Leilua looked like he may be in doubt due to an ankle injury but has been named to start. Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence are on an extended bench with Josh Reynolds starting at 5/8 again.
1. Adam Doueihi 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph Leilua 4. Moses Mbye (c) 5. Robert Jennings 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Luke Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Harry Grant 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal 14. Matthew Eisenhuth 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Michael Chee-Kam
North Queensland Cowboys
Valentine Holmes is out after leaving the field early with an ankle injury last week. Jordan McLean is also out with a calf injury. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow takes over the fullback role, Francis Molo and Connelly Lemuelu are starting.
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Esan Marsters 5. Connelly Lemuele 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Jake Clifford 8. Francis Molo 9. Reece Robson 10. Josh McGuire 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo (c) 14. Ben Hampton 15. Corey Jensen 16. Peter Hola 17. Gavin Cooper
KEY STAT
The Tigers have beaten the Cowboys four from the last five games. This may be a low scoring game with the last four games at Campbelltown Stadium having an average of just 27 points.
BATTLE TO WATCH
I feel like this should be Jason Taumalolo for every Cowboys game. He’s a monster who puts up ridiculous numbers consistently and appears to be getting better as the years go on. Cowboys got a good deal when they locked him down for 10 years. He lines up against Alex Twal who has also had a very solid start to the season with an incredible 96% tackle efficiency. He will have his work cut out for him this week though when he takes on a guy who is averaging almost 240 running metres and over five tackle breaks per game.
GAME DETAILS
I think the Tigers get up here. The Cowboys are dealing with too many injuries to key players. Taumalolo can only do so much, and he isn’t getting much help from inexperienced playmakers.
Tigers by 14
Date: Saturday June 20
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 5:30pm
