Todd Warren previews a battle between two bottom four teams as both are desperate for a win.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Date: 11/4, Time: 4:05pm
Tigers Team
- Daine Laurie
- David Nofoaluma
- James Roberts
- Moses Mbye
- Tommy Talau
- Adam Doueihi
- Luke Brooks
- Zane Musgrove
- Jacob Liddle
- James Tamou (c)
- Luke Garner
- Luciano Leilua
- Alex Twal
- Michael Chee-Kam
- Thomas Mikaele
- Stefano Utoikamanu
- Joe Ofahengauae
- Alex Seyfarth
- Joseph Leilua
- Jake Simpkin
- Tukimihia Simpkins
Team Changes
IN: Tukimihia Simpkins, Jake Simpkin
OUT: Asu Kepaoa, Russel Packer
Cowboys Team
- Valentine Holmes
- Kyle Feldt
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
- Connelly Lemuele
- Murray Taulagi
- Scott Drinkwater
- Ben Hampton
- Francis Molo
- Reece Robson
- Jordan McLean
- Shane Wright
- Ben Condon
- Jason Taumalolo
- Jake Granville
- Coen Hess
- Josh McGuire
- Lachlan Burr
- Esan Marsters
- Reuben Cotter
- Corey Jensen
- Jake Clifford
Team Changes
IN: Kyle Feldt, Jason Taumalolo
OUT: Justin O’Neill, Griffin Neame
Referee: Matt Cecchin
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Tigers
Embed from Getty ImagesMoses Mbye starts in the centres with James Roberts shifting to the other side. Michael Chee-Kam plays off the bench. The Tigers have only won one game this season but didn’t look too bad against an in-form Eels side last week. Luke Brooks won’t be wearing the number seven jersey in honour of the late Tommy Raudonikis, and neither will Ben Hampton from the Cowboys.
Cowboys
Embed from Getty ImagesJason Taumalolo returns to the starting lock position with Josh McGuire moving to the bench. Kyle Feldt returns from suspension to take his place on the wing. I can’t think of anything nice to say about the Cowboys. They’ve been awful all season and the worst Queensland team so far. To be honest it’s hard to see where the improvement will actually come from in this Cowboys side, but Taumalolo will help a lot if he can get back to his form from previous years.
PREVIEW
Jason Taumalolo returns to the starting lock position with Josh McGuire moving to the bench. Kyle Feldt returns from suspension to take his place on the wing. I can’t think of anything nice to say about the Cowboys. They’ve been awful all season and the worst Queensland team so far. To be honest it’s hard to see where the improvement will actually come from in this Cowboys side, but Taumalolo will help a lot if he can get back to his form from previous years.
PREVIEW
This is hard to say as a proud Queenslander, but there isn’t a lot to like about the Cowboys so far in 2021 (they’ve won three games from their last 20). They have had some terrible luck with injuries compounded by Michael Morgan being forced into retirement this week, and they haven’t looked too crash hot in any other ways either. Who knows if Taumalolo coming back will make much of a difference? The role he seems to be playing makes him a shadow of the player once considered one of the best forwards in the game.ย
The Tigers haven’t been fantastic either, but with one win in 2021 they are in a much better position than the Cowboys. Moving Mbye to starting centre is probably a good move, especially with the former Origin rep fighting for a contract. We’re still waiting to see James Roberts fire, but he looked better against the Eels last week. Luciano Leilua has had his issues but is doing much more good than bad and is part of a much better forward pack. The Tigers also have more upside in their backline. Hard to see the Cowboys turning it around this week especially with coaching doubts and apparent rifts in the playing group.
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KEY STAT
The Tigers have won the last four of these fixtures and seven of the last 10. The Cowboys haven’t won at a Tigers home game since 2017.
PREDICTION
My prediction is that this game will be hard to watch, but I think the Tigers will win. Cowboys are in trouble and need to do something, but it’s hard to see them turning things around after the thumping they got last week.
Tigers by 14.ย
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