Matt Pritchard previews the final match of round 19 when the Cowboys host the Wests Tigers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs Wests Tigers
Venue: QLD Country Bank Stadium
Date: Sunday July 24, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesCowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Coen Hess 9. Reece Robson 10. Luciano Leilua 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Jake Granville 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Connelly Lemuelu 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Riley Price 21. Tomas Chester 22. Taniela Sadrugu
The Cowboys welcome back Murray Taulagi after returning a positive Covid test, along with Queensland Origin stars Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai who were rested after the Origin decider in Brisbane. Despite their loss to the Sharks last round, they remained in second spot on the ladder.
Embed from Getty ImagesTigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. James Tamou 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Luke Garner 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jackson Hastings 14. Fonua Pole 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Tyrone Peachey 18. Austin Dias 19. Jock Madden 20. Justin Matamua 21. James Roberts 22. David Nofoaluma
Wests Tigers are still seeking their first win under interim head coach Brett Kimmorley on their trip to Townsville. Brent Naden and David Nofoaluma are back after being scratched late last week. James Tamou will start in game 300 against the club where he started his career.
Referee: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
James Tamou will return to where his career started for his 300th NRL appearance when the Wests Tigers take on North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Tamou played 170 games for the club and was part of the 2015 Cowboys premiership winning side that defeated the Broncos 17-16 at Stadium Australia.
He went on to make 97 appearances for the Penrith Panthers before moving to the Wests Tigers.
It will be a tough ask for the Tigers to celebrate the milestone with victory as they come up against the second placed Cowboys side that will be hungry after conceding at home against the Sharks last start.
The return of Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai are a massive boost as they look to secure a top four spot, something that most fans would have thought unimaginable at the start of the season.
While only going down by two points to an understrength Panthers last Sunday, the Wests Tigers struggled in attack as both sides struggled to hold onto the pill. This is something they can’t continue against a Cowboys side which have plenty of firepower out wide and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow coming off the bench.
Adam Doueihi has justified in the past few weeks his selection at five-eighth ahead of Jackson Hastings. With his kicking game and willingness to take on the line, Doueihi could provide the best scoring chances for the Tigers who’ve averaged a paltry 14 points per game compared to the Cowboys 25.
It appears on paper the Cowboys will inflict the Tigers fifteenth loss of the 2022 campaign.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
Just the one match between these two sides at QLD Country Bank Stadium where the Wests Tigers won 24-16. You have to go back to 2014 for the last time the Cowboys won in Townsville against their opponents. On that occasion when they thrashed the Wests Tigers 64-6 with Matthew Wright scoring a hat-trick and Jason Taumalolo a double.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Cowboys by 20.
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