Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 12 clash between the Cowboys and Tigers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs Wests Tigers
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Date: Friday May 24, 6pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Braidon Burns, 3. Valentine Holmes, 4. Viliami Vailea, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Jordan McLean, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Griffin Neame, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Sam McIntyre, 15. Thomas Mikaele, 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 17. Jason Taumalolo, 18. Jake Granville, 19. Jake Clifford, 20. Harrison Edwards, 21. Kyle Feldt, 22. Jaxon Purdue
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Charlie Staines, 3. Declan Casey, 4. Josh Feledy, 5. Solomon Alaimalo, 6. Lachlan Galvin, 7. Jayden Sullivan, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Samuela Fainu, 13. Justin Matamua, 14. Jake Simpkin, 15. Alex Twal, 16. Alex Seyfarth, 17. Fonua Pole, 18. Sione Fainu, 19. Alexander Lobb, 20. Tallyn Da Silva, 21. Tony Sukkar, 22. Solomona Faataape
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Two sides who would be very disappointed with their season so far go head-to-head in Townsville this week.
The Cowboys have elected to go with the same team that got the job done against the struggling Rabbitohs last week in a 28-22 win, their first victory since round 5. Braidon Burns holds his spot on the wing after a double at Magic Round, but Kyle Feldt has been named on the extended bench so he could be a late inclusion.
Benji Marshall has been forced into multiple changes from last week’s 24-12 loss in a scrappy affair against the Dolphins, with both centres suspended. Declan Casey and Josh Feledy replace Justin Olam and Brent Naden, while Justin Matamua has been named to start at lock, with Alex Twal dropping back to the bench. Isaiah Papali’i returns from suspension in the second row in a big boost for the Tigers.
The Tigers’ season is quickly slipping away, their Magic Round loss their seventh in a row. After back-to-back wins in rounds 2 and 3, there were high hopes that Wests might finally be able to turn it around, but the side has struggled since.
It’s in attack where the Tigers are really struggling, averaging just 14.5 points per game, which is the worst in the competition. On the bright side, young five-eighth Lachlan Galvin has shown plenty of potential and his side will be hoping he can continue to grow and improve as the season goes on.
For the Cowboys, they are yet to reach the heights of the 2022 season where they were only minutes away from a grand final berth. Todd Payten will coach his 100th game in the NRL this weekend so his side should be up and about for this clash. Expect a big game from Tom Dearden with the Queensland number six jersey suddenly up for grabs.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Cowboys by 10 points.
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