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Match Preview: Round 18 vs Cowboys

Wests Tigers will be hoping for a repeat result of their most recent encounter against the North Queensland Cowboys when they travel to Townsville on Saturday night.

Tim Sheens’ men piled on 66 points in their Round 12 match-up at Leichhardt Oval, but will be faced with a tough challenge this week against a resurgent Cowboys outfit.

After one week at five-eighth, Starford To’a is set to revert to the centres with Daine Laurie wearing the number six jersey for the first time in his NRL career.

Stefano Utoikamanu returns to the side following his State of Origin debut last Wednesday, sending Fonua Pole to the interchange bench.

Pole will be joined by rookie Tallyn Da Silva and try scoring hero Alex Twal, who both enjoyed a night to remember in the club’s last match against the Melbourne Storm.

Cowboys head coach and former Wests Tigers premiership winner Todd Payten has named an unchanged lineup for this week’s clash.

Valentine Holmes bags a double last weekend against the Rabbitohs
Valentine Holmes bags a double last weekend against the Rabbitohs

Since the heavy defeat at Leichhardt, the Cowboys have won three of their past four matches and knocked off premiership heavyweights Melbourne, Penrith and South Sydney.

Team Lists:

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Semi Valemei
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Brent Naden
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Daine Laurie
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Brandon Wakeham

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Shawn Blore
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 John Bateman

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Fonua Pole
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Jason Taumalolo
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Alex Seyfarth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Kyle Feldt
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 17 Asu Kepaoa

Match Officials

  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Nick Morel
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

TV, Radio and Live Stream Information:

TV - FOX League

Radio - ABC Grandstand, 2GB

Live Stream - KAYO Sports, Watch NRL (int.)

Latest PlayUp Odds:

Head-to-Head - North Queensland Cowboys ($1.22) v Wests Tigers ($4.10)

Line - North Queensland Cowboys +13.5 ($1.85) v Wests Tigers -13.5 ($1.95)

Odds correct as of 5:00pm, Tuesday, 27th June. 18+ only. Gamble Responsibly.

History:

Head-to-Head - Played 43, Wests Tigers 24, North Queensland Cowboys 19

At Queensland Country Bank Stadium - Played 2, Wests Tigers 1, North Queensland Cowboys 1

Last time they met - Wests Tigers 66 def. North Queensland Cowboys 18 (Round 12, 2023)

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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