Wests Tigers season is slipping away after falling to a sixth straight loss and Benji Marshall's men have another tough trip ahead as they prepare meet with a North Queensland outfit buoyed by their first win since Round 5.
It was far from the performance Todd Payten knows his side is capable of but there will be a new sense of hope in the air at training this week after the Cowboys snapped a five-game losing streak with a gritty 28-22 win over the Rabbitohs in Magic Round.
An honest and open Payten admitted to the toll that the last few weeks have had on both him and the team but having finally got the losing monkey off their backs, will be desperate to prove it wasn't a one off.
The Wests Tigers, meanwhile, continue to beat themselves with ill-discipline and errors after going down to the Dolphins 24-12 in Magic Round.
Their seventh-straight loss on Sunday was compounded by dangerous contact charges to centre duo Brent Naden and Justin Olam, who have both been banned for one match.
With English forward John Bateman also sidelined with a pec injury, Benji Marshall will once again look to young stars Lachlan Galvin and Jahream Bula and star skipper Api Koroisa to spring his side to a Round 12 upset.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Cowboys v Wests Tigers
Team News
Cowboys: Kyle Feldt joined the side on Thursday after missing last week's clash with an ankle injury. His inclusion sees last week's club debutant Braidon Burns drop out of the side in the only change to the team that beat the Rabbitohs at Magic Round. Jaxon Purdue drops out of the squad with Harrison Edwards the replacement player.
Wests Tigers: In a late change, Justin Matamua will start from the bench, with Alex Twal promoted to the starting side as lock. Declan Casey and Josh Feledy are the new faces in the backline for the injury-hit Wests Tigers, who have stayed north of the border in Queensland in the lead-up to the game following their Magic Round defeat to the Dolphins. Sione Fainu drops out of the squad with Alex Lobb the replacement player.
Match: Cowboys v Wests Tigers
Round 12 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott DrinkwaterFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Charlie Staines
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine HolmesCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Declan Casey
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami VaileaCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Josh Feledy
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 21 Kyle FeldtWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Solomon Alaimalo
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom DeardenFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan Galvin
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Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad TownsendHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jayden Sullivan
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLeanProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Griffin NeameProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
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2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Samuela Fainu
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben CotterLock for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyreInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 13 Justin Matamua
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Kulikefu FinefeuiakiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Jason TaumaloloInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Fonua Pole
Reserves
-
Replacement for Cowboys is number 20 Harrison Edwards
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Alex Lobb
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Cowboys have won only two of their last six games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
- Wests Tigers have won only two of their past 12 games at Queensland venues.
- Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi has scored seven tries in his last five games against the Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have scored over 17 points in a game only once this season.
- Cowboys coach Todd Payten will reach the milestone of 100 games as NRL head coach.
Match: Cowboys v Wests Tigers
Round 12 -
home Team
Cowboys
8th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
16th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .
