Wests Tigers' NYC side will look to continue their push towards the minor premiership when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville this weekend.
Having secured a vital 24-22 win over the Melbourne Storm last Saturday to stay just two points off the first-placed Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers will be looking to continue their strong form against an underrated Cowboys side this Saturday night.
The visitors sit well inside the bottom eight of the competition ladder, but have strung back-to-back wins together in recent times and are always tough to beat in Townsville.
It's therefore shaping up as an intriguing clash, and one that could have some serious ramifications on the make-up of the top four come finals time.
Who will leave 1300 SMILES Stadium with the two points on offer?
Read on for a full preview including all the key details, match analysis and more.
Click here to get your tickets to Round 23 and cheer on the boys as they battle the Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on August 16.
Match Details
Date — Saturday, August 9, 2014
Time — 5:15pm AEST
Venue — 1300 SMILES Stadium, Townsville
Live Scores — Click here to follow Wests Tigers on Twitter.
Team News
Wests Tigers
1. Mason Farrell 2. John Tohi 3. Watson Heleta 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. John Ogden 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Eli Levido 8. Dallas Graham 9. Manaia Cherrington 10. Jordan Grant 11. Salesi Funaki 12. Lamar Liolevave 13. Tyler Cassel (Interchange: 14. Hala Masila 15. Andrew Kazzi 17. Jeremy Marshall-King 18. Hayden Johnson 24. Daniel Rakvin)
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Yamba Bowie 2. Samsen O’Neill 3. Lenny Magey 4. Akeripa Tia-Kilifi 5. Conor Carey 6. Ty Carruci 7. Cooper Bambling 8. Viliame Kikau 9. Josh Chudleigh 10. Patrick Kafusi 11. Coen Hess 12. Corey Jensen 13. Jack Kelleher (Interchange: 14. Delayne Ashby 15. Andrew Niemoeller 16. David Munro 17. Ben Mathiou).
Last Five Matches
Wests Tigers
R17 — Wests Tigers 30 def. Penrith Panthers 18
R18 — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40 def. Wests Tigers 32
R19 — Wests Tigers 42 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10
R20 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 28 def. Wests Tigers 26
R21 — Wests Tigers 24 def. Melbourne Storm 22
North Queensland Cowboys
R16 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def. North Queensland Cowboys 18
R17 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 30 def. North Queensland Cowboys 20
R19 — Cronulla Sharks 24 def. North Queensland Cowboys 22
R20 — North Queensland Cowboys 46 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20
R21 — North Queensland Cowboys 31 def. Gold Coast Titans 30
Coach’s Comment
“It’s difficult with young guys traveling on the day. It’s that preparation factor before that concerns me, but we’ve got a mature group so I think we can handle that well. The Cowboys haven’t being going terrific this year, but they have got back-to-back wins so it will be a tough trip this weekend…” (NYC Head Coach, Andrew Webster)
Team Stats
|
Wests Tigers |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Position |
30 points (4th) |
18 points (12th) |
Points For |
562 points (5th) |
457 points (14th) |
Points Against |
452 points (6th) |
671 points (14th) |
2014 Home Record |
Played 10: Won 8, Lost 2 |
Played 9: Won 3, Lost 6 |
2014 Away Record |
Played 9: Won 5, Lost 4 |
Played 10: Won 4, Lost 6 |
2014 Total Record |
Played 19: Won 13, Lost 6 |
Played 19: Won 7, Lost 12 |
