Match Preview: Round 11 vs. Cowboys

Wests Tigers will look to bounce back from two consecutive defeats when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys this weekend at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in a match marking the 10th Anniversary of the 2005 Grand Final.

That night saw a young and emerging Wests Tigers side knock off their opponents for the Club’s first premiership since merging in 2000, and they’ll be looking for a similarly strong and committed performance this weekend as they not only look to climb back into the winners circle, but also stop the Cowboys’ current seven-game winning streak.

North Queensland perhaps claimed their biggest scalp of their winning streak last weekend when they knocked off the Brisbane Broncos in Townsville, and an eighth straight win would on Saturday would be a record for the Cowboys, and one that Jason Taylor’s side will be desperate to avoid heading into their respective Round 12 bye.

With six players missing due to Origin, it’s certainly an intriguing battle to prepare for, and one that is dying for key players to stand up and leave their mark.

Tickets are ON SALE now for our Round 11 clash against the Cowboys on May 23! Be there and celebrate the 2005 Grand Final!

Match Details

Date — Saturday, May 23, 2015

Time — 7:30pm AEST (Gates open 2:45pm)

Venue — Campbelltown Sports Stadium (Rose Payten Drive, Leumeah)

Match Officials

Referees — Matt Cecchin and Gavin Moreis

Touch Judges — Michael Wise and Kasey Badger

Video Referees — Shayne Hayne and Luke Phillips

TV, Live Stream and Radio Information

TV — Live coverage via Fox Sports 1 (check local guides)

Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 2GB 873 (check local guides)

Live Stream —NRL Digital Pass, Foxtel Go (subscription required)

Confirmed Squads

With Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah missing to Origin, Matt Lodge gets his first start of the year in the front row while stand-in captain Dene Halatau moves to hooker. Kyle Lovett returns to the back row, with Jack Buchanan, Delouise Hoeter, Brenden Santi and Joel Luani all joining an extended bench. For the Cowboys, Ray Thompson moves to halfback to cover for Jonathan Thurston, with Paul Green yet to make a decision on who will replace Michael Morgan at five-eighth after his late call-up to the Maroons’ Origin side. Ben Hannant and Sam Hoare form a new-look front row partnership, with Rory Kostjasyn, Glenn Hall and Kelepi Tanginoa joining the interchange bench. Despite not being named, forward Jason Taumalolo is rumoured to return this week from injury.

2015 Recent Results

Wests Tigers

R6 — New Zealand Warriors 32 def. Wests Tigers 22

R7 — Canberra Raiders 30 def. Wests Tigers 22

R8 — Wests Tigers 38 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14

R9 — Sydney Roosters 36 def. Wests Tigers 4

R10 — Newcastle Knights 22 def. Wests Tigers 12

North Queensland Cowboys

R6 — North Queensland Cowboys 30 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 12

R7 — North Queensland Cowboys 28 def. New Zealand Warriors 24

R8 — North Queensland Cowboys 26 def. Newcastle Knights 24

R9 — North Queensland Cowboys 23 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16

R10 — North Queensland Cowboys 31 def. Brisbane Broncos 20

Match History

•      Against the Cowboys — Played 30, Won 16, Lost 14

•       At Campbelltown Stadium — Played 6, Won 4, Lost 2

Five Key Facts

•       Jason Taylor will coach his 100th first-grade game this weekend.

•       North Queensland haven’t won in Campbelltown since Round 25, 2004.

•       North Queensland haven’t won without Thurston since 2012, while Wests Tigers have won just 30 percent of their games without Farah since that year.

2015 Key Player Stats