Neds Match Preview: Round 20
Wests Tigers will be looking to build on last week's win over the Newcastle Knights when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys tonight in a crucial clash at Leichhardt Oval.
Plagued by slow starts in their past two weeks, Wests Tigers will no doubt be determined to come out firing on Thursday night as they take on a Cowboys side playing with their season on the line after close back-to-back losses.
It was a thrilling Golden Point affair when the two sides met earlier in the year in Townsville, with a Benji Marshall field goal seeing Wests Tigers home on the night.
They'll be looking to continue their good record against the Cowboys, having won four of the last five matches between the two. Wests Tigers have also not lost against North Queensland at Leichhardt Oval since 2000 — incredibly, a game in which current Cowboys Coach Paul Green played in at five-eighth.
If the return to Leichhardt Oval for the first time since Round 1 wasn't enough for the home side, Wests Tigers will also celebrate Life Member Robbie Farah after he played his 300th NRL game last week. Farah announced on Tuesday his decision to retire at the end of the season, with the Leichhardt Wanderers junior tonight set to play his penultimate game on the ground that he grew up playing on as a kid.
Wests Tigers are unchanged from last week's win over the Knights with Farah again likely to play 80 minutes following Jacob Liddle's omission from the squad.
After copping a head knock last week, Michael Chee Kam has been named in a huge boost for the side after undergoing a thorough concussion protocol this week.
The Cowboys will welcome back playmaker Michael Morgan from a concussion, with John Asiata moving back to the bench. Coen Hess is retained in the centres, with Kyle Feldt named on the wing pending his concussion protocols this week.
Gideon Gela-Mosby, included in the 19-man squad, would be his replacement.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Thursday, August 1, 2019
Time — 7:50 pm AEST
Venue — Leichhardt Oval
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via FOX League (Ch.502) and Channel 9
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand and FM 104.9 Triple M
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, 9NOW, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass, and Watch NRL (int.)
NRL.com preview Cowboys clash
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Wests Tigers — No changes from the side that beat Newcastle last week, with Michael Chee Kam named and likely to play after passing concussion protocols.
North Queensland Cowboys — After a three-week absence to recover from a concussion, Michael Morgan is set to return. His inclusion sees John Asiata move back to the bench and Corey Jenson drop out of the side.
Match: Wests Tigers v Cowboys
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey ThompsonFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Paul MomirovskiWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Moses MbyeCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Coen Hess
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan MarstersCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Opacic
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 David NofoalumaWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji MarshallFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Michael Morgan
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake Clifford
Forwards
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh AloiaiProp for Cowboys is number 8 Josh McGuire
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie FarahHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Jake Granville
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver ClarkProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLean
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Gavin Cooper
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Michael Chee Kam2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Shane Wright
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Ryan MattersonLock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew EisenhuthInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 John Asiata
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Matthew Scott
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex TwalInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Scott Bolton
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris LawrenceInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Francis Molo
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Referee: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
H2H — Wests Tigers ($1.62), North Queensland Cowboys ($2.28)
Line — Wests Tigers -2.5 ($1.90), North Queensland Cowboys +2.5 ($1.90)
Odds correct on Wednesday, July 31 — 18+ only and gamble responsibly.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall — Played 37, Wests Tigers 20, North Queensland Cowboys 16, Drawn 1
At Leichhardt Oval — Played 8, Wests Tigers 7, North Queensland Cowboys 1
Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 27 def. North Queensland 26 (Rd.14, 2019)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Match Referees — Grant Atkins and Jon Stone
Touch Judges — Belinda Sharpe and Rickey McFarlane
Review Officials — Steve Chiddy and Ben Lowe
Retiring Robbie reflects on career
