Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys
Storm hold on for another close win as they down Roosters
10 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
Wests Tigers v Cowboys preview
Grand final foes look to bounce back.
After starting the season with promise of bigger things, the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys will be looking to respond from back-to-back losses at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday evening.
Producing a much-improved performance against the Raiders only to fall short 14-6 last Saturday, the Wests Tigers will be hoping to build on a run of five wins from their past six clashes against their 2005 grand final opponents.
Sitting in ninth position with two wins over the first five rounds, coach Michael Maguire will be looking to avoid a third consecutive loss and improve upon the side's below par record at Campelltown Stadium that has generated three wins from their past 12 appearances.
Losing former New Zealand international Russell Packer for two weeks due to a careless high tackle, Robert Jennings, Matthew Eisenhuth and debutant Sam McIntyre have all been promoted into the top 17.
Suffering a high scoring 37-26 loss to the Warriors last Friday on the Central Coast, the North Queensland Cowboys will be chasing only their third win in Sydney since qualifying for the grand final three years ago.
Winning their past two appearances at Campbelltown Stadium by eight points, coach Paul Green will be demanding a much stronger defensive showing on Saturday evening after leaking 31.5 points per game over the past fortnight.
Losing marquee signing Valentine Holmes (ankle), stand-in captain Jordan McLean (calf) and rookie forward Tom Gilbert (suspension) in the aftermath of last week's loss, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will start at fullback, former Bulldogs lower grader Connelly Lemuelu will make his debut on the wing, while Ben Hampton, Corey Jenson and Peter Hola all come onto the bench.
Last meeting: Round 20 2019 - Wests Tigers 28 Cowboys 4
Who to watch: Signing with the joint venture midway through 2018 in order to alleviate the Bulldogs' salary cap woes, Moses Mbye has struggled to recapture the form that saw him appointed as club captain. Ranking among the least involved representative-calibre players so far this season, the 26-year-old Queensland utility has averaged fewer than 60 metres per game since the season resumed. Initially joining the Tigers as a fullback having made his name in the halves, look for Mbye to go after the football on Saturday night as the Tigers strive to improve their 2020 win-loss record to 50 per cent.
Spending three years in the top grade with the Tigers between 2017-2019, Cowboys recruit Esan Marsters will be aiming to get one over his former teammates on Saturday evening. Playing 61 games for the joint venture while representing the Cook Islands and New Zealand along the way, the 23-year-old centre has yet to reach the height of his powers in Townsville, despite retaining the skills that rank him among the league's premier offloaders. Yet to score a try for his new club after five rounds, Marsters looms as a player capable of revitalising the Cowboys following two disappointing performances in consecutive weeks.
The favourite: Having led last year's grand finalists for much of last week's clash, the Tigers are favoured to prove too strong for the injury-hit Cowboys.
My tip: While neither side will be featuring beyond the regular season based on recent form, the Tigers should get the job done despite the best efforts of Jason Taumalolo. Wests Tigers by 6.
1. Adam Doueihi 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph Leilua 4. Moses Mbye 5. Robert Jennings 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Luke Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Harry Grant 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal 14. Matt Eisenhuth 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Michael Chee-Kam
1. Hamiso Tabuai-fidow 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Esan Marsters 5. Connelly Lemuelu 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Jake Clifford 8. Francis Molo 9. Reece Robson 10. Josh Mcguire 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Ben Hampton 15. Corey Jensen 16. Peter Hola 17. Gavin Cooper
Referees: Henry Perenara; Sideline Officials: Kasey Badger, Matt Noyen; Video Referees: Steve Clark, Bryan Norrie;