2019 NRL – North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers taking place? Friday 14th June, 10:55
Where is North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers taking place? 1300SMILES Stadium
What channel is North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers on?
UK – This match will not be televised live in the UK
Australia – Fox Sports
Where can I stream North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers?
UK – N/A
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Where can I get tickets for North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers?
North Queensland Cowboys – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500012
Wests Tigers – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500023
THE TEAM NEWS
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Head Coach: Paul Green
Starting 13: Morgan, Feldt, Tuala, Opacic, Bowen, Asiata, Clifford, McGuire, Granville, Bolton, Cooper, Hess, Taumalolo – Interchanges: Baptiste, Wright, Jensen, Molo – Reserves: Hola, Kahu, Russell, Pere
Unavailable: Murray Taulagi, Nene Macdonald, Te Maire Martin, Ben Hampton, Justin O’Neill, Matt Scott, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Jordan McLean, Mitchell Dunn
- North Queensland fell just short in their quest to make it four victories in a row as they went down to a narrow loss at home to Manly but their injury-hit side have another home game to attempt to get back to winning ways.
- Jordan McLean will be missing for around a month with a hamstring problem with Scott Bolton taking his place in the run-on side whilst Mitchell Dunn was also added to the injury list with a shoulder problem.
- Javid Bowen comes into the side on the wing with Enari Tuala shifting to the centres whilst Kurt Baptiste and Corey Jensen are back on the bench with youngster Reuben Cotter dropping out after debuting last week.
WESTS TIGERS
Head Coach: Michael Maguire
Starting 13: Thompson, Jennings, Mbye, Marsters, Nofoaluma, Marshall, Brooks, Matulino, Farah, Twal, Matterson, Chee-Kam, Eisenhuth – Interchanges: Liddle, Mikaele, Aloiai, Lawrence – Reserves: Momirovski, McQueen, Taylor, Garner
Unavailable: Josh Reynolds, Mahe Fonua
- Wests Tigers were poor on both sides of the ball as they were shut out at home to Canberra in what was their third successive loss but the manner of defeat last week will be a big cause for concern.
- In a bid to halt their slide down the NRL ladder, head coach Michael Maguire has named Corey Thompson at fullback with Moses Mbye reverting to the centres in a big move that might not sit well with the club captain.
- Benji Marshall has been named at five-eighth but will have to pass a late fitness test with his availability crucial for the Tigers whilst Mahe Fonua’s season is over following the foot injury he picked up last week with Robert Jennings returning to the side in his place.
THE PREDICTION
North Queensland are doing it extremely tough with injuries at the minute and lost another big player in Jordan McLean last week. They now host an out-of-sorts Wests Tigers who are struggling with ball-in-hand after they were kept scoreless last week and the Cowboys can edge this on home soil. They could welcome back Jordan Kahu after he was a surprise inclusion on the reserves list and his return would be a big boost but even if he fails to prove his fitness, the Cowboys should have too much in Townsville.
