Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview & Prediction | 2026 NRL | Regular Season
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
West Tigers finally get their NRL season underway at home to North Queensland Cowboys, who are still searching for their first points after losing last weekend in Las Vegas.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Channel 9 / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – 9Now / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms
Wests Tigers team news
Starford To'a remains out injured for Wests Tigers but in better news, the hosts could see Kai Pearce-Paul feature for the first time in a Tigers uniform following a calf issue.
Squad: Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva, Taylan May, Heamasi Makasini, Luke Laulilii, Jarome Luai, Adam Doueihi, Terrell May, Apisai Koroisau, Fonua Pole, Samuela Fainu, Kai Pearce-Paul, Alex Twal, Jock Madden, Sione Fainu, Royce Hunt, Alex Seyfarth, Tristan Hope, Jeral Skelton, Mavrik Geyer, Tony Sukkar, Heath Mason
Team lists for round two can be found here
North Queensland Cowboys team news
After suffering a knee injury against Newcastle Knights, Tom Mikaele has been ruled out of the trip to Sydney and is replaced in the squad by Braidon Burns.
Squad: Scott Drinkwater, Braidon Burns, Jaxon Purdue, Tom Chester, Murray Taulagi, Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden, Coen Hess, Reed Mahoney, Jason Taumalolo, Heilum Luki, Sam McIntyre, Reuben Cotter, Soni Luke, Kai O'Donnell, Griffin Neame, Matthew Lodge, Liam Sutton, Ethan King, Robert Derby, Harrison Edwards, Kaiden Lahrs
Team lists for round two can be found here
Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys prediction
West Tigers finished well outside of the top eight last season and will be hoping to make a significantly better fist of things this time around. They begin the new campaign against a North Queensland Cowboys side who ended only one place and one point above them. Whilst it’ still very early days, things don’t bode well for the Cowboys based on what we saw in Las Vegas, as a poor offensive showing saw them lose 28-18 to Newcastle Knights.
A lack of discipline also cost North Queensland dear in that one with Braidon Burns hitting the sin-bin late on whilst the game was still there to be won. Silly mental mistakes like this cannot happen at this level and when taking into account the excessive travel, plus the fact that West Tigers have enjoyed an extended period of time to prepare themselves for their opening match, the hosts are in a good position to begin with a win, with fatigue likely to hit the Cowboys as this one progresses. Therefore, consider backing Wests Tigers to claim the points.
Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys tip: Wests Tigers to win
