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Campbelltown Stadium should be rocking this afternoon as the Wests Tigers host the North Queensland Cowboys in what should be an enthralling affair between two teams in great form. Join us for live scores and commentary from 3.00pm AEST.
After a horrendous start to season 2012, the Tigers have won their past four matches and now face a litmus test today against a Cowboys side currently entrenched inside the top four.
The Tigers produced their best performance of the season last week against the Warriors, coming back from 10-nil down to win 24-22 at Leichhardt Oval.
North Queensland on the other hand managed to fork out a tight 30-28 victory against the Panthers last week, despite missing four players due to State of Origin duty.
The battle between superstar halves Benji Marshall and Johnathon Thurston should be the highlight this afternoon with both players in great form at the moment.
Marshall is coming off a good performance against the Warriors while Thurston will be full of confidence after guiding Queensland to victory against New South Wales on Wednesday night.
Prediction
Despite attaining four consecutive victories, the Tigers continue to struggle upfront, and they could be in for a torrid afternoon against a Cowboys pack featuring some in-form forwards.
Matthew Scott, James Tamou, Dallas Johnson and Jason Taumalolo are all making strong yardage this season and will once again fancy their chances of dominating a Tigers pack that can struggle to make territory.
Tigers forward Aaron Woods and Keith Galloway will have to produce their best performances of the season to date if the Tigers are a chance of matching North Queensland’s pack.
Whichever team wins the forward battle will go a long way to winning this contest.
If the Tigers struggle to contain the Cowboys mobile forwards, North Queensland trio Thurston, Matthew Bowen and Aaron Payne will wreck havoc today.
The Tigers will have to pay particular attention to Thurston’s combination with Ashley Graham.
Graham is the NRL’s leading try scorer with 12 four pointers and his combination with Thurston has seen the former Eels centre transform himself into one of the game’s best finishers.
The Cowboys meanwhile will also have to keep tabs on Tigers captain Robbie Farah.
The Blues hooker had a solid game on Wednesday night and is the man responsible for igniting the Tigers attack up the middle.
If Farah is allowed to turn the big Cowboys defenders inside out, the Tigers will dominate proceedings and Marshall will come into his own.
With both teams in great form, home ground advantage has special significance in a match like this. On the back of a loud Campbelltown crowd, the Tigers may just have the inspiration necessary to hold out the Cowboys in a high scoring and entertaining contest.
Tigers by 4.
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