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Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys: NRL live scores, blog, highlights

25th August, 2017
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
TV: Live, Fox League and Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel app and NRL digital pass
Betting: Tigers $1.91, Cowboys $2.01
Overall record: Played 33, Tigers 18, Cowboys 15
Last meeting: Round 6, Tigers 26 defeat Cowboys 16 at 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville
Last five: Tigers 3, Cowboys 2
Record at venue: Played 9, Tigers 5, Cowboys 4
Referees: Ben Cummins and Chris Sutton

Wests Tigers
1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Esan Marsters 4. Kevin Naiqama 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Tim Grant 11. Michael Chee-Kam 12. Josh Aloiai 13. Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange: 14. Alex Twal 15. Sauaso Sue 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Jack Littlejohn 18. Joel Edwards 19. Ava Seumanufagai 20. Jj Felise 21. Watson Heleta

North Queensland Cowboys
1. Ben Hampton 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Javid Bowen 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Michael Morgan 8. Corey Jensen 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Coen Hess 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. John Asiata 15. Shane Wright 16. Patrick Mago 17. Shaun Fensom 18. Gavin Cooper 19. Lachlan Coote 20. Kyle Laybutt 21. Enari Tuala
The Cowboys regroup during their loss to the Sharks during Round 24 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at 1300SMILES Stadium in Townsville, Saturday, August 19, 2017. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
Expert
25th August, 2017
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The Wests Tigers can’t make the finals, but they will be out to rain on the parade of the North Queensland Cowboys when they make the trip to Campbelltown. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).

Having been hampered by off-field issues all season, the Tigers have started to find form over the last month.

Ivan Cleary’s men have won two of their last four and could have won the others, most recently going down to the Sydney Roosters by just four.

Following a surprise win over the Sea Eagles, the Tigers found themselves down 16-0 against the Roosters last weekend. To be sitting second last on the table with nothing to play for and fight your way back in against a top-four side shows real resilience.

James Tedesco was the key man for the Tigers last week, the New South Wales fullback running 150 metres, scoring a try and laying on another.

Despite the off-field contract dramas, Tedesco and Aaron Woods have both continued to play solid footy. This will be their final game in Tigers colours at Campbelltown, and they will want to leave with a bang.

When you add those factors together with the Cowboys’ outrageous injury woes, it makes this task a difficult one for the visitors.

North Queensland have got used to life without Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott, but they have also been without Lachlan Coote, Gavin Cooper, Shaun Fensom, Justin O’Neill, Antonio Winterstein, Kalyn Ponga and Ben Spina of late.

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Fensom and Winterstein are back this week, and both Coote and Cooper are on the extended bench, but there have been some key learnings for the team.

While Coote has had an inconsistent season, it hurts the Cowboys when he isn’t on the park – it leaves too much pressure on Michael Morgan, as was shown last week’s loss to the Sharks. North Queensland fought hard in the face of adversity, but their defensive structure was woeful, meaning they were never really competitive.

Going down to Cronulla made it four straight losses and they are now clinging onto a spot in the top eight. One more win will likely be enough to play in the finals, but facing the Broncos next week makes this a must-win.

Prediction
The Cowboys aren’t showing any signs of turning around their losing streak – the Tigers will send Tedesco and Woods out of Campbelltown as winners.

Tigers by 8.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

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