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.
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.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I thought it was a strip too...especially the way his hand was crooked which usually the classic stripping motion they look for....then again with the 'General' Luke Patten in the bunker you never know what you're going to get. He has made so many suspect calls I don't know why they persist with him.
Jenny
Roar Rookie
The Cowboys are a cool, calm, collective team. I expected them to win and they did not dissapoint. No matter how far behind they may be in a game, they stick to a methodical football style of play. They don't scramble and make stupid mistakes under pressure, they just play good football. No matter how many players are out injured in the team, they regroup and each player on the field puts in 100%. There is only a handful of teams that have my respect for not letting there fans down, win or loose, and the Cowboys are at the top of the list.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Yep - if Manly gets up against the Warriors I think the 8 is decided (unless the Dragons can get there with 2 wins?). Don't know if its sad for Raiders - got to be realistic that the chances of them making the 8 were always going to be slim. And you shouldn't be leaving it to the fate of others to make the 8. If the Raiders don't make it there will be plenty to work on over the off season. Can't see them recruiting much given cap constraints - just hope they can keep the existing squad. Still some question marks on whether the halves can take them to a premiership. Would like to see some back up there. Some positive signs with the improved form of Wighton and the halves in the past month or so. But a bit too late.
Albo
Guest
Sad result for Raiders fans ! Their mathematical options are now limited to Manly having to lose both games against Warriors & Penrith for the Raiders to have a chance of sneaking into the 8, assuming they can beat the Storm next week.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Congrats to the Cowboys - too good in the last 20 minutes when the game was on the line. Makes it tough for the Raiders and Dragons now. Only one spot to battle for. Tigers tried hard but couldn't come up with enough to trouble the Cowboys. They missed Brooks and Naiqama. Morgan really stepped up for the Cowboys as did Taumololo.
Adsa
Guest
I am stoked at that result. The disallowed try to Loe decision mystified me, surely that was a strip.
R N
Roar Rookie
Feldt is an enigma... !
Rob
Guest
Well done Cowboys. Great character building experience for the boys and they can hold their heads high. The Tigers have got the result so many times in the past so this was a great result for the Cowboys. Thanks for the call Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report will be up on site soon. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 NRL Season as the North Queensland Cowboys came from behind to beat the Wests Tigers and keep themselves in the top eight. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back from 3pm (AEST) tomorrow as Round 25 continues with the Gold Coast Titans taking on the Canterbury Bulldogs. I'll also have the 7:30pm game when the Sharks host the Roosters, while Sam Ashton will have the Storm and Rabbitohs in between. Bye for now.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great win by the Cowboys. Left it late but really came through when it mattered. Feldt really put them in the game with his try. Big effort to get to the ball.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Tigers with a bt of explosiveness in the final set of the game as Tedesco ran onto an inside ball, then there was a shift right, but they won't find a way to score. Well, this has been a brilliant comeback from the Cowboys. They put the hammer down with 20 to go, finally started playing some footy and haven't looked back with 16 unanswered points. The Cowboys break a four game losing streak to keep themselves in the eight, and that's made it one step tougher for the Raiders to get into the eight. Wests Tigers 14 North Queensland Cowboys 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Cowboys aren't going to settle for two here. They spend a few plays in front of the posts before spreading right with a cut out ball to Linnett who is taken to ground a few metres out. Back through the middle and Morgan's grubber is too long. Tigers 14 Cowboys 22
Alex L
Roar Rookie
No coincidence the Cowboys resurgence came with the reintroduction of Taumalolo.
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Tedesco puts the dropout out on the full. Tigers 14 Cowboys 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Cowboys with some big runs through the middle, Taumalolo winding up before Asiata takes a run. Now it's Martin onto Bowen who is tackled 20 out. Hess a run and here goes Granville on the last with a grubber at the uprights. Tedesco grounds it and it's a dropout. Tigers 14 Cowboys 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Taumalolo with a run, and the ball has come out. That'll be a knock on against the Tigers. Tigers 14 Cowboys 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
You blokes for the first 65 minutes of this game! The Cowboys didn't know the game started at 7:50pm.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by ETHAN LOWE Lachlan Coote has just gone off. 8 point game inside the final 5. Tigers 14 Cowboys 22
Joe
Roar Rookie
What a great try by the Cowboys. Granville inside chip kick to Morgan. ..you don't see that type of try very often. This should see them home.