- 1 North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers: a top-eight spot on the line in Townsville
- 2 North Queensland Cowboys: Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai back in the mix
- 3 Wests Tigers: one big result, same old leaky defence
- 4 NRL prediction North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers
- 5 First, a word on our free tips
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers: a top-eight spot on the line in Townsville 
The Cowboys begin round 26 in eighth place, the final spot in the finals picture. Their fate is still in their own hands, as long as they dont slip up at home.
Their last outing was hardly reassuring. North Queensland went down 32-30 to the Eels, a surprise loss they have had an extra week to stew over.
The Wests Tigers arrive with some unexpected confidence. Sitting 14th, they edged the Roosters 25-24 last weekend, arguably the biggest shock of the season.
That result snapped an eight-game losing streak. It also turns Benji Marshall’s side into a genuine wild card for the back end of the regular season.
Recent history between these two clubs should also keep the Cowboys on alert. In round 2, the Tigers blew them away 44-16, a ruthless scoreline.
Even with that 44-16 demolition of the Cowboys still fresh in the memory, the Tigers are a long way from having this fixture figured out. Its their only win in the last five meetings with this opponent, and that record drops to a miserable 20% when they travel to face them.
By contrast, the Cowboys are usually sturdier on home turf, where they win 54% of their games.
Matches between these two tend to catch fire fast.
With an outrageous average of 64 points per game, the scoreboard gets a workout, while the average margin sits at 14 points. Only two of the last five clashes have finished within six points.
Across the 2026 season, the Cowboys hold the edge in just about every area.
They are averaging 23 points scored and 26 conceded per game, a defence that is still a bit shaky but stronger than the Tigers’, who are struggling at both ends with 19 points scored and 28 conceded.
The match closes out Saturday night.
One stat strongly favours the home side. The Tigers have leaked 148 points across their last three visits to this ground.
North Queensland Cowboys: Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai back in the mix 
Eighth place and finals qualification still in their own hands: despite the setback against the Eels, things remain positive for the Cowboys. But every point dropped from here on in starts to bite.
The biggest boost is the return of the skipper. Tom Dearden is back at halfback after missing four games with an ankle injury.
That is a major lift in terms of organising play and closing out halves. Without him, North Queensland lost some clarity in the final 20 metres.
Jeremiah Nanai is back too after recovering from a hamstring problem. His return at second row sends Kai O’Donnell to the bench and gives Todd Payten’s pack more punch.
The back line has been shuffled. Murray Taulagi is out after suffering a concussion in training last week and his return date is unknown.
Jaxon Purdue moves to centre and Zac Laybutt comes in on the wing. That kind of reshuffle takes timing, and this group has not had long to build it.
Braidon Burns brings the finish on the other edge, with eight tries in his last nine appearances. Alongside Scott Drinkwater at the back, he gives the Cowboys real attacking depth.
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Wests Tigers: one big result, same old leaky defence 
That 25-24 win over the Roosters has lifted the mood in the room, but it has not changed the basics of their season. The Tigers are still 14th.
It came after eight straight defeats, which tells you plenty about how inconsistent this team has been. The performance was driven more by effort than any polished game plan.
A trip to Townsville also comes with a brutal historical warning. The Tigers have conceded 148 points in their last three visits here, almost 50 a game.
The pack has also been reworked this week. Alex Twal is out with a concussion, which brings Alex Seyfarth in at lock.
Terrell May, though, is back in the starting side at prop. His power in the middle is vital if Jarome Luai is going to get clean ball.
Sunia Turuva returns to the bench after missing the last game with a knee injury, and Ethan Roberts rounds out the interchange. Faaletino Tavana drops out.
Fonua Pole will bring up his 100th NRL appearance, a decent marker in a season with little on the line. Even so, the Luai-Jock Madden combination will need to offer far more than it did last week to survive the heat in Queensland.
Probable North Queensland Cowboys line-up: Drinkwater; Burns, Purdue, Chester, Laybutt; Clifford, Dearden; Neame, Mahoney, Taumalolo, Luki, Nanai, Cotter. Bench: Luke, Mikaele, Bateman, Hess.
Probable Wests Tigers line-up: Bula; Tupou, Saukuru, Herbert, Skelton; Luai, Madden; T. May, Koroisau, Pole, S. Fainu, Sukkar, Seyfarth. Bench: Mason, S. Fainu, Roberts, Afoa.
NRL prediction North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers
Our pick: North Queensland Cowboys to win with a -6.5 point handicap
The Tigers having conceded 148 points in their last three trips to Queensland Country Bank Stadium is the strongest angle here. A defence carrying that kind of damage is not likely to shut down an attack getting its captain back.
The return of Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai at the same time changes the shape of the home side. Add in the fact that the Cowboys are fighting to protect their top-eight place, and the case gets stronger.
The 44-16 hammering handed out in round 2 is a reminder not to write the Tigers off entirely, but the context is different now. North Queensland should get it done by at least nine points.
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