Round 13: Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys

[DIEHARD]

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys
7:30pm Saturday 7 June 2008 - Campbelltown Sports Stadium

vs

Referee:

Teams:

1. Brett Hodgson
2. Taniela Tuiaki
3. Dean Collis
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Shannon McDonnell
6. Benji Marshall
7. Mathew Head
8. Bryce Gibbs
9. Robbie Farah
10. Keith Galloway
11. Ben Te'o
12. Chris Heighington
13. Dene Halatau

Interchange:

14. John Morris
15. Corey Payne
16. Bronson Harrison
17. Danny Galea

1. Ashley Graham
2. Mark Henry
3. Ben Harris
4. Ben Farrar
5. John Williams
6. Daniel Abraham
7. Travis Burns
8 Ray Cashmere
9. Aaron Payne (c)
10. Carl Webb
11. Nick Slyney
12. Jacob Lillyman
13. Sam Faust

Interchange:

14. Anthony Watts
15. Matt Bartlett
16. Sione Faumuina
17. Shane Tronc
18. Scott Bolton (one to be omitted)

[DIEHARD]

Wests Tigers V Cowboys Preview

Campbelltown Stadium Saturday 7.30pm

BASED on the massive crowd that flocked to the Wests Tigers? clash with the Gold Coast at Leichhardt Oval two weeks ago, the club will be banking on a similar level of hysteria when they return to Campbelltown Stadium for the first time in 2008.

The club?s commercial agreements mean they can?t play all their games at the traditional venues, so with the Tigers in form, there is no excuse for it to not be a packed house for Saturday night?s match against the Cowboys.

The 2005 grand final combatants have so far had seasons of varying fortunes, with Wests competing strongly in the top eight and North Queensland struggling in second-last place.

Last week the Cowboys were unlucky not to break their losing streak which has now stretched to five, going down by a point in extra time to the Panthers.

The Tigers were also unlucky with some key decisions in losing to the Roosters last Monday night, however in the adverse conditions, they were outplayed.

Wests will be desperate to win this match in front of their Western Suburbs? supporters and reclaim their winning form. The Cowboys, on the other hand, simply have to win. They will be again keen to impress new coach Ian Millward, however their semi-final aspirations are slipping further out of reach with every loss. Without stars Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and Luke O?Donnell, a win may be out of the question.

Watch out Tigers: The Queensland jersey means a lot to Cowboys? enforcer Carl Webb and he?ll be hurt that he was dropped from the Maroons? side for game two of State of Origin.

Webb has been far from his best this season, but the disappointment of being left out may spur him on to a big game. Team-mate Jacob Lillyman was also punted from the Queensland line-up and will similarly want to prove the selectors wrong.

There is plenty of speed still in the Cowboys? backs but their forwards will need to step up and lay a platform if they are to be any chance. They will no doubt miss O?Donnell who was suspended for an elbow and dissent out of the spiteful clash with Penrith. But look for Ray Cashmere against his old side to be another to rise to the challenge.

Watch out Cowboys: Robbie Farah was back to his dynamic best against the Roosters last week, and if he could perform like that in a losing side in monsoon-like conditions, than say some prayers for what he might have in store for the under-strength Cowboys. While his troublesome lower back is a week-by-week concern, Farah showed no ill-effect last week and when at his best, there is no finer player in the competition.

Watch out too for Mat Head?s combination with Farah to continue to evolve. With such a dominant number 9 distributing the ball, some pressure is taken off Head in terms of organising and creativity, and if they can combine their talents as a double-barrelled attacking weapon, then the Tigers have plenty of point-scoring potential in them.

Where it will be won: It?s unfair to say, because any team in the NRL is capable of beating any side on its day ? but you?d have to think this game was won when the teams were announced on Tuesday.

The absence of Thurston, O?Donnell, Bowen, Steve Southern, Matt Scott and Justin Smith makes things particularly difficult for North Queensland.

Without Thurston, fill-in halves Travis Burns and Daniel Abraham will have to have big games if they are to create enough points to outscore the will-o?-the-wisp Tigers. In saying that, the Wests Tigers did show last week in aspects of their game that they are capable of an off night.

The kicking games of Benji Marshall and Mat Head were poor and there wasn?t enough penetration from centres Chris Lawrence and Dean Collis. Their completion rate was terrible (just 24 of 38), and while they should win, the Tigers will certainly have to improve.

The Cowboys need to tackle. They do have try-scoring potential out wide in Ben Farrar, Ben Harris and Ashley Graham from the back, but the team?s spirit and confidence will be shot if Wests rack up points early on. North Queensland need to win more than their opponents, and desire and will to win could be their greatest weapon. The Wests Tigers need only play well and they should win.

Head to head: Played 18, Cowboys 10, Wests Tigers 8. For their three clashes at Campbelltown Stadium, the Cowboys also lead two wins to one. However, the Tigers have won six out of the past eight matches between the two sides.

Conclusion: The spirit of the Cowboys? camp will be put to the test this Saturday night, with their backs well and truly up against the wall. Captain Aaron Payne, who had a fine game last week with 112 touches, 13 runs for 93 metres plus 32 tackles, will lead the North Queenslanders well ? and he?ll need too, given there is a distinct lack of experience in their side. A few tries early in the match and the Cowboys do have the courage to hold on.

The Wests Tigers on the other hand will be hungry to avenge last week?s loss and get back on the winner?s list. They should be hanging off the rafters at Campbelltown and that and their near full-strength line-up should be enough to seen them home. If they hold on to the ball and they are playing on a dry patch, it could be a cricket score. But in the expected wet, it?ll be much tighter.

Match Officials: Referee ? Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials ? Brett Suttor and Daniel Eastwood; Video Ref ? Graeme West.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 ? Live 7.30pm.

* Stats NRL Stats.

Source: http://www.nrl.com