Cowboys Poised to Punish Weakened Tigers in Townsville Showdown
The NRL spotlight shifts to Townsville this weekend as the North Queensland Cowboys gear up to face the struggling Wests Tigers in a Round 13 clash that could mark a turning point in both teams’ seasons. It’s a classic Saturday evening matchup that carries significant weight, especially for the Tigers, who are desperate to halt a dangerous slide down the ladder.
Coming off a bye, the Cowboys have had the benefit of extra rest and reflection following a disappointing loss to the Sea Eagles in Round 12. Coach Todd Payten made the bold move of shifting Jaxon Purdue into the five-eighth role—a change that didn’t pay off in the short term. The Cowboys were outgunned, conceding seven line breaks and going down 24-6. Despite the setback, Payten is backing Purdue to find form against a Tigers outfit that has shown little resistance in recent weeks.
And it might be the perfect opponent for Purdue to prove his worth. The Tigers enter this game without their young star Lachlan Galvin, who made a shock mid-season move to the Bulldogs. With Latu Fainu injured, it’s Heath Mason who steps into the number six jersey—though don’t be surprised if Adam Doueihi ends up calling the shots come kick-off.
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This matchup has been high-scoring in the past. The Cowboys took both games last season, winning 42-28 in Townsville and 48-30 at Leichhardt. While the Tigers have made defensive improvements this year, the absence of Galvin and a shaky recent run make it hard to see them pulling off an upset.
The Cowboys are installed as solid favourites and for good reason. Despite concerns about their Origin stars backing up—Dearden, Robson, Cotter, and Nanai all featured midweek—they still hold the depth and form edge. Playing at home, with a clear scoring advantage historically, the Cowboys look primed to dominate.
One player to watch is Scott Drinkwater. The electric fullback had a quiet night against Manly but now faces a Tigers defence that recently gave up four tries to Ryan Papenhuyzen. Expect Drinkwater to bounce back, and there’s good value in him crossing the line for a try.
If you’re looking at the betting lines, the Cowboys at -9.5 is a solid lean, and there’s real merit in taking them 13+ for some extra value. A same-game multi featuring Drinkwater and Purdue to score, along with the Cowboys to cover the line, also offers promising returns.
All eyes will be on how the final teams shape up just before kick-off, especially with those Origin backups. But if things fall into place, this could be a blowout in North Queensland’s favour.
So buckle up for what could be a statement game from the Cowboys. If the Tigers don’t find something special—and fast—they could see their season unravel even further.
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