NRL Betting Preview: Back North Queensland Cowboys to beat Wests Tigers by 1-12 points

Recommended bet:
Winning Margin – North Queensland Cowboys to win by 1-12 points @ 19/10 (2.90) with bet365

Wests Tigers welcome North Queensland Cowboys to the Leichhardt Oval on Thursday evening.

After a strong start to the season the Tigers have lost their last three games, including their biggest loss of the campaign to date when going down to a 26-4 defeat at New Zealand Warriors last time out.  They currently occupy 7th position in the Premiership table with 10 points, although the downwards momentum clearly needs addressing.

It’s been a sluggish start to the season for the Cowboys, who lost five of their opening six fixtures.  There are signs of them turning things around though, with two wins in their last three games. Last Friday they secured a 26-20 victory away to the high-flying Penrith Panthers, taking them up to six points and 12th spot in the Premiership table.

There could be changes to the Tigers’ starting line-up, with coach Ivan Cleary having already opted to shake things up against the Warriors, with Sauaso Sue coming into the starting line-up and Matt Eisenhuth shifting from prop to lock. Elijah Taylor started at hooker and Pita Godinet dropped to the bench.   

Russell Packer is close to returning after a knee injury, but Josh Reynolds is likely to sit out another week before returning from a shoulder problem.  Among those pushing for starting berths against the Cowboys are Josh Aloiai, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Tyson Gamble and Matt McIlwrick.

Given their recent improvement the Cowboys are set to be unchanged, although their front-rower Scott Bolton was charged by police on Sunday over an incident at Bondi Beach on Saturday night.  The club has yet to indicate whether Bolton will be dropped whilst the incident is under investigation.

Kane Linnett (pectoral), Jordan McLean (foot), Josh Chudleigh (knee) and John Asiata (pectoral) are all long-term absentees.

When these two teams met in the corresponding fixture last season, it was the Cowboys who prevailed with a 22-14 victory at the Campbelltown Stadium.

The current betting sees the Tigers available at 11/10 (2.10) with bet365 to win, with the Cowboys deemed favourites at 4/5 (1.80) with Centrebet.  A Cowboys win by 1-12 points at 19/10 (2.90) with bet365 looks a decent bet given current form.