You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content

It looks like you may be using adblocking software to view this site.

Many features on the site, such as video playback, may not work properly when using adblocking software.

Please whitelist our domain or disable your adblocker to access all features and videos.

With two wins, two losses and a draw at home this season the Cowboys are out to make Queensland Country Bank Stadium a fortress in the back half of the year as they chase a third finals appearance in four years.

Todd Payten's men have seven more games on their home patch including back-to-back blockbusters against the Storm and Bulldogs in Round 18-19 but the charge needs to start this weekend against Wests Tigers.

A total of 148 points were scored in the two matches between the sides last season, with the Cowboys winning both, so another free-flowing contest is on the cards with Scott Drinkwater, Jaxon Purdue, Jahream Bula and Sunia Turuva matching motors.

Wests Tigers have looked a vastly improved side in 2025 with recruits Terrell May, Jarome Luai and Turuva bringing plenty to the table, but they are still giving up 25 points per game which won't cut it if they hope to be part of the finals action.

Team News

Cowboys: Maroons trio Tom Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter and Blues hooker Reece Robson have all been named in the starting side and coach Todd Payten confirmed on Friday that they will all back up. Jaxson Paulo comes in for his first game as a Cowboy with Murray Taulagi (calf) sidelined. Sam McIntyre moves to prop and Coen Hess to the bench with Cotter coming in at lock after missing the loss to Manly due to suspension. Jake Clifford is 18th man.

Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-17 with no late changes. Samuela Fainu returns from a knee injury suffered in Round 11, before last week's bye. Young gun Heath Mason is set for his first NRL match since Round 1 after being named to replace Lachlan Galvin at five-eighth. Tristan Hope is the 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Robert Derby
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Zac Laybutt
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Charlie Staines
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jaxon Purdue
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Heath Mason
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jarome Luai

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Sam McIntyre
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Royce Hunt
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 John Bateman
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Alex Seyfarth
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Harrison Edwards
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Brent Naden
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Kai O'Donnell
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Jack Bird
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sione Fainu
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jake Clifford
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Tristan Hope

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Cowboys have won five of their past six games against Wests Tigers.
  • Wests Tigers have lost their last three games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
  • Cowboys winger Robert Derby has scored six tries in four games at QCB Stadium.
  • Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has scored four tries in four games against the Cowboys.
  • Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has scored seven tries in his last nine games against Wests Tigers.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.