Leichhardt Oval will play host to Saturday's Round 12 NRL game between Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Wests Tigers vs. North Queensland Cowboys game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday May 20, 2023 at 5:30 pm

Where: Leichhardt Oval

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview

Wests Tigers’ resurgence met a predictable roadblock last weekend, but they’ll be determined to turn around a lean trot at Leichhardt Oval against a North Queensland side that has put its campaign back on the rails in the past fortnight.

The Tigers toppled Penrith and St George Illawarra back-to-back, before getting overrun late in a 20-0 loss to red-hot Souths. Their pluck and commitment can’t be question, though: despite sitting last, the Tigers have a better defensive record than six other clubs.

The floundering Cowboys have recovered from a 3-6 start with an upset of the Roosters (20-6) in Magic Round and a rampant home win over the embattled Dragons (42-22).

Having failed to clear 24 points in their first 10 games, the Cowboys’ attacking fluency finally returned, with Scott Drinkwater, Chad Townsend, Valentine Holmes and Heilum Luki the standouts.

The Cowboys have lost Jamayne Taunoa-Brown to a head knock this week, with Riley Price coming onto the bench.

After losing five of the teams’ previous six clashes, the Cowboys beat the Tigers twice in 2022: 36-12 in Magic Round and 27-26 in a wildly controversial finish in Townsville.

The Tigers have won just three of their last 12 at Leichhardt, going down in their last four at the hallowed venue. They have, however, won eight of their last nine against the Cowboys at the ground.

Recent form and personnel-wise, it’s hard to go past the rejuvenated Cowboys as only a narrow favourite – the Tigers just don’t have enough points in them, scoring an NRL-low 13.6 per game.

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