NRL Round 25 Preview and Prediction - Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys @ Campbelltown Stadium

Wests Tigers (15th) v North Queensland Cowboys (8th) @ Campbelltown Stadium
 
Preview - The banged up Cowboys need a victory desperately as they travel to Sydney to take on the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday night. The Cowboys have now lost 4 games on the trot, with no sign that their injury crisis is about to come to a halt as they slip dangerously close to being out of the Top 8, with the Dragons just one win behind them. The Cowboys never gave up last week, however were never really in the contest in going down 26-16 to the Sharks at home. The Tigers continued to show their improvement in competitiveness under Ivan Cleary, pushing the Roosters all the way in losing 22-18 at Allianz Stadium. The Tigers trailed 16-0 early, before fighting back to take the lead with 15 minutes to play, before a late try to Latrell Mitchell sealed their fate. 

History - The Tigers caused a massive boil over earlier this year beating the Cowboys 26-16 in Ivan Cleary's first game in charge of the club. The Tigers have a fantastic record against the Cowboys in Sydney having only lost once to them in Sydney since 2004. Overall the Cowboys have 18 wins to the Tigers 15. 
 
Wests Tigers’ Scouting Report - The Tigers are missing a couple of key players with  Elijah Taylor out through a shoulder injury and Luke Brooks with a hamstring injury The versatile Michael Chee Kam goes into the starting back row to partner Josh Aloiai who put in a very impressive performance against the Roosters last week. Luke Brooks is in some doubt with a hamstring injury, but has been named to start at halfback. 
 
North Queensland Cowboys’ Scouting Report - The Cowboys might finally be getting some form of injury relief with some big name players a chance to return this week. Antonio Winterstein takes Kalyn Ponga’s place on the wing, whilst Lachlan Coote is named on an extended bench and could replace Ben Hampton at fullback. Gavin Cooper is also on an extended bench and will be captain in the back row if he is deemed fit to start. 
 
Verdict - Cowboys 1-8 in a low scoring game. 

I think the Cowboys might just be able to scratch out a victory despite key players being in doubt with injury. The Tigers have been really impressive over the past 7 weeks, despite only winning 3 of those games however Elijah Taylor and Luke brooks are both big outs. The Cowboys look to have hit the wall in a big way, with so many changes and so many quality players on the sidelines. However they have smooch to play for here and with one more win required to secure a finals hopes this os perhaps their only realistic chance with them coming up against the Broncos in Round 26. They continue to compete really hard and you could argue they will be more desperate than the Tigers here given what is at stake. I think this game will be a low scoring and close game, with the Cowboys edging it.