Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction: 15/2 tip for an upset win at Leichhardt

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Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds

The Tigers receive favouritism from Betfred for Saturday’s early kick-off, with 4/7 the price for a home win. That implies a 63.6% probability of Benji Marshall’s side adding to their two bye points.

You can get 6/4 about a Cowboys victory, and it’s 16/1 for a draw in 80 minutes and a nail-biting golden-point finale.

The Cowboys are handed a 4.5-point start in the two-way handicap, with their odds cut to 5/6 against that backdrop. Wests are 10/11 to overcome the difference.

Team News

After an impressive undefeated run through the Pre-Season Challenge, Wests are coming into this with players in form. In theory, at least.

Youngsters Luke Laulilii and Heamasi Makasini have been given the go-ahead by Marshall to start in the three-quarters. Taylan May and Sunia Turuva take up the other outside-back spots, while much will be asked of half-back pairing Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi.

Former Wigan Warrior and Newcastle Knight Kai Pearce-Paul should make his Tigers debut after shaking off a calf issue.

Rugby League Odds

Todd Payten’s Cowboys came back from Sin City with Thomas Mikaele limping heavily after an MCL injury suffered in a cannonball tackle.

While the timetable for his return is not a particularly long one, he should be out for a few weeks at least. So Soni Luke comes off the bench to replace the former Warrington Wolves front rower.

The other scare was in relation to full-back Scott Drinkwater, but he’s been named at number one for the trip south and should see out the 80.

Cowboys to Win @ 7/5

I don’t know. I just liked the look of the Cowboys in Vegas a fortnight ago.

Sure, they lost. And they lost to a Knights side many are reserving judgement on.

But they have a really promising spine in Drinkwater, Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden, Reed Mahoney and Reuben Cotter.

Add in the muscle of Coen Hess and Jason Taumalolo in the front row, even if the Tonga star is beyond his peak, and you have a really tough prospect to overcome.

Against a Wests side who aced pre-season but didn’t exactly set the heather alight in 2025, I think there’s every chance the Cowboys can repeat their 34-28 Leichhardt success of last August.

They do have a five-game winning run going against the Tigers, after all.