The second game on NRL Super Saturday sees action head to Townsville, with the Cowboys looking for revenge against the Tigers after their embarrassing defeat last time out. Will they record an easy victory like the odds suggest?
We bring you our full preview and best bets for the Cowboys vs Tigers below, and make sure to head over to our NRL Tips Page for more free previews and tips for Round 18.
NRL Round 18 Preview & Betting Tips
North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 1st July, 5:30pm (AEST)
The Cowboys climbed to 10th on the competition ladder (and up the NRL Power Rankings) following their 3rdconsecutive victory, this time, against the Rabbitohs on the road. Following a tight first half (5-nil HT lead), they dominated the second half by scoring 4 tries on their way to a 31-6 victory. This was reflected statistically too as they dominated possession (58%), had a high completion rate (84%), carried the ball strongly (10.3m per carry & 674pcm’s) and creating opportunities (6 line breaks). It was a performance which suggested the Cowboys are still capable on their day.
The Tigers had the Bye in Round 17, with extra time for them to reflect on their 28-6 defeat by the Storm in Round 16. Poor throughout the contest, they lacked fight and appeared to hand victory to the Storm. They were their own worst enemy too; they completed at just 72% and made 12 errors. The less said about their performance the better.
The Tigers will be hoping that they can channel their last effort against the Cowboys a 66-18 display which left many scratching their heads for both positive and negative reasons. They will need on-field action more than emotion (or previous history) to help them here. The odds reflect this also, with the Cowboys strong favourites ($1.20 vs $4.50). Season totals suggest the Cowboys may also have an edge; while both teams average fewer points in attack (Cowboys 21ppg vs Tigers 17ppg) than they concede (Cowboys 23ppg vs Tigers 22ppg), the Cowboys have proven in recent weeks that they are an improving team. The same cannot be said for the Tigers. They have now included discarded player Daine Laurie at 5/8 in a hope that he will revive the Tigers attack which has averaged 12.3 points in attack in their past 3 matches.
The Cowboys have the same 17 players which scored 31 against the Rabbitohs, with key forward Taumalolo (18th man) a possible late inclusion. All signs point towards a dominant Cowboys victory in this contest, with their momentum and confidence growing further.
Cowboys -14.5
$1.85 (2.5 Units)
Same Game Multi at Picklebet
Popular bookmaker Picklebet have launched their Same Game Multis for both the AFL and NRL. There are plenty of markets to choose from an excellent odds on offer, so make sure to check them out!
Cowboys 13+ – For the reasons mentioned above, the Cowboys should be far too good here.
Total Points Over 45.5 – The attacking ability of the Cowboys should see the total go over the current line.
Taulagi 2+ Tries – The biggest investment comes in winger Taulagi to score 2+ tries but you cannot overlook his recent form. He crossed for 1 try last week, 1 in Round 14 (his last match for the Cowboys) and 1 in State of Origin Game 2.
SGM Odds: $7.50 at Picklebet (0.5 Units)
