Wests Tigers vs Cowboys
Round 2 2026, Saturday 14 March 2026
Verdict: Wests Tigers by 4
Wests TigersCowboys
Result: Wests Tigers 44 defeated Cowboys 16 ✓ Tip correct
Match facts
- Kick-off
- Sat 14 Mar, 3:00pm AEDT
- Venue
- Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
- Ladder going in
- Wests Tigers 9th, Cowboys 12th
- Referee
- Grant Atkins
- Crowd
- 17,367
- Weather
- Fine, good ground
How the experts tipped
Wests Tigers 83%17% Cowboys
| Expert | Tip | Tip correct |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Baker | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Chris Barrett | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Zoe Samios | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Zac Bailey | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Frances Howe | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Christian Nicolussi | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Billie Eder | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Adrian Proszenko | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Dan Walsh | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Andrew Johns | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
| Emma Kemp | Cowboys | ✗ |
| Neil Breen | Wests Tigers | ✓ |
Going in
| Club | Ladder going in | Last five, oldest first | Model rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wests Tigers | 9th | -3 | |
| Cowboys | 12th | L | -2.5 |
Last five games
Wests Tigers
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 27 2025 | at Titans | L 28–36 |
| Round 26 2025 | at Raiders | L 10–24 |
| Round 25 2025 | v Cowboys | L 28–34 |
| Round 24 2025 | v Sea Eagles | W 26–12 |
| Round 22 2025 | v Bulldogs | W 28–14 |
Cowboys
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | at Knights | L 18–28 |
| Round 26 2025 | v Broncos | L 30–38 |
| Round 25 2025 | at Wests Tigers | W 34–28 |
| Round 24 2025 | v Knights | W 38–4 |
| Round 23 2025 | at Eels | L 18–19 |
Head to head since 2024
| Season | Round | Game | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Round 26 | Cowboys v Wests Tigers | 24–10 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 25 | Wests Tigers v Cowboys | 28–34 | Leichhardt Oval |
| 2025 | Round 13 | Cowboys v Wests Tigers | 32–28 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 22 | Wests Tigers v Cowboys | 30–48 | Leichhardt Oval |
| 2024 | Round 12 | Cowboys v Wests Tigers | 42–28 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
Team lists
Wests Tigers
- 1 Jahream Bula Fullback
- 2 Sunia Turuva Winger
- 3 Taylan May Centre
- 4 Heamasi Makasini Centre
- 5 Luke Laulilii Winger
- 6 Jarome Luai (c) Five-Eighth
- 7 Adam Doueihi Halfback
- 8 Terrell May Prop
- 9 Apisai Koroisau (c) Hooker
- 10 Fonua Pole Prop
- 11 Samuela Fainu 2nd Row
- 12 Kai Pearce-Paul 2nd Row
- 13 Alex Twal Lock
- 14 Jock Madden Reserve
- 15 Sione Fainu Interchange
- 16 Royce Hunt Interchange
- 17 Alex Seyfarth Interchange
- 18 Tristan Hope Reserve
- 19 Jeral Skelton Interchange
Coach: Benji Marshall
First game of the season
Cowboys
- 1 Scott Drinkwater Fullback
- 2 Braidon Burns Winger
- 3 Jaxon Purdue Centre
- 4 Tom Chester Centre
- 5 Murray Taulagi Winger
- 6 Jake Clifford Five-Eighth
- 7 Tom Dearden (c) Halfback
- 8 Coen Hess Interchange
- 9 Reed Mahoney Hooker
- 10 Jason Taumalolo Prop
- 11 Heilum Luki 2nd Row
- 12 Sam McIntyre 2nd Row
- 14 Soni Luke Interchange
- 15 Kai O'Donnell Lock
- 16 Griffin Neame Prop
- 17 Matthew Lodge Interchange
- 18 Liam Sutton Reserve
- 21 Harrison Edwards Interchange
- 22 Kaiden Lahrs Reserve
Coach: Todd Payten
Numbers as named by each club on nrl.com. Changes are measured against the club's previous game.
Why the model leaned this way
Going in, Wests Tigers rated -3 and Cowboys -2.5 on our scale, a gap of 0.5 points, plus 4.5 points for playing at their own ground.
Scoring
- Wests Tigers
- Tries Samuela Fainu 10', Adam Doueihi 16', Kai Pearce-Paul 25', Kai Pearce-Paul 34', Luke Laulilii 38', Jarome Luai 51', Luke Laulilii 63', Jeral Skelton 70'
- Goals 6/8
- Half-time 28
- Cowboys
- Tries Braidon Burns 45', Jaxon Purdue 55', Tom Chester 59'
- Goals 1/3, pen Jake Clifford 6'
- Half-time 2
Draw, teams and scoring: nrl.com match centre. Expert tips: The Sydney Morning Herald panel.