Key Match-Ups - Wests Tigers v Cowboys Brock Corfe Fri 8th August, 05:21PM. Wests Tigers v North Queensland HEAD TO HEAD: Played 29 - Wests Tigers 16, North Queensland 13 AT 1300SMILES STADIUM: Played 13 – North Queensland 9, Wests Tigers 4 LAST TIME: Wests Tigers 16 defeated North Queensland 4 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 2014 BIGGEST HEAD TO HEAD WINS: North Queensland 42 defeated Wests Tigers 14 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 2009 Wests Tigers 50 defeated North Queensland 6 at Telstra Stadium, 2005. Blake Austin v Robert Lui This match-up between the in-form Blake Austin and former Wests Tiger Robert Lui looks set to be a key showdown at 1300SMILES Stadium tomorrow night. With 14 NRL games so far this season, Austin has found a home in his preferred position of five-eighth in recent weeks after originally coming into the side in a utility role. With Braith Anasta sidelined with a bicep injury, Austin has been impressive during his time in the number six jersey. Not afraid to take on the line, Austin made his debut for the Wests Tigers against the Cowboys in Round 6 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. The former Panther has crossed for a total of five tries and made nine line-breaks in his debut season for the Club. With halfback Luke Brooks ruled out of tomorrow night’s match, it’s likely he will partner Curtis Sironen in the halves for the second consecutive week. Lui made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in 2009 against Cronulla, playing a total of 43 matches for the Club before joining the Cowboys in 2012. Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah said his former teammate has found a home with North Queensland and will need to be watched closely tomorrow night: “From what I have seen of him this year, he has taken a lot more ownership,” he said. “Rob is not afraid to call the ball and feels comfortable within that side. I think probably early on he was letting JT (Jonathan Thurston) take most of the control but now you see him getting his hands on the ball a lot more. I know first hand how much of a quality player he is and someone we definitely missed when he left the Club.” Lui has missed just the one game for North Queensland this season and has formed a dangerous play-making combination with Thurston and fullback Michael Morgan. Mitchell Moses v Michael Morgan Mitchell Moses and Michael Morgan have played the majority of their football in the halves, however tomorrow night the pair will clash wearing the fullback jersey. Despite having just five top grade games under his belt, Moses exudes confidence on the field. With the withdrawal of Brooks with a shoulder injury, expect Moses to become more involved in the playmaking role alongside Austin and Sironen. The Holy Cross junior will be looking to emulate his performance against the Bulldogs three weeks ago, where he laid on numerous try-assists in a man-of-the-match performance. Either Moses or Austin will take on the goal-kicking duties with Pat Richards’ succumbing to a hamstring strain. This will be perhaps the biggest test so far for Moses, with an aerial tirade expected from Thurston, Lui and co. Morgan has been arguably the biggest improver in the NRL this season and transformed into a key player for the Cowboys outfit. Originally a halfback/five-eighth, the shift to fullback for Morgan by Coach Paul Green has proved to be a successful one. Scott Bolton is the only other Cowboys player to have played all 19 games this year alongside Morgan. The Townsville Brothers junior has crossed for eight tries this season, with one coming during last week’s 28-8 win over the Gold Coast Titans. That match was just Morgan’s 50th NRL appearance, despite this being his fifth season in the top grade. The 22-year-old has a solid win ratio at 1300SMILES Stadium, with 16 victories from 23 matches. Keith Galloway v Ashton Sims It’s almost an exact statistical match for big boppers Keith Galloway and Ashton Sims this year – 18 games, 90-odd metres per game, around 20 tackles per match and a donut for tries scored – and this makes for a physical (and entertaining) encounter tomorrow night. Last week Galloway took the field for the 150th time in Wests Tigers colours, becoming just the ninth player to do so. In a fiery encounter with Melbourne at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Galloway managed 97 metres and 18 tackles in a 40-minute spell. With 37 games for the Cronulla Sharks all those years ago, Galloway needs just 13 games to reach the 200-game milestone. Expect another big performance from ‘Big Red’ who is the most senior member of a strong prop rotation that features Aaron Woods, Martin Taupau, Ava Seumanufagai and James Gavet. This will be Sims’ fourth and final season for the Cowboys, with the Fijian International set for the Super League in 2015 with the Warrington Wolves. A career that started in 2003 with St George Illawarra, Sims also had a three-year stint with the Broncos over his 218-game career. The 29-year-old has missed just the one game this year and will take on the Wests Tigers for the 16th time in his career tomorrow night (eight wins, seven losses so far). Expect big minutes from Sims this week, with the Cowboys naming a fairly light bench consisting of Ray Thompson, Scott Bolton, Gavin Cooper and Sam Hoare. The late inclusion of Australian Test prop James Tamou may change all that though…
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 06:40:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015