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Wests Tigers v Cowboys: Makasini unleashed; Luke steps up

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Wests Tigers are chasing a winning start to the year as they prepare to take on the North Queensland Cowboys in front of a big crowd on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval. 

Confidence is high in Tiger Town after an undefeated Witzer Pre-Season Challenge but Benji Marshall's men have had to bide their time before launching their season. 

A bye in Round 1 saw the Tigers sit back and watch their 16 rivals take to the field before this weekend's clash with the Cowboys. 

Marshall has made plenty of changes over the summer and the early signs are promising. The new halves pairing of Adam Doueihi and Jarome Luai has sparked their attack while 18-year-old outside back Heamasi Makasini showcased why he's considered a future star in two dominant pre-season appearances.

Kai Pearce-Paul is set for his club debut after a calf complaint kept him out of the trials in another boost to the Tigers pack. 

While the Tigers have been waiting patiently to play, the Cowboys have travelled to Las Vegas and back. 

North Queensland returned home empty handed, having suffered a hard-fought 28-18 loss to Newcastle. The defeat came at a cost, with prop Thomas Mikaele picking up a knee injury that will sideline him for six weeks. 

Heilum Luki and Tom Chester both impressed in their returns from long-term layoffs and will look to take another big step forward on Saturday afternoon. 

The Cowboys stunned the Tigers at Leichhardt last season in a game that was meant to celebrate Marshall's 2005 grand final win over North Queensland. The visitors have their sights on another upset this weekend as they look to open their account for 2026. 

Team News

Wests Tigers: No late changes on game day. Young gun Heamasi Makasini has been named at centre for his second NRL appearance following his outstanding Pre-Season Challenge form. Fellow teenager Luke Laulilii gets his shot on the wing in career game No.10. Englishman Kai Pearce-Paul has overcome a calf injury and will make his Tigers debut in the back row alongside Samuela Fainu. The six-man bench includes former Bronco Jock Madden, prop Royce Hunt and bullocking winger Jeral Skelton while Tony Sukkar and Heath Mason dropped out when the squad was trimmed on Friday.

Cowboys: Rep forward Reuben Cotter is a late withdrawal from the side for personal reasons so Kai O'Donnell starts art at lock. Griffin Neame has also been elevated to the starting side, which sees Coen Hess move back to the interchange. Winger Braidon Burns was successful in his bid to earn a downgrade at the judiciary on Tuesday night on a high tackle charge and will take his place. The loss of Tom Mikaele to a knee injury sees Soni Luke promoted to the bench. Star fullback Scott Drinkwater was nursing rib cartilage damage in Vegas but is good to go. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
    Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott  Drinkwater 
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
    Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Taylan May
    Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Heamasi Makasini
    Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Luke Laulilii
    Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai
    Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam Doueihi
    Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
    Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
    Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reed Mahoney
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
    Prop for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin Neame
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Sam McIntyre
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
    Lock for Cowboys is number 15 Kai O'Donnell

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jock Madden
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 8 Coen Hess
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sione Fainu
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Soni Luke
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Royce Hunt
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Matthew Lodge
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Seyfarth
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Liam Sutton
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Tristan Hope
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 21 Harrison Edwards
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Jeral Skelton
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 22 Kaiden Lahrs

Wests Tigers Ins

Cowboys Ins

  • Harrison Edwards
  • Kaiden Lahrs
  • Liam Sutton

Wests Tigers Outs

Cowboys Ins

  • Reuben Cotter
  • Robert Derby
  • Thomas Mikaele

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Wests Tigers have won three of their last four games at Leichhardt Oval.
  • The Cowboys have won their last five games against the Tigers.
  • Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has scored seven tries in seven games at Leichhardt.
  • Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi has scored 10 tries in his last seven games against the Tigers.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.