The official team lists are in for Cowboys vs Wests Tigers, with North Queensland welcoming back Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai, while Murray Taulagi remains sidelined. The Tigers bring Terrell May back into the starting pack and could still promote Sunia Turuva from the bench, creating several interesting try-scorer and player-prop opportunities.
Biggest Winners – Cowboys
Braidon Burns
Burns has scored eight tries in his past nine games, and the Tigers have conceded 148 points across their past three visits to Queensland Country Bank Stadium. That’s a very appealing combination for his try market.
Our Tip: Braidon Burns – Anytime Try Scorer
Tom Dearden
Dearden returns at halfback after four games out with an ankle injury, pushing Jaxon Purdue into the centres. His return should immediately improve the Cowboys’ organisation and attacking threat.
Our Tip: Tom Dearden – 1+ Try Assist
Jeremiah Nanai
Nanai returns from a hamstring injury and goes straight back into the starting second row, with Kai O’Donnell dropping to the bench.
Our Tip: Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Biggest Losers – Cowboys
Murray Taulagi
Taulagi remains out after suffering another concussion at training. Zac Laybutt shifts from centre to wing in his absence.
Betting Impact: Laybutt becomes a more interesting anytime try-scorer option now that he’s starting on the wing.
Kai O’Donnell
Nanai’s return pushes O’Donnell from the starting side to the interchange.
Betting Impact: I’d avoid O’Donnell’s tackle and run-metre overs with his minutes less secure.
Cowboys Edge Defence
The Tigers still possess dangerous runners through Jahream Bula, Junior Tupou, Solomone Saukuru and Jeral Skelton, with Jarome Luai controlling the attack.
Our Tip: Jahream Bula – Anytime Try Scorer
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Biggest Winners – Wests Tigers
Terrell May
May moves back into the starting front row after coming from the bench against the Roosters. That’s a significant positive for his workload markets.
Our Tip: Terrell May – Over Run Metres
Jeral Skelton
Skelton retains his starting wing position while Turuva is currently named on the interchange. That gives him the cleaner try-scorer role heading into the weekend.
Our Tip: Jeral Skelton – Anytime Try Scorer
Alex Seyfarth
Alex Twal’s concussion sees Seyfarth move into the No.13 jersey. The starting lock role should increase his defensive involvement.
Our Tip: Alex Seyfarth – Over Tackles
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Biggest Losers – Wests Tigers
Alex Twal
Twal is unavailable due to concussion, forcing Seyfarth into the starting side at lock.
Betting Impact: Seyfarth’s tackle market becomes the more interesting option from the reshuffle.
Sunia Turuva
Turuva has been named on the bench after missing last week’s upset win over the Roosters with a knee injury. NRL.com notes he could still be a late inclusion in the starting side.
Betting Impact: Avoid his try market until the final team is confirmed.
Tigers Edge Defence
Dearden’s return alongside Jake Clifford gives the Cowboys their preferred halves combination back, while Nanai also returns as a dangerous hole-runner.
Our Tip: Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Early Betting Verdict
The biggest team-list angle is Dearden and Nanai returning to strengthen the Cowboys’ attack. North Queensland have won five of their past six against the Tigers, while Wests have conceded 148 points in their past three games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Braidon Burns – Anytime Try Scorer
Burns is the first player I’d target. He’s crossed eight times in his past nine matches, and the Tigers’ recent defensive record at this venue is hard to ignore.
Our Tip: Braidon Burns – Anytime Try Scorer
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
Nanai’s return to the starting edge gives Dearden another dangerous close-range runner. This is exactly the type of team-list change worth targeting in the try market.
Our Tip: Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
Zac Laybutt – Anytime Try Scorer
Taulagi’s absence moves Laybutt from centre onto the wing. That positional switch potentially increases his finishing opportunities if North Queensland dominate possession.
Our Tip: Zac Laybutt – Anytime Try Scorer
Tom Dearden – Try Assists
Dearden returns directly to halfback and should resume a major creative role alongside Clifford.
Our Tip: Tom Dearden – 1+ Try Assist
Jahream Bula – Anytime Try Scorer
The Tigers showed by upsetting the Roosters 25-24 last week that they can’t simply be dismissed. Bula’s support play makes him my preferred Tigers option if they again threaten an upset.
Our Tip: Jahream Bula – Anytime Try Scorer
Terrell May – Run Metres
May’s promotion back into the starting front row is one of the clearest workload changes on the Tigers’ team sheet.
Our Tip: Terrell May – Over Run Metres
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Best Bet From The Team Lists
Braidon Burns – Anytime Try Scorer
Burns has scored eight tries in his past nine games, while the Tigers have leaked 148 points across their past three appearances at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Add Dearden back into the Cowboys’ spine and Burns looks the outside back I’d target first.
Our Tip: Braidon Burns – Anytime Try Scorer
I’d also check Burns’ 2+ Tries market with Sportsbet and TAB for the higher-priced extension.
PuntX Are our new partners & you can see why punters are loving their platform by joining here
Value Bet
Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
Nanai’s return could be slightly overlooked compared with the Cowboys’ outside backs. He goes straight back into the starting second row and now has Dearden back directing traffic inside him.
Against a Tigers side with a poor recent defensive record at this venue, he’s the team-list-driven value play.
Our Tip: Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
Team List Betting Summary
Best Bet: Braidon Burns – Anytime Try Scorer
Value Bet: Jeremiah Nanai – Anytime Try Scorer
Other Cowboys Try Scorer: Zac Laybutt – Anytime Try Scorer
Tigers Try Scorer: Jahream Bula – Anytime Try Scorer
Playmaker Prop: Tom Dearden – 1+ Try Assist
Forward Prop: Terrell May – Over Run Metres
Tackle Prop: Alex Seyfarth – Over Tackles
Higher-Odds Play: Braidon Burns – 2+ Tries
