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Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys NRL Round 2 Tips & Prediction - Tigers to cover at Leichhardt

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Wed 11 Mar 2026 09:37

Andrew Hendrie 11 Mar 2026

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Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys predictions for Saturday's NRL R2 game
Tigers tipped to cover at Leichhardt, with Cowboys having lost seven of last eight away games
Jahream Bula expected to continue great tryscoring run vs Cowboys
The game is scheduled for kick off at 3.00pm AEDT on Saturday March 14

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys NRL Round 2 Tips & Prediction

The Tigers are backed to launch their season in style as they welcome the Cowboys to sunny Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys NRL Round 2 Tips & Prediction
Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Stats & Trends
Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Head To Head
Wests Tigers Form Analysis
Wests Tigers Team News
North Queensland Cowboys Form Analysis
North Queensland Cowboys Team News

3pm. Saturday arvo. Dry track. Sunshine. Bulk beers. Leichhardt Oval.

It's the suburban footy experience at it's finest as the Tigers and Cowboys collide in Round 2 of the 2026 NRL season - and I'm tipping the hosts to come out of the blocks with a win.

After sitting back with the bye last week, the Tigers enjoyed an extra week's preparations, while the Cowboys licked their wounds and possibly an almighty hangover as they flew back from Vegas following their loss to the Knights. Conceding 28 points against a side that could barely break the defensive line last year isn't a good sign to kick off 2026. The Cowboys leaked 28.5 points per game last year, so defence remains a major issue.

The Tigers have settled on the halves pairing of Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi, which I'm a big fan of, while there's massive excitement surrounding 18-year-old centre Heamasi Makasini, who lit up the preseason. Throw in the likes of Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva and Taylan May, and there's points in this Tigers backline. Add to that a Top 5 Prop in Terrell May and this Tigers team is building something big.

"He's an awesome talent," Luai said of Makasini during the week. "I don't have to say that again and again, you guys have all seen what he can do.

"The challenge for him now is to be consistent. It's a long year, it's very physical and you've got to tackle big bodies all year. I'm just trying to give him some pointers and making sure the reps count out here [at training] throughout the week."

Recent meetings between these teams have been very high-scoring, so take Over 8.5 total tries, the Tigers to cover in front of their home fans and Bula to continue his great tryscoring record against North Queensland.

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Stats & Trends

Over 8.5 tries has landed in 10 of the last 11 meetings
Tigers have won three of their last four games at Leichhardt
Cowboys leaked 28.5 points per game last year & exactly 28 points vs Knights in R1
Cowboys have lost seven of their last eight away games
Jahream Bula has scored seven tries in his last seven appearances at Leichhardt
Bula has also scored five tries in his last four games vs Cowboys (1+ in all four)

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys Head To Head

The Cowboys have won five straight against the Tigers, with all of those encounters seeing plenty of points scored.

Tigers vs Cowboys H2H (last five meetings)

Year	Winner	Score	Venue
2025	North Queensland Cowboys	34–28	Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
2024	North Queensland Cowboys	48–30	Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
2024	North Queensland Cowboys	42–28	Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
2023	North Queensland Cowboys	74–0	Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
2022	North Queensland Cowboys	27–26	Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Wests Tigers Form Analysis

There was moments of brilliance from the Tigers last season, but ultimately they weren't consistent enough as they finished the year in 13th spot on the ladder with nine wins.

A six-match losing streak midway through the season and ending the year with three straight defeats dashed any hope of making the finals - but there were some positives.

Jarome Luai should be better for the run as his side's chief playmaker, while Adam Doueihi impressed when stepping into the halfback role. Terrell May was good through the middle and the addition of Kai Pearce-Paul is promising.

With some electrifying young outside backs, there's plenty of potential for this Tigers side in 2026 - but can they deliver?

Wests Tigers Team News

Teenage stars Heamasi Makasini and Luke Laulilii get a start in the backline to kick off the season, while Kai Pearce-Paul has overcome a calf injury to earn his Tigers debut in the second-row.

Wests Tigers Team List

1. Jahream Bula

2. Sunia Turuva

3. Taylan May

4. Heamasi Makasini

5. Luke Laulilii

6. Jarome Luai

7. Adam Doueihi

8. Terrell May

9. Apisai Koroisau

10. Fonua Pole

11. Samuela Fainu

12. Kai Pearce-Paul

13. Alex Twal

Interchange

14. Jock Madden

15. Sione Fainu

16. Royce Hunt

17. Alex Seyfarth

Reserves

18. Tristan Hope

19. Jeral Skelton

20. Mavrik Geyer

21. Tony Sukkar

22. Heath Mason

North Queensland Cowboys Form Analysis

It wasn't great viewing for Cowboys fans or Todd Payten for that matter in Vegas.

Already under immense pressure to start the season, Payten can't have been happy from what he saw from his side at Allegiant Stadium.

It was a slow start and poor finish as the Cows went down 28-18 to a Knights side that weren't really all that flashy - except for Fletcher Sharpe, who went off injured midway through the first half.

Conceding 28 points to a side that averaged 14 points last year isn't great, while the spine of Scott Drinkwater, Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden and Reed Mahoney were quiet. I also think Reuben Cotter has been sub-par over the last season-and-a-half after being one of the best forwards in the game previously.

Another loss here and the alarm bells start ringing again for Payten.

North Queensland Cowboys Team News

Braidon Burns has avoided suspension and will start on the wing, but Tom Mikaele is out with a knee injury, which sees Soni Luke come onto the bench.

Drinkwater has been named despite nursing a rib problem sustained in Vegas.

North Queensland Cowboys Team List

1. Scott Drinkwater

2. Braidon Burns

3. Jaxon Purdue

4. Tomas Chester

5. Murray Taulagi

6. Jake Clifford

7. Tom Dearden

8. Coen Hess

9. Reed Mahoney

10. Jason Taumalolo

11. Heilum Luki

12. Sam McIntyre

13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange

14. Soni Luke

15. Kai O’Donnell

16. Griffin Neame

17. Matthew Lodge

Reserves

18. Liam Sutton

19. Ethan King

20. Robert Derby

21. Harrison Edwards

22. Kaiden Lahrs

Verdict

Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys

The Tigers are tipped to cover at Leichhardt, with fullback Jahream Bula crossing the stripe once again vs the Cowboys.

Tigers -4.5

Line

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