Tigers vs Cowboys betting predictions – NRL 2021, Round 5

Despite an indifferent start to the year, the Wests Tigers will no doubt have Leichhardt Oval filled to capacity when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys this Sunday afternoon in round five of the 2021 NRL season. Despite just winning one game in their first month, the Tigers come into the game as the $1.37 favourites, while the hapless Cowboys are at the $3.25 mark. Since the start of the 2018 season, North Queensland have won just four games in Sydney, which makes this an absolute ‘can’t lose’ situation for the Tigers.

Key matchup: James Tamou vs Jason Taumalolo

Jason Taumalolo might be having some differences with his coach currently, but the Tigers middle forwards face an enormous task when he returns from a thumb injury this Sunday. James Tamou is a former teammate and now the captain of the Tigers, so it has to be him who leads the charge. If Taumalolo is kept quiet, Tamou will have put in a performance worthy of Dally M voting, and that would make it almost impossible for the Cowboys to win.

Wests Tigers betting info

Luciano Leilua is going to get plenty of ball in the red zone, and the Cowboys defence leaked like a rusted pipe this season. With forwards having scored more tries than backs in the opening month of the competition, Leilua is a must to get in your NRL betting multis at $3.60. The line has moved up two points to -9.5, and punters should take that on seeing as three of the Cowboys’ four losses have come by margins of 24 points or more.

Wests Tigers

1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. James Roberts
4. Moses Mbye
5. Tommy Talau
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. Zane Musgrove
9. Jacob Liddle
10. James Tamou
11. Luke Garner
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Alex Twal
14. Michael Chee Kam
15. Thomas Mikaele
16. Stefano Utoikamanu
17. Joe Ofahengaue

North Queensland Cowboys betting info

It’s almost a miracle the North Queensland Cowboys are only $3.25 in the head-to-head market considering how shocking they’ve been to start 2021, but it might be wise to look to the edges for some tryscorers. The Tigers gave up six tries out wide last week, and it brings Kyle Feldt at $2.10 and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at $2.63 right into the mix. Coen Hess at $5 is the value pick. They’ve struggled to score in 2021, but the Tigers will offer them plenty of chances.

North Queensland Cowboys

1. Valentine Holmes
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Connelly Lemuelu
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Scott Drinkwater
7. Ben Hampton
8. Francis Molo
9. Reece Robson
10. Jordan McLean
11. Shane Wright
12. Ben Condon
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Jake Granville
15. Coen Hess
16. Josh McGuire
17. Lachlan Burr

Tigers vs Cowboys betting prediction

The Tigers will be too good and have too many points in them. The Cowboys’ horror record in Sydney just makes them unbackable in every way. The 13+ margin for Wests at $2.20 is well and truly on.

Tigers vs Cowboys same game multi

Get on the Tigers 13+ with Luciano Leilua and Adam Doueihi to both score at any time for a tidy $17.25 on Sportsbet.