A new rivalry between two new clubs in the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership awaits when the North Queensland Cowboys play the Wests Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.
Both sides are coming off losses in Round 3 and won't want to make it back-to-back defeats for the first time in their brief but respective club histories in the NRLW.
The Cowboys will need to address their defence after leaking 40 to the Broncos on home turf last week while Wests Tigers let the Raiders get out to a handy lead and weren't able to mow them down late.
On neutral turf this match shapes as a fairly even battle with the likes of Kirra Dibb, Fran Goldthorp and Shaniah Power leading the way for the Cowboys.
Wests Tigers co-captain Kezie Apps has found some form while Leianne Tufuga has had a blistering start to the season on the left edge with five tries in three games.
Match: Cowboys v Wests Tigers
Round 4 -
home Team
Cowboys
7th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
5th Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Team news
Cowboys: Indigenous All Stars playmaker Tahlulah Tillett has been named for her first NRLW match of the season in the halves alongside Kirra Dibb after last week's loss to the Broncos with Krystal Blackwell left out the side to play local footy this weekend. China Polata returns to the wing and Mia Middleton is back in the centres after serving a suspension which shifts Shellie Long into the forwards. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (head knock) is also out with April Ngatunpuna promoted to start. Jess Reeves is the new player on the bench in her NRLW debut. There were no changes when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off.
Wests Tigers: Rebecca Pollard will make her NRLW debut at five-eighth after coming into the side on Friday to replace Losana Lutu, who suffered a knee injury against the Raiders. Botille Vette-Welsh (head knock) won't play due to a failed head injury assessment so Pauline Piliae-Rasabale has been named at fullback. Imogen Gobran is the new face on the interchange. There were no further changes when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick off.
Match: Cowboys v Wests Tigers
Round 4 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Francesca GoldthorpFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 China PolataWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Jakiya Whitfeld
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jasmine PetersCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Rikeya Horne
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Mia MiddletonCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Leianne Tufuga
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Autumn-Rain Stephens-DalyWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Josie Lenaz
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tahlulah TillettFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 18 Rebecca Pollard
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Kirra DibbHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Emily Curtain
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Tallisha HardenProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Sarah Togatuki
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma ManzelmannHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Ebony Prior
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 April NgatupunaProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Christian Pio
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shaniah Power2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Kezie Apps
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Shellie Long2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Eliza Siilata
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Makenzie WealeLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Najvada George
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sera KoroiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Sophie Curtain
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Vitalina NaikoreInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Imogen Gobran
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Essay BanuInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Taylor Osborne
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 21 Jessikah ReevesInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Jessica Kennedy
Reserves
-
Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jetaya FaifuaReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 19 Hope Tevaga
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- This is the first time both clubs will meet in the NRLW with both looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in their club's histories.
- Wests Tigers forward Christian Pio leads the competition with 12 offloads.
- Cowboys halfback Kirra Dibb is second behind Tayla Preston for most kick metres in the competition with 944.
