Round 22 team analysis: V North Queensland Cowboys

Wests Tigers travel to Townsville this weekend where they'll meet the Cowboys this Saturday night in what shapes as almost certainly a last chance saloon showdown for the Tigers. Monday night's loss to the Melbourne Storm was the Tigers fourth loss from its last five matches and leaves Wests precariously placed with just five matches remaining.

In team news this week there's almost nothing to report, with the same 17 players named to tackle the Storm named again. However there will be guaranteed changes to this weeks team. For starters Bodene Thompson, named in the centres again, is a fair chance of accepting a 1 match ban and will need replacing. Winger Pat Richards is highly doubtful due to a hamstring injury suffered on Monday night. Halfback Luke Brooks is also no sure thing to take the field this weekend either due to a shoulder injury.

In fact it's almost certain that the team put on out on Tuesday afternoon was simply done so to abide by NRL guidelines. The Tigers not even 24 hours removed from their clash with the Storm and with several players short term futures in doubt due to injury or suspension simply could not confirm a likely side when it was needed for submission.

So how could Wests line up this weekend?? Well, i'm going to assume that Bodene Thompson and Sitaleki Akauola both accept one week suspensions, and that Pat Richards will at least miss this weekend's clash with his bad hamstring. I'll also assume Luke Brooks does in fact play this weekend. So a possible team could look like this:

1. Mitchell Moses,  2. Keith Lulia, 3. Tim Simona, 4. Dene Halatau, 5. Stefano Taukafa, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Keith Galloway, 11. Curtis Sironen, 12. Sausao Sue, 13. Adam Blair.  Reserves: 14. Ava Seumanufagai, 15. Martin Taupau, 16. Jack Buchanan, 17. James Gavet

Now if Luke Brooks doesn't play I'd expect things to revert to what happened on Monday night with Sironen moving to five eighth, Austin halfback and quite possibly Joel Luani, Kyle Lovett or Jarred Farlow to move on to the bench. Seumanufagai or Buchanan would then move in to the starting side playing in the more central back row role.

At the very least the club will hope that Luke Brooks and Pat Richards will take the field, giving the side valuable quality in attack. Right now though, there's just too much uncertainty to feel confident in naming a projected 17 to take the field.  

Watch this space people!

WESTS TIGERS TEAM V NTH QLD COWBOYS

 1. Mitchell Moses 2. Keith Lulia 3. Tim Simona 4. Bodene Thompson 5. Pat Richards 6. Blake Austin 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Dene Halatau 13. Adam Blair

Interchange: 14. Ava Seumanufagai 15. Martin Taupau 16. Sauaso Sue 17. James Gavet