You’ve got to hand it to the Tigers, they know how to blow a golden opportunity.

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MATCH CENTRE: Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys live scores, teams

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The joint venture’s razor-thin finals chances were extinguished on Sunday afternoon after they collapsed in a heap during the final 15 minutes of their 34-28 loss to the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.

With the Eels having defeated the Roosters on Saturday, hopes were high that Benji Marshall’s men could continue their late-season run against lowly North Queensland, but the majority of the 16,055 fans that packed into Leichhardt were left devastated after the Cowboys overcame a 28-16 deficit by scoring 18 unanswered points in just five minutes.

The loss means that Wests remain stranded in 11th place on the table with 24 points and are almost certainly unable to catch the eighth-placed Roosters, who currently have 28.

“We’re all feeling like probably all our fans . . . deflated and disappointed,” Marshall said post-game.

‘We had the game in our hands’ – Benji | 05:11

“We had the game in our hands there, and we let it slip through some comfortable actions in our defence tonight.

“It’s hard because . . . the results last night gave everyone a bit of hope as to where we could end up, and it’s all been taken away.”

The Tigers started slowly, conceding two early tries to trail 10-0 after as many minutes. However, 20 minutes of superb football from Taylan May, who scored two tries and threw a sublime flick pass in the lead up to a third, gave them a 16-10 half-time lead and had fans dreaming of their first playoff appearance since 2011.

Payten chats ‘influential’ Drinkwater | 04:03

Ultimately, it was a May error that invited the Cowboys back into the match, with his loose carry enabling Tom Dearden to level the scores at 16-all after 48 minutes.

The Tigers looked to be back in control with consecutive tries to milestone man Jarome Luai (150th game) and Brent Naden giving them a 12-point break with 17 minutes remaining, but a masterclass in catch-up football from Scott Drinkwater and Viliami Vailea ensured that the Tigers’ barren finals run would extend to 14 consecutive seasons.

Vailea got the ball rolling for the visitors when his basketball pass for Semi Valemei made it 28-22 with 15 remaining. Next up was Braidon Burns, who contorted his body to make it 28-all with 10 on the clock, before Drinkwater’s burst upfield allowed Jaxon Purdue to score the decisive try.

Doueihi hospitalised after nasty injury | 00:47

DRINKWATER COOL UNDER PRESSURE

Nathan Cleary clearly isn’t the only ice man in the league anymore. Scott Drinkwater proved that he also has frozen water flowing through his veins by nailing three sideline conversions during the Cowboys’ five-minute blitzkrieg, and ultimately secured the win. The livewire fullback also finished the match with one line break, one line break assist, and a try assist.

DOUEIHI DOWN AGAIN

In-form Tigers halfback Adam Doueihi looks set to miss the rest of the 2025 season after sustaining a suspected facial fracture while attempting to tackle Jason Taumalolo in the 15th minute. He was designated a category two HIA, which he failed, before being whisked off to hospital for scans.

“It didn’t look good… something to do with his eye socket or his cheekbone,” Marshall said.

The Tigers also lost bench halfback Latu Fainu to a category two HIA late in the game. He passed, but the game ended before he could return.

TIGERS COMMIT TO HOME GROUNDS

Tigers CEO Shane Richardson gave the crowd a treat during the half time break when he announced that the club had secured $100 million worth of government funding to ensure the joint venture will continue to play at both Leichhardt and Campbelltown Stadium for the next 15 years.

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TEAMS

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 19. Brent Naden 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal 14. Latu Fainu 15. Royce Hunt 16. Charlie Murray 17. Tony Sukkar. 18th man: 18. Heath Mason

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Zac Laybutt 17. Thomas Mikaele. 18th man: 18. Kai O’Donnell