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Sport
Fraser Barton

Cowboys saddle up for revenge in Wests Tigers showdown

North Queensland are keen to make amends for their heavy defeat at Wests Tigers in May. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

North Queensland will be all out for revenge when they welcome Wests Tigers to Townsville in the NRL's round 18.

Six weeks ago, the Cowboys had 66 points put past them at Leichhardt Oval as the Tigers celebrated skipper Luke Brooks' 300th game.

That game set records: the highest score by Balmain, Western Suburbs or the joint-venture, and the equal-worst defensive effort in the Cowboys' history.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten described the defeat as "probably the worst performance we've had as a team since I've been at the club".

Which is why Payten is going out with all guns blazing for Saturday's clash.

The Cowboys, who have a bye next week, have selected all five of their State of Origin representatives.

Co-captain Jason Taumalolo is expected to line up after missing last Sunday's 31-6 win over South Sydney with a minor hamstring complaint.

"He got through training today and trained on Wednesday - he's good to go," Payten said.

"We probably could have rolled him out last week but that risk was just too high for him to do further damage."

Injuries and suspensions have prevented the Cowboys naming a full-strength side this season but with only Heilum Luki (facial fracture) remaining on the sidelines they are getting closer.

The close-to-sellout crowd will be keen for a repeat of the thrills and spills of last season's encounter at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, rather than the more recent heavy defeat.

Round 19 of 2022 brought one of the more bizarre endings to an NRL game, as the Cowboys capitulated and allowed the Tigers to cross twice in the final 10 minutes to take the lead.

North Queensland received an escort penalty from a captain's challenge following the restart - leaving onlookers baffled - before Valentine Holmes kicked a field goal to snatch a 27-26 victory for the Cowboys after the siren.

For Payten, a win on Saturday is all that matters - however it arrives.

"We need to continue to build on the game that we've built the last three weeks, and get a victory any way it comes," he said.

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