The Cumberland Throw

Match Preview – Eels vs Cowboys (Semi Final 2)

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Date: Saturday 16th of September

Venue: ANZ Stadium

Kick off: 7:40pm

Head Referee: Matt Cecchin

Assistant Referee: Ben Cummins

Head to head: Played 36, Eels 18, Cowboys 17, drawn 1

Head to head odds: Eels ($ 1.36), Cowboys ($ 3.25)

Broadcast: Live Channel Nine (Broadcast kick off: 7:00pm)

 

Last four encounters:

01. Cowboys 32, Eels 6 at TIO Stadium (2017)

02. Eels 26, Cowboys 6 at 1300Smiles Stadium (2017)

03. Cowboys 32, Eels 16 at 1300Smiles Stadium (2016)

04. Eels 20, Cowboys 16 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)

 

Preview:

This Saturday night’s elimination final between the Eels and Cowboys at ANZ Stadium is the biggest game for both clubs this season. For the loser, Mad Monday awaits. For the winner, a date with the Sydney Roosters in the 2017 NRL grand final qualifier is the reward.

The Eels are coming off the back of an unlucky loss to the Melbourne Storm, whereas the Cowboys managed to defeat the Cronulla Sharks in ten minutes of extra time.

The Eels are the overwhelming favourites but nothing can be taken for granted in the NRL. The Cowboys were the 2015 Premiers and still boast outstanding talent.

It promises to be a cracker of a match.

Value Bet:

This week’s value bet is for the Parramatta Eels to claim victory over the North Queensland Cowboys by 1-12 points at $2.88 on Sportsbet (all odds via Sportsbet).

In the first try market, Eels have Semi Radradra at $6 and Kirisome Auva’a at $9.50 whereas the Cowboys have Antonio Winterstein, Kyle Feldt and Coen Hess all at $15.

Interesting fact:

Out of all the teams that participated in finals football last weekend, the Eels had the best completion rate with 87%.

 

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Danger man:

This week’s danger man is Cowboys superstar lock forward Jason Taumalolo.

Though plenty of pundits wrote off the Cowboys after Thurston’s injury, they did not count on the power of the other JT – Jason Taumololo – to carry them into finals football.

By the 60th minute of last weekend’s game Jason Taumalolo had only accumulated a modest 80 running metres. It appeared as if the Sharks had limited his impact. Not so! In the 63rd minute the Cowboy’s powerhouse scored a remarkable try and then clocked up a monstrous 269 metres, meaning Taumalolo made 179 metres in roughly 30 minutes of football.

Few teams have been able to contain big JT.

Limiting Taumololo’s metres for the entire 80 minutes will be a key strategy for the Eels.

 

Team lists:

 

Parramatta Eels (Finished 4th in the NRL regular home and away season)

01. Will Smith

02. Semi Radradra

03. Michael Jennings

04. Brad Takairangi

05. Kirisome Auva’a

06. Corey Norman

07. Mitchell Moses

08. Daniel Alvaro

09. Cameron King

10. Tim Mannah (C)

11. Manu Ma’u

12. Tepai Moeroa

13. Nathan Brown

14. Beau Scott

15. Kenny Edwards

16. Siosaia Vave

17. Suaia Matagi

18. Kaysa Pritchard

19. Peni Terepo

20. David Gower

21. Josh Hoffman

Coach: Brad Arthur

Late mail: Cameron King is expected to overcome injury concerns but Tepai Moeroa will be a withdrawal, with David Gower taking his place.

 

North Queensland Cowboys (Finished 8th in the NRL regular home and away season)

01. Lachlan Coote

02. Kyle Feldt

03. Javid Bowen

04. Kane Linnet

05. Antonio Winterstein

06. Te Maire Martin

07. Michael Morgan

08. John Asiata

09. Jake Granville

10. Scott Bolton

11. Gavin Cooper (C)

12. Ethan Lowe

13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Ben Hampton

15. Coen Hess

16. Corey Jensen

17. Shaun Fensom

18. Ray Thompson

19. Justin O’ Neil

20. Braden Uele

21. Patrick Mago

Coach: Paul Green

Late mail: Justin O’ Neil is a chance to return from injury for this one. If so, expect him to come in as a straight replacement for Javid Bowen.

 

Key match up:

 

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Mitchell Moses vs Michael Morgan:

A crucial match-up in this clash is a battle of the five eighths as Eels young gun Mitchell Moses faces off with Cowboys rep star Michael Morgan.

Moses was very impressive in the Eels last start loss to the Storm, featuring in most of Parra’s attacking plays. However, it was his spectacular no look inside ball for Will Smith’s try that caught my eye.

A highlight of the Eels recent run of form has been this Moses/Smith combination. The duo are certainly an unexpected attacking weapon, given Moses began the year at the Tigers and Smith’s season started with his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.

Moses plays like a long term member of the Eels squad, not a mid season acquisition. At various times he has assumed the dominant half role, thereby taking the pressure off Corey Norman.

Can he take the Eels even deeper into this finals series?

Cowboys halfback Michael Morgan was the difference between the Sharks and Cowboys last Sunday. His field goal ultimately provided the one point difference on the scoreboard, but it was his composure and game management which played the greater part in the victory.

Morgan has matured as an elite player in the last couple of seasons, and his value to the Cowboys in the absence of Thurston is immense.

As the cornerstone of much of the Cowboy’s attack, his name is sure to feature prominently on the Eels tip sheets.

 

My tip: As you may have guessed I’m tipping the Eels to win a tight encounter.

Put me down for an Eels victory, Eels 20 – Cowboys 10.

 

Man of the match: Nathan Brown or Mitchell Moses

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan

 

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3 thoughts on “Match Preview – Eels vs Cowboys (Semi Final 2)

  1. John Eel

    I thought Tepai looked great in his short stint against Melbourne. His running was very strong.

    He will be a big loss

  2. The rev aka Snedden

    Hi Nathan. So pumped for tonight n yes I’m going with the wife our son n his gf.

    I hope tepai moeroa does play so we can use kenny off the bench if not then I say we bring in gower into the starting side n keep Kenny on the bench. I don’t like Kenny starting we become flat as a team if he doesn’t come off the bench.

    Eels 28 / cowboys 8.

    I’m expecting parra to let rip n go on a try rampage.

    I like a lot of eels fan n the so called experts expects to win n win we’ll.
    The cows had nothing thrown at them by the sharks.

    We have been inform n will throw a lot at the cowboys. If we score say 24 points in the 1st half I can’t see the cowboys getting close.

    #Eels4life#

  3. Parra Pete, Hay

    I’m more worried about this game than the next two )V Roosters) and Storm.
    Hate it when the Eels are raging favourites…

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