Date: Saturday 23^rd of April

Venue: 1300 Smiles Stadium

Gates Open: 4:45pm

Kick off: 7:30pm (NYC U20s 5:00pm)

Head Referee: Gerard Sutton

Assistant Referee: Peter Gough

Head to head: Played 34, Eels 18, Cowboys 15, drawn 1

Head to head odds: Cowboys ($ 1.35), Eels ($ 3.15)

Broadcast: Fox Sports – Live coverage from 7:30pm

Last four encounters:

1. Eels 20, Cowboys 16 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)
2. Cowboys 46, Eels 4 at 1300 Smiles Stadium (2015)
3. Cowboys 36, Eels 30 at Pirtek Stadium (2015)
4. Eels 18, Cowboys 16 at Pirtek Stadium (2014)

 Preview:

This week’s Round 8 encounter will see two top four placed teams take the field to do battle as the 2^nd placed North Queensland Cowboys square off against the 4^th placed Parramatta Eels. Both the Cowboys and Eels enter this match off last-start wins as the Cowboys made light work of the Rabbitohs in a 44-18 romp while the Eels were able to score a tough 22-10 victory against the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval – one of the noted ‘fortresses’ in the National Rugby League competition. The last time these two teams met was in Round 2 of this season where the Eels were able to grind out a 20-16 victory. The question now is who will be the victor on Saturday night at 1300 Smiles Stadium? The only way to find out is to tune in to Fox Sports at 7:30PM by any means possible to watch two of the NRL heavyweights duke it out for the all important two competition points.

Value Bet:

My value bet for this is to take the Parramatta Eels to beat the North Queensland Cowboys at the line. The Eels are at $1.91 to beat the Cowboys at the line with a plus 8.0 point start.

In the first try scorers market, Cowboys have Antonio Winterstein and Kyle Feldt both at $9.50 to claim the first try, whereas the Eels have Semi Radradra at $7.50 and Clinton Gutherson at $14 as their first try favourites.

Also a friendly reminder to punters that Michael Jennings is $15 to claim the first try off the back of scoring a double against the Sea Eagles last week.

Interesting fact:

Out of all 13 players selected to start for the Eels this weekend only three have not claimed a try so far this season. A remarkable stat considering the season is only seven rounds old. In a season where we are still to hit top gear in attack, the scoring has been shared around.

It will be a big week for: Corey Norman.

This week shapes as a big one for star Parramatta five-eighth Corey Norman. Norman is currently off contract at season’s end and is playing arguably some of the best football of his career. While Norman is the sole player in the Parramatta backline yet to claim a try to his name in 2016, he has had a hand in setting up plenty for his team mates. It’s Norman’s gifts as a natural ball player and his propensity as a game-breaker that now has him firmly on the radars of opposition teams as a priority target to shut down. In saying that it certainly seems to be much easier said than done.

Norman started 2016 off in spectacular fashion by claiming the Auckland Nines Player of the Tournament. The tournament itself show cased just how good Norman can be and hinted at what more he could be capable of when finally lining up with marquee recruit Kieran Foran . When these two teams last met, the Eels walked away with a 20-16 victory and on that night Norman was probably the best player on the field, giving his opposite number Michael Morgan a real lesson in play-making and tempo-control throughout the game. Even though Norman was the better player when they last met, Morgan himself is a class act and will no doubt be determined to get one back on Norman. The question is, how long can Norman sustain this high level of football? Eels fans will be hoping the vein of form doesn’t run dry for a long time!

Danger man:

This week’s danger man is Cowboys hooker Jake Granville. Ever since he became a Cowboy several seasons ago, Granville’s career as a NRL player has well and truly taken off. In some circles of high influence, it’s rumoured that the talented dummy-half may even be on the radar for an Origin call up for Queensland in the near future. Whether he plays Origin or not, Granville is definitely a player to watch in the future. His most prominent feature would have to be his speed, an attribute hookers over the past ten years haven’t had in spades but it’s a trend that is becoming increasingly prominent in the next generation of rakes. Matt Parcell, Kaysa Pritchard and Damien Cook are all perfect examples of this trend.

Despite the threat that Granville presents around the ruck, opposition teams would be grateful for the fact that he is not currently an 80-minute player. Conversely, the nature of Granville not playing out the full 80 minutes speaks volumes to the quality of his work and the danger he poses to opposition while he is on the park. I dare say that Granville plans to become an 80 minute player and when that day comes he may just be more than a danger man, he could be one of the best hookers in the NRL.

On the topic of talented hookers, Nathan Peats will likely be zeroed in on Granville this week – as both a personal challenge and for the aid of his team. The ability of Peats to shore up the ruck defence for the Eels will be crucial in containing the running game of Granville.

North Queensland Cowboys (2^nd coming into the round)

1. Lachlan Coote
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Justin O’ Neil
4. Kane Linnett
5. Antonio Winterstein
6. Michael Morgan
7. Johnathan Thurston (C)
8. Matt Scott
9. Jake Granville
10. James Tamou
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Ethan Lowe
13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Rory Kostjasyn
15. Patrick Kaufusi
16. Scott Bolton
17. Ben Hannant

Coach: Paul Green

Late mail: Expect the Cowboys to line up as per the program 1-17.

Parramatta Eels (4^th coming into the round)

1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Clint Gutherson
6. Corey Norman
7. Kieran Foran (C)
8. Junior Paulo
9. Nathan Peats
10. Daniel Alvaro
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Beau Scott
13. Tepai Moeroa

14. Issac De Gois
15. Peni Terepo
16. Danny Wicks
17. Kenny Edwards

Coach: Brad Arthur

Late mail: Tim Mannah will not make an early return from injury as a result the Eels are expected to be 1-17.

Two Key Match-ups

1. Johnathan Thurston vs Kieran Foran:

The first key match up will be the battle of the halfbacks. This isn’t just any ordinary battle between the #7s. This contest will see two of the world’s best square off against each other as the North Queensland and Australian superstar Johnathan Thurston stares down New Zealand international and Eels’ captain Kieran Foran – a superstar in his own right.

The last time these two teams met, Foran was making his first appearance in for the Blue and Gold. As it turned out it would be a happy outing for Foran who was able to help guide his team to a closely fought victory over the reigning premiers. In spite of his role in a winning Eels outfit on the night, Foran admitted he was a little underdone due to a hamstring injury he had been battling throughout the preseason. Despite the hamstring handicap in that particular game, Foran would start showing his true worth soon after, putting together some impressive performances that would see the Eels claim a string of victories in the opening exchanges of the competition. It would seem with the addition of Foran the Eels are finally a force to be be well and truly reckoned with.

It is evident that Foran is a natural leader on the park by the way he seems to elevate the games of the players surrounding him. Foran is a natural runner of the ball and has shown in recent weeks that he is finally on the way to shaking off the hamstring injury that plagued him during the preseason and early rounds off this season. Opposing teams will surely be marking this down as a danger sign as they prepare for the Eels in 2016.

Let’s shift the focus to Johnathan Thurston now. When we all think of Thurston there is one clear statement that comes to mind – ‘the world’s best’. That particular phrase is not said lightly given the calibre of players we have witnessed in the modern era. Thurston has proven time and time again the peerless qualities he possesses. ‘JT’ is a player who has the ability to seemingly conjure footy miracles when his teams needs them the most. He can make the impossible very much possible and you can probably count on just one hand the other players who possess a similarly unique talent.

So far this season the Cowboys have been good without reaching their peak and despite Thurston featuring prominently in all of the Cowboys’ wins this season it would be safe to say we haven’t seen the best of the reigning Dally M medalist. That is a testament to the regard and esteem to which Thurston is held to – it’s almost a given that we all know he has the ability to be better still. While it maybe true that the NRL is packed with players who possess great talent, it’s the consistency that sets apart the best from the very best. Thurston, much like Foran, is the type of player that never really plays a bad game. It’s for this reason players like Foran and Thurston are counted among the most wanted in the game when they do come off-contract. To find a player that plays consistently great football is very much a rarity in the NRL.

If,after this weekend, you haven’t seen enough of Kieran Foran and Johnathan Thurston squaring off, you’ll get another chance come the ANZAC Test in a couple of weeks.

2. Lachlan Coote vs Michael Gordon:

The second key match up will feature the two custodians as the sensational Lachlan Coote lines up against the Eels’ veteran fullback Michael Gordon in something of an ex-Penrith twist. Gordon a former Panther and Shark joined the Eels this season as part of a major recruitment drive that boasted other big names such as Beau Scott and Kieran Foran. ‘Flash’ has enjoyed success with the Eels this season and indeed has rejuvenated his career after stalling at Cronulla. His great personal form has helped to spearhead the Eels into the top four and netted 48 points to his name to date, which has him sitting 6th on the overall tally (coincidentally led by none of than Johnathan Thurston).

Gordon has been one of Parramatta’s best, week in week out. It’s the experience of Gordon that I believe has given the Eels’ back three a real boost this season. He is a prominent voice on the field and has had many years on NRL paddocks as a fullback to hone his trade. He has been there, done that and knows exactly what to do to aid his team to victory. Fullback is a position that has been a dilemma for the Eels ever since the departure of superstar #1 Jarryd Hayne. Gordon has finally filled that void and taken upon that most burdensome of NRL mantles for the Blue and Gold. While Gordon maybe not as spectacular as Hayne, he is doing a fine job and he would be making the coach Brad Arthur and fans very proud of his efforts so far this season.

Cowboys’ fullback Lachlan Coote is currently one of the game’s best fullbacks on form and perhaps even the best player for the North Queensland franchise – quite a statement considering the Cowboys team boasts stars such as Thurston, Morgan, Granville, Taumalolo and Scott. Coote has been the difference in many a tight game for the Cowboys this season. Who could forget his performance against the Panthers a few weeks ago that saw the Cowboys narrowly walk away with the two competition points out at Pepper stadium? Coote is currently the hottest topic in the player market right now and is arguably the most prized signature for 2017. He has attracted plenty of interest from a variety of Sydney clubs including the Sydney Roosters and the St George Illawarra Dragons who seem intent on claiming the star fullback’s signature. He is a natural modern day fullback and your complete package as from the back. Not only can he do all the things a good #1 is expected to do, but he also possesses the skills and vision worthy of a halfback or five-eighth. This factor makes Coote an extremely valuable commodity for the Cowboys as he can relieve pressure off the likes of Michael Morgan and Johnathan Thurston. If the Eels are to claim victory against the Cowboys come Saturday night they may want to make shutting down Lachlan Coote a high priority.

My tip: On paper this one shapes up as a convincing victory to the Cowboys. In saying that, much of the advantage towards a Cowboys victory is contingent on having the home ground advantage in this affair. Many teams find it hard to travel to North Queensland and come away with the victory and on top of that, 1300 Smiles Stadium has never really been much of a happy hunting ground for the Parramatta Eels. With that said I could see the aggressive defensive style of the Eels frustrating a few errors out of the Cowboys as it did in Round 2. If that does come to pass this will be a very close encounter and based on what I have seen from the Eels in 2016, I do expect our boys to rattle the cage of the Cowboys.

Ultimately, I’m going to have to tip a Cowboys victory in this, although it really could go either way. Cowboys 24, Eels 20.

Man of the match: Johnathan Thurston or Corey Norman (depending on the winning team)

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan

Images courtesy of the NRL and the Parramatta Eels

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