The Cumberland Throw

Match Preview – Eels vs Cowboys (Round 14)        

Date: Saturday 10th of June

Venue: TIO Stadium

Gates Open: 5:00pm

Kick off: 7:30 pm (NYC 5:15)

Head Referee: Adam Gee

Assistant Referee: Gavin Reynolds

Head to head: Played 35, Eels 18, Cowboys 16, drawn 1

Head to head odds: Cowboys ($ 1.85), Eels ($ 2.00)  

Broadcast: Live Fox Sports (Broadcast kick off: 7:30pm)

 

Last four encounters:

 

  1. Eels 26, Cowboys 6 at 1300 Smiles Stadium (2017)
  2. Cowboys 32, Eels 16 at 1300 Smiles Stadium (2016)
  3. Eels 20, Cowboys 16 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)
  4. Cowboys 46, Eels 4 at 1300 Smiles Stadium (2015)

 

Preview: This weekend’s round fourteen Saturday night encounter will feature a battle between the 8th placed Parramatta Eels and the 7th placed North Queensland Cowboys. Although listed as an Eels home game it will take place in Darwin at TIO Stadium. The Eels enter this clash off the back of two straight wins against both the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs and New Zealand Warriors whereas the North Queensland Cowboys were last start winners against the Gold Coast Titans. With some doubt hanging over players in each team, it will be interesting to see which players end up taking the field.

 

Value Bet: This weeks value bet is for the Eels to score a 1 points to 12 victory at $3.30, but this is only if Johnathan Thurston does not play.

As for the first try favourites, the Eels have Semi Radradra at $8.50 and both Bevan French and Nathan Davis out at $12. Clint Gutherson is out at $19 and has been known to score a few tries of late, including his double in the Eels last start win against the Cowboys a handful of rounds ago?

As for the Cowboys first try favourites we have Antonio Winterstein and Kyle Feldt both at $11.

 

Interesting fact: Eels utility back Clint Gutherson has been in outstanding form of late scoring 22 points in his last two games and currently sits as equal top point scorer with 104 points scored so far this season.

 

 

 

It will be a big game for: This weeks game will be a big one for Parramatta Eels halfback Mitch Moses. Since joining the Eels as a mid season transfer from the Tigers the young half has been solid without being great. Recent media speculation has put the pressure on Brad Arthur to retain Gutherson in the halves but it seems as if the Eels coach will do some re-shuffling to pair Moses with Norman. It’s now up to Moses to silence those critics.

 

 

Danger man: This weeks danger man is Cowboys back rower Coen Hess.

Hess has been in devastating form this season and currently sits amongst the games top try scorers. The young bull is certainly one to keep an eye as he might be able to force his way into the Queensland Origin team for Origin 2.

Hess certainly has the statistics to back his cause. He is one of the hardest back rowers to tackle in the NRL, as evidenced by his mounting tackle busts numbers. The Eels will do well to contain him.

 

Team lists:

 

Parramatta Eels (8th coming into the round)

 

  1. Bevan French
  2. Semi Radradra
  3. Brad Takairangi
  4. Kirisome Auva’a
  5. Nathan Davis
  6. Clint Gutherson
  7. Mitchell Moses
  8. Suaia Matagi
  9. Kaysa Pritchard
  10. Tim Mannah (C)
  11. Manu Ma’u
  12. Tepai Moeroa
  13. Nathan Brown

 

  1. Beau Scott (C)
  2. Daniel Alvaro
  3. Kenny Edwards
  4. Will Smith

 

  1. John Folau
  2. Siosaia Vave  
  3. Marata Nuikore
  4. Corey Norman

 

Coach: Brad Arthur

 

Late mail: Corey Norman is likely to come in for Kirisome Auva’a with Clint Gutherson shifting to the centres with Norman taking his spot in the halves.

 

North Queensland Cowboys (7th place coming into the round)

 

  1. Lachlan Coote
  2. Kyle Feldt
  3. Justin O’ Neil
  4. Kane Linnet
  5. Antonio Winterstein
  6. Kyle Laybutt
  7. Michael Morgan
  8. John Asiata
  9. Jake Granville
  10. Scott Bolton
  11. Gavin Reynolds (C)
  12. Ethan Lowe
  13. Jason Taumalolo

 

  1. Ben Hampton
  2. Coen Hess
  3. Shaun Fensom
  4. Ben Spina

 

  1. Corey Jensen
  2. Johnathan Thurston
  3. Kalyn Ponga
  4. Javid Bowen

 

Coach: Paul Green

 

Late mail: Thurston is now likely to take his place in the halves.

 

Two key match ups:

 

Mitchell Moses vs Michael Morgan:

The first key match up is battle of the halfbacks as new Eels recruit Mitchell Moses comes up against Cowboys superstar Michael Morgan.

Moses has played in a winning Eels side in two of the last three games. However, the young playmaker has yet to find his groove, which is not unexpected given that he is still getting used to life at the Eels. This has mainly manifested in some of his defensive decisions. Nonetheless, at 22 years of age, he has the potential to be a major superstar – a major reason why Eels coach Brad Arthur was so keen to get Moses to the club. A strong game from Moses will go a long way towards justifying Arthur’s decision to shift Gutherson to the centres in spite of his outstanding form in the halves. Ideally that will all start against the Cowboys.

Cowboys halfback Michael Morgan, like his team, has had a mixed start to the year. Whilst a shoulder injury to superstar halfback Johnathan Thurston has complicated things, the Cowboys still sit 7th on the NRL completion ladder one place ahead of the Eels. Ideally the Cowboys would like to be sitting higher than 7th at this stage of the year, but the season is far from over and the Cowboys have the opportunity to finish much higher on the ladder before the regular home and away rounds end.

If the Cowboys are defeat the Eels this weekend, Morgan must take control and really put his stamp of authority on the game. The powerful pivot provides a point of difference in attack and the Eels shoukd be wary whenever he chooses to run the ball, particularly when the Cowboys are close to the Eels line as this is where he is most dangerous.

 

Nathan Brown vs Jason Taumalolo:

The second key match up is a battle of the lock forwards as Eels workhorse Nathan Brown goes up against Cowboys man-mountain Jason Taumalolo.

Value signings don’t come much better than Eels lock forward Nathan Brown. The utility forward joined the Eels from the Rabbitohs at the start of this season and began his tenure coming off the bench. However, as the season has progressed Brown has been amongst the Eels best performers each and every week and in turn has forced Eels coach Brad Arthur into picking him in the starting line up. He has turned into an absolute workhorse for the Eels, averaging well over 100 metres and over 30 tackles per game. Along with his grunt work up front comes an ability to ball play. Brown has an uncanny ability to players into space, which adds a new dimension to the Eels attack. He’s always been known for his aggression, especially in defence, but this development in his game may yet see Brown come into representative jersey calculations in the future.

Cowboys lock forward Jason Taumalolo is one of the game’s most damaging players in both attack and defence. A devastating ball runner, Taumalolo often takes four or five defenders to bring him to ground and he has the ability to offload the ball at will. Whilst he isn’t an 80-minute player, the minutes he does play are played with impact and intensity.

It will be interesting to look for those moments in the game when Brown and Taumololo square up. They both love to charge into the defensive line and they also enjoy delivering their own special message in defence. It would be certain that Brown will be adding Jason Taumalolo to his hit list. I can’t wait to see it!

My tip:  With the likely inclusion of Corey Norman (as of Friday confirmed as a likely stater) I see the Parramatta Eels claiming victory – Eels 28, Cowboys 18.

Man of the match: Clinton Gutherson / Corey Norman

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan

 

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3 thoughts on “Match Preview – Eels vs Cowboys (Round 14)        

  1. The rev aka Snedden

    Nathan from the last time we played cowboys I think brown was plying on the right side edge n tepai playing lock. Yes I know browny has 13 on his back but you watch tonight it’s tepai who will play tomalolo.
    I’m thinking if JT plays he will only play half a game which I think is a waste of time.
    Either way I’m looking at a eels win by 6 points.

  2. Mitchy

    Nathan, good work mate and thanks. I am concerned who’ll be in our final 17….and hope we have some props in good form and not too busted. I think our backs are v strong, and we gain a lot with Guth in centres, and Moses and Norms in halves. It’ll be one interesting game, but is ours to win.

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