Saturday, 16^th September 2017

ANZ Stadium, Homebush, NSW

After a tremendous game against the Storm in week one of the finals, the Eels will be deadset on fire and ready to take out this game against the Cowboys and progress to the Grand Final qualifier against an awaiting Sydney Roosters side.

The Eels are heavily backed to take this game out over the injury plagued Cowboys, but as the Sharks found out last week, the Eels can’t take a win for granted.

Another tremendous game is on the cards for Saturday night.

Last 10 Games

Last 10 games have the Cowboys with 7 wins to Eels 3. Season 2017 has both teams squaring the ledger at 1 each.

Score Aggregate

Eels – 150

Cowboys – 282

Score Average

Eels – 15

Cowboys – 28

Quick Facts

• The Eels and Cowboys have played each other 37 times
• The Eels hold a slender 19 – 17 lead over the Cowboys
• At ANZ, they have played each other only once with the Cowboys taking out that game.
• At ANZ, the Eels have played 75 times with a 37 to 37 win loss record.
• The Cowboys at ANZ have played 22 times winning 9, losing 13.
• 2017 – Eels – Won 16, Lost 9. Points p/g 20.5, Points conceded p/g 19.0
• 2017 – Cowboys – Won 14, Lost 11. Points p/g 19.3, Points conceded p/g 18.3

By Quarter (and Golden Point)

With the Cowboys slow out of the blocks, the Eels can wrap this game up before half time and keep their foot on the throat for the second half and really put the rest of the competition on notice.

Last week was the first occasion this season that we witnessed the Eels lose after leading at half time. Nonetheless, it remains a very proud stat to hold for the regular season.

The Cowboys on the other hand can let a lead slip. In four matches this year they have led at half time and lost. Conversely, they have won 6 games when down at oranges. The Eels definitely need to be wary of that.

Attack:

*average per game (Ranking)

Defence:

*average per game (Ranking)

Discipline:

*average per game (Ranking)

The Cowboys are very good at controlling possession, as evidenced by their possession and completion rates. It explains the way that they keep in the contest when it appears that teams will overpower them. The Eels need to maintain composure and trust their processes when the Cowboys refuse to buckle.

Alternately, the Cowboys don’t do much with the ball when they do have it. They barely offload and rarely make a line break, so Parramatta’s defence needs to hold strong and stay in a line and they will be able to hold out the Cowboys.

What the Cowboys can do is keep their attacking line rolling. Heavy metres from Taumalolo keeps them on the front foot with quick play the balls also an advantage to them. Slow the ruck down and effectively you will slow down the Cowboys go forward.

Tight middle defending is key here when Taumalolo is on game. With him running off the back fence, he can really hurt you. If you keep him quiet he goes missing and his runs aren’t as lethal and feared. The same applies to Asiata who can also ball play.

Parramatta can utilize their edge attackers more in this game. Fewer hit ups through the middle then start going to the edges. Semi was fairly quiet against the Storm, but it looked as though that was the game plan as the Eels used the Auva’a – Jennings combination quite well.

Both Cowboys edge defenders back pedal a bit, especially Te Maire Martin and Javid Bowen who are not known defenders. Gavin Cooper and Ethan Lowe will be having nightmares trying to handle the likes of Ma’u, Taka and Semi on one side and Moeroa, Jennings and Auva’a on the other.

The Eels have strike all over the park and this should see a comfortable victory over a very committed Cowboys side.

The extra time game last week and then the travel back and forth from Townsville should see the Cowboys petrol tank sitting on empty right about now.

So lets get out to ANZ on Saturday and cheer the boys home. Hopefully we can get 30 to 40 thousand out there, then a massive crowd against the Chooks the Saturday after.

Not wanting to get to ahead of myself here but I know we can do it. We are the form side in this comp right now and we will show it come Saturday night.

Yours in Blue and Gold

Colmac

Stats courtesy of Champion Data. All these stats and more can be viewed on our match centre at http://mc.championdata.com/nrl/ including live game stats.

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