Every season has at least one game like this. The ladder positions aren’t important; both teams know it, and yet there’s still a reason to tune in on Saturday.
For Parramatta, it’s about answering a question that’s followed them all season long.
Is the back half of this season the real Eels, or just a mirage before the roster sees changes in the off-season?
A young side that couldn’t buy a win in the first six rounds has quietly put together some of its best footy of 2026 when it matters least, and there’s something worth watching in whether that form holds up even when the pressure is gone entirely.
Last week, against the Raiders, earning the 17-16 victory via a Rachael Pearson field goal was an example of how this team can compete with the NRLW finalists, but it’s not been consistent.
For North Queensland, it’s about pride, plain and simple. Nobody wants to walk away from a 56-6 hiding and let it determine how fans remember their season.
The group that will run out Saturday is determined to make sure last week’s loss to the Roosters is treated as the aberration rather than the form line.
With both coaches handing out debuts for young promising talents while searching for answers, there’s more than enough here to hold your attention, even with finals football off the table for both clubs.
Game Info
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Kick-off: 12:00 PM AEST
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Tori Wilkie
Broadcast: Foxtel and Nine Gem
Live Stream: Kayo & Nine Now
Team Lists
Parramatta Eels
1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Rory Owen 4. Jasmin Morrissey 5. Freedom Crichton Ropati 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Layne Morgan 10. Boss Kapua 11. Chloe Jackson 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Keilee Joseph 14. Taneka Todhunter 15. Ryvrr-Lee Alo 16. Fontayne Tufuga 17. Kennedy Cherrington 18. Rueben Cherrington 19. Khyliah Gray 20. Tess McWilliams 21. Fleur Ginn 22. Kate Fallon
Winger Martha Mataele is out after copping a head knock late in the win over the Raiders, with Freedoom Crichton-Ropati handed her NRLW debut in her place.
The only other change sees Taneka Todhunter on the bench, pushing Rueben Cherrington back to the reserves.
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. Charlize Lloyd-Phillips 3. Abigail Roache 4. Jasmine Peters 5. Margot Vella 6. Lydia Turua-Quedley 7. Rosie Kelly 8. Essay Banu 9. Alisha Foord 10. Ashley Marsters 11. Hailee-Jay Ormound-Maunsell 12. Bree Chester 13. Makenzie Weale 14. Nadia Windleborn 15. Lily Dick 16. Ebony Raftstrand-Smith 17. Tafao Asaua 18. Tallara Bamblett 19. Emily Veivers 20. Lyrech Mara 21. Kayla Jackson 22. Jennifer Kimber
Jasmine Peters is back in the centres after sitting out last week under concussion protocols, which pushes Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell back to the second row and Kayla Jackson out of the run-on side entirely.
Tafao Asua also returns from suspension straight onto the bench, with Tayla Curtis making way.
The Game
Parramatta have found something that simply wasn’t there at the start of the season – greater control of games, creating more chances to score points, and nailing the right moments like the siren-beating field goal from Rachael Pearson. That key moment against the Raiders was as good a piece of composure as the Eels have produced all year.
Parramatta have the tools to make life difficult for a Cowboys side that has leaked points all season.
Eels NRLW Player of the Year Abbi Church continues to show her work ethic, along with providing the x-factor out the back. She’s had terrific support in attack from Rory Owen, with the Maroon’s Origin centre turning quarter chances into tries and threatening defences with every carry.
That’s Freedom!
Freedom Crichton Ropati’s debut on the wing is one to watch. A rising star through the Eels pathways she has consistently demonstrated elite finishing and a powerful running game that is built on raw tackle-breaking power. Losing Martha Mataele was not ideal, but this game now has the interesting sub plot of an exciting debut.
The stats tell Freedom’s story – 18 tries in just 9 NSW Women’s Premiership games on her way to establishing star status in that grade. Throw in her selection in the Women’s Under 19s State of Origin, and you have a young person building a reputation as one of the brightest talents in women’s rugby league.
Speaking of a young player making her mark, what about Boss Kapua getting over for her first try in the NRLW. The young prop has the power and athleticism to make a mark in the game, and with some self belief and confidence, the sky could be the limit.
Boss Kapua
So what do Eels fans need to see?
The fight to stay in the game and the commitment to see out the end regardless of the result, just like when they played the Raiders.
Parramatta need to complete their sets, gain the ascendancy through the middle, kick deep and astutely, and put field position pressure on the Cowboys.
This needs to be another game where the Eels set the level of physicality of the game, rather than letting the Cowboys define the standard. If they do so, the spine can take charge.
As for North Queensland, they will need a response, and a big one, after being taken apart by the Roosters.
Francesca Goldthorp has had her moments out the back for the Cowboys this year, and Rosie Kelly’s kicking game can occasionally drag her side into contests they have no right being in.
However, a pack that has been bullied through the middle for large stretches this season needs to find a way to challenge the Eels forward pack on Saturday or it could turn into another long afternoon.
Jasmine Peters slotting back into centres is a boost for their attacking shape. Whether that’s enough to paper over the bigger structural issues in this side remains to be seen.
The Result?
Historically, the Eels have owned this fixture since both sides have joined the competitio, with the Cowboys’ only win against the blue and gold coming last season.
Add in the fact Parramatta are playing with far more “freedom” than they were earlier this season, and it’s hard to see North Queensland turning last week’s horror show around inside a week.
If the Cowboys are to cause an upset, it’ll come down to limiting their own errors and making the Eels work for every metre through the middle.
Based on the form both sides showed last weekend, that looks like a big ask.
Prediction: Eels by 8
Player of the Game: Rachael Pearson
Kye Ferreira
Earlier in the season you couldn’t help but notice that usually by tackle 3 in the opponent’s set there were wide open spaces between our defence and oncoming ball carriers and we were conceding huge territory, line breaks and tries.It had me questioning what had happened to the team’s likely improvement from 2025 levels.Whatever the causes, we now seem to be in better shape to compete, so I hope the team can make a strong statement to see out 2026. The ability us there.