Two teams both in need of a win for different reasons clash in tonight’s match as a desperate Parramatta Eels outfit prepares to take on the resurgent North Queensland Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium. We’ll have live scores from 7.30pm AEST.
Whilst new Eels coach Ricky Stuart foreshadowed a season of highs and lows for the Parramatta faithful, few could have predicted that their season would bottom out as spectacularly as it did in last Monday night’s shellacking by fellow strugglers Penrith.
Stuart’s outfit was completely dominated by the Panthers, and coming up against a Cowboys side boasting the likes of Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen, the tackling bags at Parramatta stadium would have copped a pounding this week.
On the other side of the ledger are the Cowboys, a team earmarked for great things in season 2013 but who to date have only been able to display flashes of brilliance.
Last weekend’s comfortable win against the Raiders at home following a close lose to the Broncos would suggest they are moving in the right direction, however they’ll need to prove they can win in Sydney on a regular basis if they are going to be considered premiership threats.
Tonight’s match is the perfect platform for North QLD to launch their Sydney assault, and with a set of representative props and speed to burn out wide there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be the case.
As for players to watch Jarryd Hayne should be looking for a big game tonight, and the Eels young winger Toutai has proven himself a handful for opposition defences.
For the Cowboys lookout for the evergreen Brent Tate and the emerging Kane Linnet, two tough as nails centres who will make sure their young opposite numbers are in for a busy evening.
The last time these two sides met was early 2012 with the Cowboys winning to the tune of 42-6.
Whilst it’s unlikely to be of that magnitude, it’s difficult to see anything other than a Cowboys victory at Parramatta Stadium this evening, I’m tipping North Queensland by 14
But…stranger things have happened in rugby league; Kick-off is at 7.30pm AEST.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Won't be easy Elijah. Rabbits haven't clicked into full gear yet and are still winning. I know who I'll be tipping.
Elijah Weightman
Roar Guru
Good to get the points there, Eels with a much improved performance from last week. I'm fearing this Friday night for the Cowboys though.
Cameron
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: Parramatta Eels 10 North Queensland Cowboys 14 This is the Cowboys fourth win of the season, second in Sydney and first time they've gone back-to-back this year. Despite a significantly improved performance by the Eels tonight the cowboys weren't at their best and the Eels still fave a lot of work to do. Cowboys now sit in eighth behind fellow Queensland teams Broncos and Titans.
Matt
Guest
Phew!
Cameron
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: Parramatta Eels 10 North Queensland Cowboys 14
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Played hard Done good
Cameron
Roar Guru
79' Eels 10 Cowboys 14 Penalty eels, this is it!
Cameron
Roar Guru
77' Eels 10 Cowboys 14 Great metres for the Cowboys in that set. Coming from inside their own half, they complete after a short kick from Johnathan Thurston from inside the attacking 20 metres goes touch in goal.
Cameron
Roar Guru
75' Eels 10 Cowboys 14 Just as Parra were getting into an attacking position, Vai Toutai knocks on. That could hurt Parra.
Cameron
Roar Guru
73' Eels 10 Cowboys 14 Penalty Eels, Tamou inside the 10. A much needed piggy back.
Cameron
Roar Guru
72' Eels 10 Cowboys 14 Cowboys had a prefect opportunity to maintain pressure but Tate dropped the ball around Parra's 20. Eels will need to score and score soon.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
They're not doing too bad considering
Bazzio
Roar Guru
I'm pretty sure that Brent Tate has a love bite from James Tamou after that try
Cameron
Roar Guru
69' Eels 10 Cowboys 14 Try to Brent Tate, conversion successful from Thurston. Good pressure leading up to that try. Eels completion rate letting them down.
Cameron
Roar Guru
62' Eels 10 Cowboys 8 Fuifui moimoi scoring in the 51' to bring scores back to 8 all. Conversion successful from Sandow.
jay
Guest
Go cowboys, take the eels out. Good job chris, I might not have austar but its still good having the scores
oikee
Guest
This is the weakest Parramatta team i have seen ever. They will be better next year with a couple of hard no nonsence pommie forwards in the team to show them the way.
Kb24
Guest
Amy live updates
Bazzio
Roar Guru
What a wonderfull respectful silence @ Parra stadium in memory of Alex Elisala Not one yobbo yell
oikee
Guest
G'day Chris, mate if the Eels beat the Cows tonite, get a big black pen out and strike it through the cows. Have a good call, i will be around once i find out who the refs are, i go by the refs now, Hollywood refs who have no idea, or proper refs and video who have common sense. It's a lottery, hehe.