The minor premiership is on the line for the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 26, but they will have to defeat top four hopefuls the North Queensland Cowboys to secure top spot on the ladder. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
The Cowboys and Sea Eagles have developed a healthy rivalry in recent seasons and tonight’s contest promises to be an absolute beauty between two premiership contenders.
A win for Manly tonight will secure the minor premiership and most importantly a foundation from which to mount a serious assault on another premiership.
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The Cowboys however, have plenty to play for themselves. If they defeat the Sea Eagles, they will find themselves inside the top four given their superior points differential over Melbourne and Penrith.
North Queensland would then have to hope that the Panthers lose to the Warriors tomorrow night to stay inside the top four – a realistic possibility given that the New Zealand franchise themselves are fighting for a rare finals berth.
After surviving a major scare against the under-strength Sharks, the Cowboys should be expected to come out firing against a Manly team that also performed their own Houdini act against Penrith last week.
The Sea Eagles were scrappy for large parts of the contest against the Panthers but managed to produce enough quality in the last ten minutes to secure a narrow victory.
Despite both teams coming off underwhelming performances, we should expect a high quality contest between two of the best attacking outfits in the NRL.
The Cowboys will be desperate to avenge their controversial early season defeat to the Sea Eagles by winning tonight in front of a good home crowd.
While there are plenty of head to head battles to look forward to, the clash between Johnathon Thurston and Daly Cherry-Evans should be a highlight.
The winner of that particular contest will most likely lead their side to the win.
Tip: Cowboys by 6.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage form 7:30pm (AEST).
If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Joel
Guest
I think everyone must have missed those blatant knock ons, and Sheppards to score the cows try's hey Speck .......
Joel
Guest
Seems that given the game finally being officiated properly we have a Cows win, what a surprise. If the Hens were not top billing and say Souths were in that position, I think we would have had a different performance from the Refs in this game. As we all know that the Hens are the NRL darlings. As proven from the disgraceful performance from the Refs in last years Grand Final.
Joel
Guest
Cows have got the comp spooked!
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Forget it Alan. Good call mate.
steveng
Guest
That was a good win to the Cowboys but I wouldn't get too excited by this result as for me Manly are a troubled club and last night they just didn't play as though they wanted to win anything they were lethargic without that killer instinct that we know from the Eagles. It will be interesting to see how Manly recover from these defeats and how they will perform from now on.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
That's probably true, plus it would be good to play them while they are down on troops. Without Jake Friend both teams are pretty even across the park as the Cowboys lack a quality rake, although both Kosty and Thompson are playing much better now then at the start of the year. Granville will be a huge asset next season.
Alan
Roar Guru
What are you talking about Up in the North? I have praised the Cowboys plenty of times throughout the call. Read!
Manly Man
Guest
We had half a team.
Glenn Innes
Guest
The Cowboys keep flogging top four teams (Souths twice, now Manly) Up in the North, this just might be your year, if I was a Cowboys fan I would be getting pretty excited.
Muzz
Guest
I'm assuming that Channel 9 will want Manly v Souths played on Friday night. Roosters v 4th placed team on Saturday night. I will be cheering for Manly on Friday.However, unless they can turn things around quickly they could be on a hiding to nothing.
up in the north
Guest
The only theme I can see is ridiculous comment from the likes of you Einstein. Why can't you just admit that Manly were out-played by a better team tonight? And let us who are in raptures about that win enjoy it? What's it like in your little world? Do you hear the voices? I can. They're saying Cowbiys are my team, and it's my dream to see them at the top. Live long and prosper my friend.
up in the north
Guest
Did you get dropped on your head as a child, child?
The spectator
Guest
Bwhahahahaha, still getting checked for talking about rabbits supporters worrying about playing Manly again! def a a hare supporter!
The spectator
Guest
the same ones who 2012 that you scored a try of a blatent strip in ftont of the ref only to cry when it evened out in the wash with the so called hand of foran only to lose cause you couldnt win and pull out the foil hat!! yes the last years 7 tackle wasnt good but 70 mins to be a better side you couldnt be and complain again, see the theme!
up in the north
Guest
I'm too excited to go to sleep. In some ways the Cowbies have had their Grand Final tonight, nobody really expects them to be anything other than a joke, so they really don't really have anything to lose either way do they? Talk about convoluted! But tonight they played 'The Game"against 'them'and they not only won the game, but they out played ''them''. We all know who them are, don't we? You know, the ones who make us run for shelter under our tinfoil hats. The ones who think having popular rules during the season is cool. The same ones who think it's OK to schedule the fixtures at their whim. Yeah that them. What's really excellent is they beat Manly, and for that I'm eternally grateful. Amen brothers. So it is written, so shall it be.
The spectator
Guest
good night mum xo, why did Daddy leave! ; )
The spectator
Guest
na thats performance enhancment based not injuries!
The eye
Guest
Time to kiss mummy and daddy goodnight and go to bed..
The spectator
Guest
good win mate, good luck for the rest of the finals!
up in the north
Guest
I'm assuming he means whinged. But what would I know. I don't live on the Northern Beaches