North Queensland Cowboys
20
Match Complete
Parramatta Eels
24
| 65 |  | M. Moses | ||
| 64 |  | M. Sivo | ||
| 58 | | M. Moses | ||
| 57 | | R. Campbell-Gillard | ||
| V. Holmes | | 54 | ||
| M. Taulagi | | 52 | ||
| V. Holmes |  | 49 | ||
| V. Holmes | | 38 | ||
| L. Leilua | | 25 | ||
| 19 | | M. Moses | ||
| 18 | | R. Campbell-Gillard | ||
| V. Holmes | | 13 | ||
| R. Cotter | | 11 | ||
| 8 | | M. Moses | ||
| 6 | | W. Penisini |
| 3 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
We’re into the back end of the NRL finals as the North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels face off to be the first team to make the 2022 NRL Grand Final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
Words cannot do justice to the incredible year the Cowboys have had so far. After finishing 15th last year, no one would’ve expected them to be in a preliminary final the year after.
The Cowboys will be well rested after an incredible 32-30 win against the Sharks in Week 1 of the finals.
Responsibility will fall on halves Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden to marshal their troops and get the Cowboys on the front foot early into the contest. Bar a minor knee scare for Coen Hess, the Cowboys are likely to name the same 1-17 from their victory two weeks ago.
After 13 long and sometimes painful years, the Eels are back into playing in a preliminary final. Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown have matured as halves, which has reflected on the side as they have won some big games away from home where they have historically failed to turn up.
But don’t count out the Eels forward pack led by Junior Paulo. Alongside Paulo, Reed Mahoney will have to step up if Parramatta are in with a shot of making the big dance next week.
A hamstrung Tom Opacic has been named at centre, but will Brad Arthur stick with this decision before kickoff? If so, Peta Hiku could be running circles around the Eels left edge for fun throughout the contest.
Prediction
The last time these two sides met, the Cowboys won 35-4. But finals football and the pressure that comes with it is a different ball game.
Parramatta have done well to break their Week 2 finals hoodoo, but going all out against a fresh Cowboys outfit in the humidity surrounding Townsville will be a huge task.
While I expect the contest to be tight for the first half, I’m backing the Cowboys to run away with it in the latter parts of the game.
Cowboys by 10.
Game information
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
TV/Stream: Nine, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, NRL Live Pass
Odds: Cowboys $1.70; Eels $2.25 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Neame
Eels
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Ryan Matterson
Interchange: 14. Bryce Cartwright 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Marata Niukore
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Losing Reed Mahoney is why IMO the Eels premiership window closes this year. They can't win a premiership without a quality No. 9 and Josh Hodgson is past it and too injury prone and better suited to 13 at this point of his career.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
He probably got the idea from DCE conserving his energy for next season... FIVE rounds short of the end of the regular season. :silly:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
On'ya champ! Let's keep the dream alive for one more day at least. :stoked: :thumbup:
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Very disappointed Leilua got away with taking out both markers to create overlap for Taulagi try. Very disappointed Blake penalised for accidental hair pull but Feldt not penalised for late and deliberate knee drop onto Gutho. Suck it up. Swings and roundabouts etc...
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
The real winner last night was footy. Sure there were some questionable decisions, it wouldn't be a finals match without them. After watching the mighty Sharks get belted two weeks in a row on their way to Bali I had no dog in this fight, and would have been happy to see either side go through. Congratulations to the Parra team and good luck to them. It's been a very long time between drinks for the club and I sincerely hope you can pul it off. Bad luck to the Cows, they were in the box seat and just got out enthused in the final 20. There is no shame in this loss, it was a close and hard fought contest. You really should have gone home two weeks ago but someone forgot to tell bloody JT the younger to clock off in the final minute :) Up Up
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Still a pretty young side. In with a massive chance next year I reckon.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Sometimes things just don't quite fall your way. We could have iced that game early on but we didn't. All I ever want is for the Cows to be a serious footy team. I got my wish this year
Gabriel Kemeny
Guest
Very disappointed that the Eels got away with a try that was clearly not theirs to take..It was a blatantly obvious forward pass..How could the referees get that so wrong and so earky in the game...so as a consequence the Cowboys lost the 4 points that they needed to secure the win..this should should be reviewed by the NRL judiciary and the result overturned immediately...
Rossi
Roar Rookie
A Parramatta v Penrith GF would be a ripper
Rossi
Roar Rookie
D. Brown can be so dangerous but seems to only turn up every few weeks
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Was thinking to myself during the game that Lane's improvement is as good as I've seen from an experienced player
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Definitely would’ve preferred to watch the game!
Landz84
Roar Rookie
Better than I was handling it in the crowd...Jeez it was hot. But yeah they came home stronger than we did :S
JVGO
Guest
Except we only had 10 mins to go. We are the champs.
Landz84
Roar Rookie
So So So Painful
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Panthers fans are looking forward to their second grand final in row, but what they don't realise yet, is their season will finish tomorrow night. :shocked:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Rob
Guest
Poor Rob. Did you see something contrived or manufactured by an official?maybe a forward pass if that’s what you think? I thought it was a bit harsh the sin bin for Taumalolo. The official didn’t have much problem with the contract in play. The man stays down and the bunker gets involved? Eels get a free interchange. There was a grabbing and necks and HIA’s at times especially at the end ? That’s not the official that the game we have nowadays? Maybe Paulo should have got 10 if Taumalolo got 10 if you want me to pick on an Inconsistency? But hey it’s a preliminary final and I’d rather the officials let the players play. The official wasn’t doing a Sutton tonight thankfully. The Cowboys missed their opportunities and the Eels didn’t.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Cheers mate, but now I have to go for the Panthers tomorrow. I'm sure you'll understand, and should take it as a compliment, but I'd rather face them next week.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Yeah, and a pretty epic one too. Sorry, but you're taking Mahoney, so I have to try and get something back.