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Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 24/07/08 | 0
AUDIO - Talking tips with Andrew Moore
AUDIO - Luke O'Donnell previews the Eels clash
Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
Friday 25th July, 7.35pm
Parramatta Stadium
Referee: Steve Lyons
HEAD TO HEAD
Eels 11 wins, Cowboys 9 wins, 1 drawn.
FORM GUIDE
Eels: WLWLLLBWWLBLWWLWLLL
Cowboys: LLLWWWLLLLBLLLLLBLL
The NRL’s two biggest under-achievers come face to face.
Parramatta face a must win game this week, with a defeat to kill off their finals chances once and for all. Back-to-back wins six weeks ago suggested Parramatta was finally hitting some form but their form right now is terrible and has relegated them to 13th place.
Feleti Mateo, the man who looked to have rejuvenated the Eels’ season, remains sidelined through injury for another week, with coach Michael Hagan again leaving Luke Burt out of the side and relegating Mark Riddell to the bench.
Things may be looking grim for Parramatta, yet they’re still big favourite to win this one. And rightly so.
North Queensland have been the trainwreck of 2008, losing Matt Bowen among a host of injuries early in the season, then getting rid of their widely respected coach and nosediving to last place on the ladder.
With superstar halfback Johnathan Thurston now injured, the Cowboys have just about wrapped up this year’s wooden spoon.
Centre Ashley Graham is also out this week with a shoulder injury, just in case North Queensland fans were about to get their hopes up.
This should be a one-sided affair, but the Cowboys do boast a good record against Parramatta (they’ve won six of the past eight match-ups) and the Eels are more than capable of coming up with a losing performance. Barnstorming prop Carl Webb’s also back in the starting lineup after recovering from an ankle injury.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the Eels finally click into gear against the NRL cellar-dwellars?
KEY MATCH UP
Brett Finch v Travis Burns
The Eels have plenty of talent out wide but the speedsters rely on the halves to provide them with pointscoring opportunities. With the return of Mateo’s ball-playing skills another week away, halfback Finch needs to take control of the game for Parramatta this week.
Finch will also be without the service of regular hooker Mark Riddell for much of the game, putting more pressure on the half to kick-start the Eels’ stalling season.
Back-up Cowboys halfback Anthony Watts has followed Johnathan Thurston onto the injured list, meaning Burns will step into the halfback role for the visitors this week.
Burns has only had one game back after a four-match suspension himself, but already finds himself with the responsibility of helping his team avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.
COACHES CORNER
Hagan has resisted the urge to overhaul his under-fire team, with Riddell’s demotion the only change to the starting 13.
Nathan Hindmarsh and Brett Finch have come out this week slamming Parramatta’s ball control and goalline defence, and they certainly are two areas the Eels will need to improve.
If they can get the basics right, the Eels have the ability to beat just about anyone – definitely the vastly under-strength and out-of-form Cowboys.
North Queensland will want some extra impact up front through Webb and promoted prop Shane Tronc, and if they can get on top early they could push Parra all the way.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Head to head: Eels $1.22 – Cowboys $4.00
Parra should win this by 13+, despite their own horror form. With defence being neither side’s strong points, take a look at the Overs in Unders/Overs betting.
CASUALTY WARD
Eels: Ben Smith – knee (Round 21), Junior Paulo – knee (Round 21), Feleti Mateo – knee (Rnd 21)
Cowboys: Matt Scott – ankle (indefinite), Matt Bowen – knee (season), Jacob Lillyman – shoulder (season), Justin Smith – shoulder (indefinite), Anthoyn Watts – ankle (Rnd 21), Johnathan Thurston – knee (Rnd 22), Ashley Graham – shoulder (Rnd 22).
BAD BOYS
Eels: -
Cowboys: Luke O’Donnell (Rnd 21)
TEAM LISTS
Eels: Jarryd Hayne, Joel Reddy, Krisnan Inu, Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams, Kristopher Keating, Brett Finch, Nathan Cayless (c), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon, Chad Robinson. Interchange: Mark Riddell, Josh Cordoba, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie, Broderick Wright (one to be omitted)
Cowboys: Mark Henry, Ty Williams, Ben Farrar, Ben Harris, John Williams, Sione Faumuina, Travis Burns, Carl Webb, Aaron Payne (c), Shane Tronc, Luke Harlen, Dayne Weston, Steve Southern. Interchange: Jackson Nicolau, George Gatis, Ben Vaeau, Ray Cashmere
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