NRL match preview: Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
Date: Friday June 6th
Venue: Pirtek Stadium
Kick-off: 7:40pm
Teams
Eels: Jarryd Hayne (c), Semi Radradra, Will Hopoate, Willie Tonga, Ken Sio, Corey Norman, Chris Sandow, Tim Mannah (c), Luke Kelly, Junior Paulo, Kenny Edwards, Manu Ma’u, Joseph Paulo. Interchange: David Gower, Peni Terepo, Lee Mossop, Pauli Pauli
Cowboys: Michael Morgan, Matthew Wright, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston, Ray Thompson, Matthew Scott, Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Ethan Lowe, Jason Taumalolo, Scott Bolton. Interchange: Robert Lui, Glenn Hall, Ashton Sims, John Asiata, Joel Riethmuller
Preview
It has been just five weeks since these two sides went head to head in Round 8 when the Cowboys put the Eels to the sword in a 42-14 victory however an improved Eels outfit will be looking for revenge.
The games’ big showdown will be between the returning Jarryd Hayne who was Origin’s stand out performer and Jonathan Thurston who was red hot last week as they dispatched Melbourne Storm.
Parramatta have been impressive for the majority of the season and with Jarryd Hayne in the form of his life at the moment they will be confident of turning over any side in the NRL. Cowboys have won four of their last five and have started to climb the ladder in search of the top eight after a poor start to 2014.
The Eels will be looking to put a 38-12 defeat at the hands of the Raiders behind them meanwhile, JT’s Cowboys will be looking to push on from a dominant 22-0 victory over a depleted Storm.
Understandably so, Paul Green has opted for an identical line-up to the one which saw off Storm last week, with Joel Riethmuller the only addition as 18th man.
For the Eels however, Hayne comes in for Hunt at the back, WillieTonga returns from injury to replace Ryan Morgan and Lee Mossop makes his NRL debut from the bench. Darcy Lussick is out with a knee injury and Mitch Allgood is serving a two-match suspension as Kenny Edwards returns to the starting second row.
Prediction
This one will be a close contest with two form sides but the seven straight wins at home for the Eels has swayed me to go for them by 6 points.
