Parramatta Eels v NQ Cowboys - Match Thread - *Spoilers*

[Timmah]

Telstra Finals Series
PRELIMINARY FINAL TWO

Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
Sunday September 25, 4:00pm
Telstra Stadium, Sydney

Initial Team Lineups

Eels
1 – Wade McKINNON
2 – Luke BURT
3 – Ben SMITH
4 – Timana TAHU
5 – Eric GROTHE
6 – John MORRIS
7 – Tim SMITH
8 – Nathan CAYLESS c
9 – Mark RIDDELL
10 – Paul STRINGER
11 – Daniel WAGON
12 – Glenn MORRISON
13 – Chad ROBINSON
Interchange
14 – PJ MARSH
15 – Dean WIDDERS
16 – Michael VELLA
17 – Adam PEEK
Reserves
18 – Luke O’DWYER
19 – Fuifui MOIMOI *
20 – Aaron CANNINGS

Cowboys
1 - Matthew Bowen
2 - Ty Williams
3 - Josh Hannay
4 - Paul Bowman
5 - Matt Sing
6 - Johnathan Thurston
7 - Brett Firman
8 - Paul Rauhihi
9 - Aaron Payne
10 - Shane Tronc
11 - Steven Southern
12 - Luke O'Donnell
13 - Travis Norton c
Interchange
14 - David Faiumu
15 - Jacob Lillyman
16 - Justin Smith
17 - Mitchell Sargent
Reserve
18 - Rod Jensen

Head to Head 2005
Round 9: Sunday 3:00pm, Parramatta Stadium
Eels 50 defeated Cowboys 12

Form (Last five)
Eels: WWWLW
Cowboys: WLWWW



Eels have my tip.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

If NQ don't step up 3 notches from last weekend's effort, this one will be over by 1/2 time.

 

[brooksy19]

Parra by 20.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Teams could get a lot of changes before kickoff so even when the teams get named in about 2-3 hours don't read too much into them.

Eels by 12

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Parra by a Sideline Luke Burt Conversion

 

[Timmah]

Parra by a Sideline Luke Burt Conversion

Cowboys won't even get that close.

If they do though, no bet they'll be robbed by a dumb last second decision like last year. :roll:

 

[Mr Saab]

all points to an eels win by 20 + but they said the same for the sharks vs dragons game.

 

[The Colonel]

Don't under estimate the Cowboys. Even though they played flat on the weekend they managed to hold on at the end. They need to play for more than twenty minutes though this week.

For mine I hope they do as the toughest game of the weekend will be the Dragons and Tigers and if Parramatta do happen to win easily they may be a bit underdone.

 

[Jobdog]

I think this one will be a lot closer than what ppl think. If the Eels are just a little bit complacent, an upset will be on the cards. For me, I think the Eels .............. just.

 

[Big Pete]

Cowboys by 8

People are underestimating the Cowboys again...which is never a good thing to do.

 

[Kornstar]

I think the Eels will come out firing again, i think they will have the game won by half time but the second half will be tough and although the Cowboys may come back at us i don't think they will ever threaten us. Just with the way Smithy has been talking and a few interviews with players over the last week, i feel that Parra are primed for a big opening.......

 

[Jobdog]

I agree Pete. All the Cowboys really need is for Thurston,Bowen,Williams to fire and they're in with a massive chance. The best position in finals footy to be in is be the underdog because no-one gives u any hope at all. The Cowboys find themselves in this position.

 

[BrisVegas]

Cowboys by 6.

It will be a low scoring game with some ferocious defence from both sides. Alot of people writing off the cowboys is going to invoke the same response that the bulldogs were on the recieving end of last season.

--
BrisVegas

 

[Big Pete]

Yeah I believe it'll be a good game and all the Cowboys have to do is slow down the play the ball and not let Parra play their game. I think if the Cowboys can get it to their back 3 and have Thurston their they will be a chance however they cannot make it a forward battle IMO.

Will be a good game though and it will be interesting to see who the Cowboys go for in the halves.

 

[Wagonator]

Eels by 2 in a nail biter. At least all the hype is on the Tigers and Dragons.

 

[Nickeel]

I agree Pete. All the Cowboys really need is for Thurston,Bowen,Williams to fire and they're in with a massive chance. The best position in finals footy to be in is be the underdog because no-one gives u any hope at all. The Cowboys find themselves in this position.

I don't think anyone is failing to give the Cowboys a chance. It's a two-horse race - of course they're a big chance. They do have quite few players who go fairly well - names like Bowen, Williams, Thurston, Rauhihi etc. are not exactly to be sneezed at.

However, if Parramatta treat them with the due respect, stick to the kind of play that has been working for them all year and offer the big start to a game they've been promising for the last few weeks (and delivered v Manly), then they should be able to control it from there. Can't wait, has been a while between drinks at this late stage of September - I wish it were Sunday already!

Nick

 

[nqboy]

Go the Cowboys!

 

[Eelectrica]

Cowboys by 8

People are underestimating the Cowboys again...which is never a good thing to do.

Our players and coaching staff aren't underestimating the cowboys. Fans can be as confident as they want as thats got no bearing on what happens on the field.

On the current Cowboys form Parra should win, but it only takes one week for the Cowboys to get back in form. Cowboys showed last year they will come out and give it all they've got, should be a great match.

 

[HevyDevy]

Yeah I believe it'll be a good game and all the Cowboys have to do is slow down the play the ball and not let Parra play their game. I think if the Cowboys can get it to their back 3 and have Thurston their they will be a chance however they cannot make it a forward battle IMO.

Will be a good game though and it will be interesting to see who the Cowboys go for in the halves.

That's all they have to do? Slow down the play-the-ball? Well that sounds easy then! Seriously though, that's tough to do against Parra. They play fast, have big outside backs and skilful link men with power. Even if Nth Qld play well with the ball they'll struggle to contain the Eels.

Personally I think it's much easier to find a way of containing Nth Qld than Parra - don't give Bowen room to move or a staggered defensive line, limit errors that create broken play, don't fall for Bowen's show and go. Melbourne were guilty of all of these last week.

It's ridiculous to suggest it's a one-horse race but all things being equal the Eels should be far too strong

 

[Kornstar]

If Melbourne had of converted their many chances last week then they would have put the Cowboys away easily........it was a terrible match, if the Cowboys don't lift their game Parra will win!

In saying that i still think Parra need to play their best as the Cowboys are unpredictable and if this is the week they decide to turn it on then Parra will get smashed if they aren't 100% focused on this game!!