Cowboys v Eels preview

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Top 4 foes push their premiership credentials.

North Queensland do battle with Parramatta this week in what is shaping to be the match of the round. Both sides have made very positive starts to the season and both sit nestled in the top 4. North Queensland have picked up where they left off from last year's premiership success with a dominant opening 7 weeks. Jonathan Thurston is once again proving why he is one of the best in the business and his support cast of Michael Morgan, Gavin Cooper and the talented Lachlan Coote haven't missed a beat. Looking red hot in attack and more than capable in defence, the Paul Green coached side is doing it's damnedest to go back to back this year as evident from last Friday's 44-18 demolition job of a hapless South Sydney side.

Parramatta haven't been flying under the radar as such but haven't had as much focus on their play on the field compared to the talk surrounding their salary cap drama and boardroom scuffles. It hasn't held them back an inch though as they have strolled into the top 4 on the back on some stingy and hard physical defence. Leaking just 75 points in 7 games in the kind of stuff that premierships are built on, far too early to be talking about that, however the Eels are in good form and their fans are loving it. The off season signings of Michael Gordon, Beau Scott, Michael Jennings and Kieran Foran is paying massive dividends and the sky is certainly the limit for the blue and golds. This game is earmarked as a real test for the away side, who will again be keen to test their mettle against one of the premierships heavyweights.

Last meeting: Round 2 2016 - Eels 20 Cowboys 16

Parramatta have had a dreadful time in games against the Cowboys of late. They have lost 6 of the past 7 including last year's drubbing in Townsville by the tune of 46-4. They last recorded a win against the Cowboys in Townsville in 2010 and have only won 5 games in 14 visits up there. History is against them in this important clash, despite their Round 2 win earlier this year at home.

Who to watch: For the home side Ethan Lowe is a player that needs to be focused on. Lowe is an undertaed commodity in the Cowboys pack and has really come of age in the past two seasons. A hard nosed backrower who is incredibly powerful, Lowe has built up a great combination with Michael Morgan and Jonathan Thurston and he helped himself to 4 tries last year in a premiership winning effort. Not to be diminished is his defence on the edges. Lowe is a great reader of play and strong in tackles which locks down that right hand side, he is a very valuable and respected player in this Cowboys side and the eels will need to be at their best defensively to stop his influence in attack on Saturday night.

For the visitors, Michael Jennings has been excellent this season after switching across from the Roosters. His combination with Semi Radradra has been a joy to watch and his speed is burning defenses across the NRL. The Cowboys can't afford to give him any space and you can be confident that the Eels will be attempting to get Jennings early ball to maximise his impact. Will be a great battle out wide on Saturday night. 

The favourite: After their 5-2 start to the season and being at home, the Cowboys are slight favourites in this game.

My tip: Despite being at home, the Parramatta defence has stopped a lot of attacking sides so far in this season. Think they will do enough to minimize the damage that Thurston and co can do to them. If Radradra and Jennings are given space then they will hurt the Cowboys. This is going to be a ripper of a game! Eels by 8.

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. Patrick Kaufusi 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben Hannant

1. Michael Gordon 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Clinton Gutherson 6. Corey Norman 7. Kieran Foran 8. Junior Paulo 9. Nathan Peats 10. Daniel Alvaro 11. Manu Ma'u 12. Beau Scott 13. Tepai Moeroa
Interchange: 14. Isaac De Gois 15. Peni Terepo 16. Danny Wicks 17. Ken Edwards

Referees: Gerard Sutton, Peter Gough; Sideline Officials: Jeff Younis, Adam Reid; Video Referees: Jason Robinson, Ben Galea, Bernard Sutton;