Cowboys v Eels preview

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North Queensland Cowboys v Parramatta Eels Friday 7:50pm at 1300SMILES Stadium, Kirwan / Wulgurukaba

At the beginning of the season, the Cowboys taking on the Eels was tipped to be a battle for a top 4 spot but now moving to Round 24 these two sides are going to battle out the wooden spoon in what will be Johnathan Thurston's final home game in Townsville.

The Cowboys made an impressive run to the Grand Final in 2017 without Johnathan Thurston, but in 2018 the Cowboys have looked just a shade of themselves with a poor season. The Cowboys come into the game off a tough defeat against the Sharks where they again were in the game for most of the game before the Sharks were able to pull away for a 12point victory at the end.

The Cowboys come into the game having won their past two home matches this season with wins coming against the Knights and then the Broncos after having lost their previous five home matches prior to those wins. The Cowboys have struggled this season with their form having won just six matches this season which is compared to the 12 wins after 22 games in 2017. The Cowboys attack this season has been one of their weaknesses with the Cowboys scoring sixty points less in 2018 has they had done in 2017.

The Cowboys will welcome back two of their biggest players (literally) in Jason Taumalolo and Matt Scott who were missing from the Cowboys clash with the Sharks through suspension and injury respectively. Although they will potentially be without Te Maire Martin who is in doubt with an ankle.

Parramatta were given a ripe chance of taking a big upset victory over the Melbourne Storm with the Storm injury struck last weekend however the Eels lacked the necessary class to use their advantage and eventually fell to a humbling 20-4 defeat. The Eels were tipped to be premiership contenders but that quickly slipped when the Eels spent 21 weeks at the bottom of the ladder before climbing to 15th a fortnight ago.

A massive performance shift from Parramatta will need to happen should they want to take victory in Townsville with the Eels having tasted defeat in all eleven of their away games in 2018. The Eels six wins have come at home although they will be boosted by the fact that their win over the Cowboys earlier in the year did come at TIO Stadium in Darwin.

The Eels have lost Nathan Brown to a knee injury but will welcome back Tim Mannah and Kane Evans whilst Cameron King will come onto the bench following a successful return from injury last week in the Intrust Super Premiership.

Last meeting: Round 14 2018 - Eels 20 Cowboys 14

The head to head record of the two sides is close with the Eels winning 20 of the 40 clashes against the Cowboys with 2 draws.

Who to watch: Johnathan Thurston - In his final game in Townsville it's hard not to put the focus on Johnathan Thurston. Arguments raged earlier in the season on whether JT had gone a season too long in the top grade because it's been a lower standard season for Thurston. In recent weeks though, we've seen Thurston show some of the class that he has amazed everyone with. There is no doubt Thurston will have emotional lead up to this game and it will be interesting to see how Thurston performs.

Mitchell Moses - The Eels halfback has had a season to forget with so much hype and promise sitting on the Shoulders of Moses following his successful mid-season move from the Tigers last year. Moses started the season with the indignity of being sin binned in both his first two matches of the season. The Parramatta Eels had a huge chance for taking victory last weekend against the Storm though Moses was unable to lead his side to that challenge last week again questioning his capabilities. The Eels will need Moses to be on song if they want to spring an upset in Townsville.

The favourite: The Cowboys back at home in Townsville are installed as strong favourites with two previous home wins as well as the JT final home game factor.

My tip: The Cowboys will be out to make this a successful farewell to JT and their home-form of late has been very impressive. The Eels travels on the road have been far from ideal and it's hard to see them turning around their fortunes in this one. Cowboys by 12.

14. Ben Hampton 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Gideon Gela-mosby 6. Jake Clifford 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo 15. John Asiata 16. Francis Molo 17. Scott Bolton 18. Ethan Lowe

1. Corey Norman 2. Jarryd Hayne 3. Michael Jennings 4. Clint Gutherson 5. George Jennings 6. Jaeman Salmon 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Kane Evans 14. Cameron King 10. Siosaia Vave 11. Marata Niukore 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Peni Terepo 9. Reed Mahoney 15. Tim Mannah 16. David Gower 17. Brad Takairangi

Referees: Grant Atkins, Phil Henderson; Sideline Officials: Tim Roby, Michael Wise; Video Referees: Jared Maxwell, Bryan Norrie;