Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys: NRL live scores, blog

Round 13 of the NRL premiership continues tonight when the Parramatta Eels take on the North Queensland Cowboys at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:00pm (AEST).

Origin is here, so it’s the time of year when club depth is tested. Two premiership points still mean two premiership points at any time of the season. However, it’s Origin time where some teams will cement their top 8 hopes whilst others start their slide.

Just when you are ready to put a line through the Eels’ premiership hopes, they play their best game of the season and demolish the Rabbits 36-16. Parramatta need to find some consistency, something that has been lacking this season.

Whilst the Eels forward pack will have its depth tested tonight, the backline is untouched. If the pack can get parity against the Cowboys, Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown will look to cause havoc in an Origin impacted Cowboys backline.

With Junior Paulo out with Origin duty, Joe Ofahengaue comes straight into the starting side. Ryan Matterson and Andrew Davey are both sidelined, with Matt Doorey and Luca Moretti coming into the line up.

There just aren’t the words to describe the Cowboys 66-18 loss to the Tigers. At 36-18 down with 19 minutes to go, Wests fans were shuffling nervously in the seats. From there though, it was the Cowboys that capitulated, leaking five tries.

It is hard to fathom where that performance came from. North Queensland has looked to be a club on the rise in recent weeks. A bounce back factor is ensured, but the Cowboys are not the team that went just short of the grand final last year.

Val Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden are all on Maroons Origin duty. Debutants Zac Laybutt and Robert Derby will start at centre and on the wing respectively, Ben Hampton will play 5/8th and Jake Granville comes in at lock. Griffin Neame and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown return from injury on the bench. Jason Taumalolo has been named in the reserves and may make the final 17.

Prediction

Both teams are missing key players, so this does become a bit of a lottery.

I don’t think it is as clear cut as the odds suggest, but I’m leaning towards the Eels at home. Eels by 8

Game information

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 8:00pm (AEST)
TV: Nine, Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Eels $1.17 Cowboys $5.00 – odds via PlayUp

Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Wiremu Greig 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Matt Doorey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ofahiki Ogden 15. Brendan Hands 16. Luca Moretti 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Haze Dunster 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Jack Murchie 22. Isaac Lumelume

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Robert Derby 6. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jake Granville 14. Jack Gosiewski 15. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Mitchell Dunn 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Thomas Duffy