You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Match Preview

Eels v Cowboys: Joe O in for Paulo; Taumalolo return on hold

Author
pan66.com
Timestamp

After putting their season back on track with a stunning win over the Rabbitohs, last year's grand finalists Parramatta look to continue the momentum against a Cowboys side left reeling by a humiliating loss to Wests Tigers.

The Eels and Cowboys sit 13th and 14th coming in to Round 13 but they're worlds apart in terms of confidence and self-belief after the events of last weekend.

On Saturday night the Cowboys conceded 66 points in a match for just the third time in their 28-year history and they now have the worst defensive record in the competition, a world apart from the structure and standards that carried them all the way to a preliminary final in 2022.

The team they lost to in that prelim final was the Eels, who have had their own struggles in a sluggish 5-7 start to the season, but the form of Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses and J'maine Hopgood in the big win over the Rabbitohs suggests they are on track to make a mid-season charge.

After facing the Cowboys in Round 13 the Eels have a bye to freshen up before three winnable games against the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Dolphins and another bye in Round 18.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Eels v Cowboys

Team News

Eels: New signing Joe Ofahengaue comes straight into the starting side with Junior Paulo away on Blues Origin duty. With Ryan Matterson (calf) and Andrew Davey (head knock) also sidelined, Matt Doorey returns for his first game since Round 9 and Luca Moretti makes his NRL debut. No changes when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off.

Cowboys: Jack Gosiewski will start in the second-row in a late switch with Luciano Leilua, who moves back to the interchange. With Val Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden all on Maroons Origin duty the Cowboys have called up two debutants in centre Zac Laybutt and winger Robert Derby, while Ben Hampton is the new five-eighth and Jake Granville starts at lock. Jason Taumalolo dropped out of the squad on Thursday when it was cut to 19 and will look to return from a knee injury in Round 14. Griffin Neame (throat) returns ahead of schedule on the bench alongside Jamayne Taunoa-Brown who missed Round 12 due to a head knock. Mitchell Dunn goes from the bench back to 18th Man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater 
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
    Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
    Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Zac Laybutt
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Bailey Simonsson
    Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
  • Winger for Eels is number 5 Sean Russell
    Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Robert Derby
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
    Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Ben Hampton
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
    Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Wiremu Greig
    Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Josh Hodgson
    Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
  • Prop for Eels is number 10 Joe Ofahengaue
    Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Bryce Cartwright
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Heilum Luki
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Matt Doorey
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 14 Jack Gosiewski
  • Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood
    Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jake Granville

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 14 Ofahiki Ogden
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 11 Luciano Leilua
  • Interchange for Eels is number 15 Brendan Hands
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 
  • Interchange for Eels is number 16 Luca Moretti
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Jamayne  Taunoa-Brown 
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Makahesi Makatoa
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame

Reserves

  • Replacement for Eels is number 18 Daejarn Asi
    Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Brendan Elliot

Match Officials

  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Eels winger Maika Sivo is the NRL's top tryscorer with 14, taking his career tally to 81 in 95 games.
  • Eels back-rower J'maine Hopgood has come up with 31 offloads this season to lead the NRL in that category.
  • The Cowboys are conceding 25 points per game through the first 12 rounds. At the same stage last season they were giving up just 12 points per game.
  • The Eels have won three of their past four games against the Cowboys.
  • The Cowboys’ only previous visit to CommBank Stadium resulted in a 42-4 loss to the Eels (2020).
  • Eels winger Maika Sivo has scored five tries in three games against the Cowboys.
  • Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has scored 11 tries in his past eight games against the Eels.
  • Eels hooker Josh Hodgson will make his 150th NRL appearance

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.