Update, post game: In a heart-pulsating game that could’ve gone either way, the Eels finally won a close one. They had 52% possession, completed better (90% v 84%), made more metres 1,853m v 1,688m, and made slightly less errors (7 v 8). Due to injuries and reshuffling to the back five, Jezaiah Funa-Luta's debut was put on ice.
The Eels have reshuffled yet again following Isaiah Iongi’s season-ending injury, adding to this year’s Injury Toll From Hell. A bright spot is the expected debut of young gun Jezaiah Funa-Luta.
The Cowboys arrive in eighth and desperate to consolidate their finals position. The Bulldogs’ loss to Souths gives North Queensland the chance to move four points clear of them and almost wrap up a finals berth.
But the Cowboys should beware. The Home of the Burramattagal People has had the wood on North Queensland for more than a decade.
Welcome to Round 24.
Teams
Eels 13th v Cowboys 8th, 5.30pm Saturday, 14 August, CommBank, Home of the Burramattagal People
Weather: 15°C, cloudy, humid, potential for rain
TAB: $2.50 Eels $1.53 Cowboys
Referees: Todd Smith (on-field), Phil Henderson (Touch Judge), Grant Atkins (Bunker)
Eels: 1. Apa Twidle 2. Brian Kelly 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kitione Kautoga 15. Saxon Pryke
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 16. Teancum Brown 17. Jezaiah Funa-Luta 18. Toni Mataele 19. Sean Russell 20. Kelma Tuilagi
Reserve: 21. Harrison Edwards
Cut: 22. Ryley Smith 13. Jack de Belin
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Jaxon Purdue 8. Griffin Neame 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter
Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. John Bateman 17. Coen Hess 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Ethan King
Reserve: 20. Kaiden Lahrs
Cut: 21. Mason Kira 22. Liam Sutton
Head Coach: Todd Payton
The Ironman award: Heilum Luki has played every minute of every game this season.
Congratulations to Jezaiah Funa-Luta.
Form says Cowboys, but...
Eels won 3 of their last 7 games.
The Cowboys have won 4 of their last 6 games.
But are up and down. They beat the Panthers 26-12 showing their best but then were beaten 16-36 by the Dolphins and 12-82 by the Roosters.
The Eels' Indigenous Curse
Destiny seems against the Eels. They have won 5 from 13 Indigenous Rounds.
A 38.5% win ratio. The average margin is 5 points. Nine of those games have been decided by 1-8 points. Four have been decided by 16-38 point margins.
Despite all this, the Eels beat the Cowboys in last year’s Indigenous encounter 19-18.
Now for some more good news.
Eels have owned them recently
Eels have won 7 of their last 9 games against the Cowboys (78%).
Their golden point win over the Cowboys in Rd 10 was the Eels’ only 2026 victory against a top eight team.
The 11-year hoodoo
The last time the Cowboys beat Parramatta at Parramatta was in 2015.
The Eels have won the last 5-straight at Parramatta against the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have won only one of five matches at CommBank Stadium.
The Lands of the Burramattagal People have spoken.
The Fox to break a Record Drought?
Josh Addo-Carr has gone ten games without scoring a try. That's the longest season-drought in his 11-year career.
Ironically, he last scored a try (a double) against the Cowboys in R10. He has scored 15 tries in his last 12 games against the Cowboys.
It's time.
Final Word
The bookies, pundits, ladder, team sheets and form guide all point to the Cowboys.
But North Queensland is a roller coaster. They can look like a swashbuckling top-four side one week then spectacularly flop like a soufflé the next.
Parramatta's task is made harder by yet another reshuffled team, making continuity almost impossible this season.
But the Eels have one thing the Cowboys cannot ignore: History.
The Cowboys are playing for September. The Eels are playing for pride and their futures.
Despite the Eels' Indigenous struggles, the Home of the Burramattagal People has held an eleven-year hoodoo over the Cowboys. Will they finally break it?
Replies
Daz this is the first time I've agreed with you for who knows how long.
May I suggest, Chiefy, because for too long the discussion has NOT been about our shared passion: the footy, specifically Eels footy.
I'm down with more footy talk. Great win tonight. Not only do we agree on TDS but we each predicted a win as well
Have a great weekend daz. A big W makes everything better
I also find a quick W after a win like that makes things even more betterer
TDS's best friend is ruck speed if we can create ruck speed for him especially inside the attacking zone like we saw tonight he can be deadly.
Its why it's crucial we get more help in the middle.
The club clearly see him as the future over Smith which is fair enough even watching Harrison Edwards tonight it could well be the end for Riley Smith here.
Called it for the start of this blog they were fired up for this good win an a exciting game
Some really good performances tonight, morreti, pryke, Brown, da Silva, Williams, Kelly, samrani.
Is there anyone left on this site that still thinks Kelly shouldn't be in the side?, and for those they say things like, " da Silva, I don't see it", if you can't see it you don't know what to look at.
Kelly struggled at the start of the season, but he's been amongst our best at the back half of the season. He'll be a valuable player next season. There's talk that he's odds on the get the Ken Thornett medal.
Agree Kelly has been great past season start which was the opposite for him.
I'd be seriously shocked if Jack doesn't romp home as our best by far tho
Yeah I think Williams get the Thornett medal.
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