Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
3rd July 10:55hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Cowboys to win
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: 2/1 odds taken 23:39 GMT Wednesday 1st July
The Eels had a tight squeeze last weekend after being forced to a golden point by the Canberra Raiders. But they came through to get the win to keep themselves at the head of the table.
Will they have an easier time of things this weekend as they step out against the Cowboys?
The Cowboys have had a tough time of things in defense this season, but do pose their own big attacking threat.
Table of Contents
Parramatta Eels Preview – Can Eels build on nail biting win?
It was a 25-24 win that the Parramatta Eels claimed against the Canberra Raiders last weekend.
The Eels had been looking comfortable at one point, but then had to weather a storm as the Raiders came back hard at them.
Parramatta stay at the top of the table with a W6 L1 record and they are boasting the third-best defensive record in the league.
But there have been a lot of tight games from them recently, their last three wins have all been tight ones my no more than six points.
The Eels too have lost their last two meetings with the Cowboys, failing to score more than 10 points in either of those two games.
This is going to be interesting with the Eels having conceded at just 12 points per game, in contrast to the 24 per game given up by the Cowboys.
But the Cowboys are out-scoring the Eels this season, so it will be fascinating to see which way the balance goes here.
The big team news for the Eels is that they will be playing without their star halfback Mitchell Moses. That’s a mammoth loss to injury for the Eels.
In the try scoring markets it is going to be worth watching Maika Svio who has scored 15 tries in 16 appearances at the Bankwest Stadium.
That loss of Moses is really going to be a big test of their title credentials.
North Queensland Cowboys Preview – Can the Cowboys cause an upset?
The Cowboys may have their backers in this one. They have blown hot and cold across the course of the season, but the potential is there.
It’s worth mentioning that they have one the last two against the Eels.
Last weekend they ground out a 32-20 pressure-relieving win over the Knights and how badly they needed that.
The Cowboys had been on a three-match losing slump before that, so that saw them breathe a sigh of relief.
The interesting thing is that the Cowboys have not had a problem scoring points this season.
They have tallied more than the Eels have done anyway, but time and time again they have been so defensively slack.
The Cowboys have now shipped at least 20 points in each of their last four NRL fixtures.
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North Queensland should be sending out close to the same starting line up as they did last weekend.
One to watch in the tryscoring department for the Cowboys is Kyle Feldt who has enjoyed himself in previous games against the Eels, scoring eight tries in five against them.
Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Betting Advice
Only the Sydney Roosters have scored more points this season than the North Queensland Cowboys.
So the Cowboys have the potential in them of running up big scores in matches.
We feel that they can get under the skin of the Eels and really rattle them, especially as Parramatta are missing Mitchell Moses.
Key Facts – Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Betting Tip
- Parramatta Eels have lost one league game this season
- The Cowboys have won the last two against the Eels
- North Queensland Cowboys are the joint second-highest scorers in the NRL
This does look like a prime opportunity to get behind the underdogs in this fixture.
Yes the cowboys can be a defensive mess at times, but the Eels are missing their kicker in Moses this game.
There is some serious appeal in backing the Cowboys outright but still a Cowboys +8 Handicap can’t be dismissed for even money as coverage* (odds taken 23:39 GMT Wednesday 1st July)
The best betting odds for Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
Parramatta Eels to win: 4/9 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
North Queensland Cowboys to win: 2/1 at Bet365
