Round 8, 2020: Parramatta 42 North Queensland 4

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Eels v Cowboys: Arthur weighs options; Val eyes comeback

Parramatta's credentials as a true premiership contender will be tested in the absence of star half Mitchell Moses, who had started 2020 in sublime touch before injuring his calf against the Raiders.

Moses' halves partner Dylan Brown continues to come of age and he looks more than capable of running the show and he has plenty of experienced hands around him to make the job easier.

The Cowboys have run hot and cold this season but on their day are capable of racking up big scores and running even the best defences ragged.

Paul Green's men will need another five-star showing from their own playmakers Jake Clifford, Scott Drinkwater and Reece Robson if they are to spring an upset

The Rundown

Team news

Eels: Former Dragon Jai Field replaces Mitch Moses (calf) at halfback with David Gower getting a run on the bench in place of Daniel Alvaro.

Cowboys: Val Holmes (ankle) is closing in on a return and has been named in the reserves. Justin O'Neill has been named on the wing with Tom Opacic at centre.

Key match-up

Reed Mahoney v Reece Robson. Eels rake Mahoney is the glue that binds Parramatta, going about his work with class and zero fuss. Robson, who is also 22, has made the most of his chance to wear the Cowboys No.9 and possess a strong running game.

Stat attack

North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt leads the NRL with nine tries. Eels winger Maika Sivo – who scored a league-high 22 tries in 2019 – has four so far this year.

NRL.com

Sivo stars as Eels prove too good for Cowboys

It was a case of 'no Moses, no worries' for Parramatta on Friday night as skipper Clint Gutherson produced the near-perfect game in his 100th NRL appearance to orchestrate a 42-4 win over the Cowboys at Bankwest Stadium.

Blockbusting winger Maika Sivo had a field day against some almost non-existent right edge defence, becoming the first Eel since Semi Radradra to score four tries in a game.

Former Dragon Jai Field had an impressive club debut, using his searing pace to score a try and playing second fiddle to young five-eighth Dylan Brown who had three try assists of his own in a commanding performance belying his relative inexperience.

But it was Gutherson's night, with the formerly injury-prone fullback racking up three try assists, more than 230 metres, seven busts and booting six goals from seven attempts – most of those from the sideline.

The three playmakers more than covered for the loss of senior half Mitch Moses to a short term calf complaint against a Cowboys team that simply had no answers.

The first 10 minutes of the match was a perfect summation of why each team is where they currently are on the ladder.

With the aid of a good defensive set followed by some six-again calls the Cowboys camped on the Eels line, eventually getting four consecutive sets but were turned away comfortably with the Eels romping up the other end to score with virtually their first attacking chance.

It came via a beautiful Gutherson cut-out past some ragged right-side North Queensland defence for Michael Jennings to cross almost untouched in the 11th minute.

The 100-gamer had a carbon copy try assist for Maika Sivo 10 minutes later, and Waqa Blake became the third ex-Panther to score in the space of 17 minutes when he marked a Dylan Brown bomb to score next to the posts.

The Eels got a bit sloppy through the middle once their starting pack was interchanged and with a bit more momentum, the Cowboys finally got on the ball through a lovely Scott Drinkwater flat ball at the line to Tom Opacic right on half time.

Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly snuffed out as new Eels halfback Field streaked over in the corner after receiving a Blake bat-back in their first set of the second half.

A Gutherson line break set up another attacking chance and the skipper fired yet another perfect cut-out for Sivo's second and the blockbusting winger sealed his hat-trick with Brown delivering the perfect long ball for his third in the 62nd minute.

The ragged Cowboys compounded their woes with repeated errors coming out of their own end and it seemed almost inevitable when Sivo crossed for his fourth, on the end of an overlap and a nice tap-on from Brad Takairangi.

A Gutherson penalty goal to wind down the clock in the final moments sealed the 42-4 win that moves the Eels, at least temporarily, three points clear at the top of the Telstra Premiership ladder with the Cowboys slipping further from the top eight.