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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:05:01 GMT 10
SATURDAY 16th September: Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium, 7.40pm
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:06:07 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:06:25 GMT 10
Trivia: Eels and Cowboys have only met once in the finals.
North Queensland Cowboys 29 defeated Parramatta Eels 0, 2005.
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:07:03 GMT 10
The Parramatta Eels side to take on the North Queensland Cowboys in the elimination Semi Final at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, 16 September has been named by Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur.
Arthur has named an unchanged side that suffered a 18-16 defeat to the Minor Premiers, the Melbourne Storm last week, for the do or die clash.
With fullback Bevan French still unavailable due to injury Will Smith has been named in the number one jersey.
Peni Terepo returns from injury on the extended bench in place of Frank Pritchard alongside Beau Scott, Kenny Edwards, Siosaia Vave, Suaia Matagi, Kaysa Pritchard, David Gower and Josh Hoffman.
Tim Mannah and Beau Scott will co-captain the side.
Kick off is at 7:40pm.
1. Will Smith
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Kirisome Auva’a
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Beau Scott (c)
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Siosaia Vave
17. Suaia Matagi
18. Kaysa Pritchard
19. Peni Terepo
20. David Gower
21. Josh Hoffman
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:07:27 GMT 10
NRL.com
Schick Hydro Preview: Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
ANZ Stadium
Saturday, 7.40pm
After a simply incredible opening week of the 2017 Telstra Premiership Finals Series, can two of the more impressive teams from last week back up those efforts to press for a spot in a grand final qualifier?
Few pundits gave the Eels a chance against the seemingly unstoppable Storm last week but Brad Arthur's men rose to the occasion, leading at half-time and going agonisingly close to a boilover in their 18-16 loss.
Likewise few expected an injury-hit Cowboys, with just one win in their final six games, to topple the premiers at a ground where North Queensland have struggled badly of late. But Paul Green's troops gave Cronulla a good old-fashioned lesson in not panicking at key moments as they stole the 15-14 extra-time win on the back of a simply unbelievable Jason Taumalolo try and a Michael Morgan field goal.
On the teams front, both coaches have named the same 17s they named last Tuesday. For the Eels, that means fullback Bevan French is still not back from a hamstring strain, though his replacement – third-string No.1 Will Smith – had arguably his best ever game last week and is improving every week. Back-rower Tepai Moeroa is in serious doubt after failing an HIA last week. If he does not line up, Kenny Edwards would start with Peni Terepo or David Gower the likely new face on the bench. Hooker Cam King will also be monitored for an arm injury suffered last week; Kaysa Pritchard is on standby.
Green has no fresh injury concerns but Test centre Justin O'Neill is edging towards a return from injury and could displace Javid Bowen come game day.
Why Eels can win: Nine wins from 10 games before the Storm loss last week. A belligerent forward pack that makes up for its lack of size with an energy and aggression and intensity that borders on madness. A halves pairing that has improved markedly on an almost weekly basis since Mitch Moses was brought across from Concord mid-year to round out what is arguably the best kicking game of any halves pairing in the competition. Their completion rate last week (87 per cent) was the best of any of the eight finals teams despite the fact they threw plenty of footy at the Storm. If they can match last week's efforts against a Cowboys team that has had a one day shorter recovery and played 10 more minutes of game time last week that will go a long way.
Why Cowboys can win: Two words. "Jason". And "Taumalolo". The Kiwi wrecking ball is the best forward in the world. The reigning co-Dally M winner is playing even better this year than last, filling the sizeable gap left by Kangaroos prop Matt Scott, rampaging for 200-plus metres per week, busting tackles at will and finding the odd try when his team needs it most. His game-breaking effort last week was one of his best performances of the year but scarily, it was nothing out of the ordinary compared to his usual efforts. The team as a whole has been continuously competitive despite their injury toll and their discipline is incredible; they are in the top two or three teams this season for possession (53 per cent; first), penalties received (202, first), defending kicks (12 tries conceded is equal best and 74.1 per cent kicks defused is second best) and offloads conceded (230, third).
The history: Played 36; Eels 18; Cowboys 17; Drawn 1. There has been just the one meeting ever between these teams in the finals – which was also the only time these two clubs have ever met at ANZ Stadium – and it was a whopping 29-0 landslide to the Cowboys back in 2005. That was a grand final qualifier and it saw the Eels – 2005 minor premiers – knocked out while the Cowboys went on to lose the decider to Wests Tigers that year. North Queensland have won eight of the past 11 meetings, although the past four matches are split two apiece.
What are the odds: Money is split 50/50 almost to the dollar between these two sides in Sportsbet's head-to-head market. Both teams have been backed to win the game 1-12 rather than 13+. No surprise to see Semi Radradra easily the best backed to score the first try. Latest odds at sportsbet.com.au
Match officials: Referee: Matt Cecchin; Assistant Referee: Ben Cummins; Touch judges: Brett Suttor and Chris Butler; Review Official: Ben Galea; Senior RO: Ashley Klein.
Televised: Channel Nine and Fox League – Live from 7pm.
NRL.com predicts: The past two years have seen all four top-four teams that lost in the opening week bounce back to win in the second week (Manly were the last top-four team to be bundled out in straight sets, back in 2014). It bodes well for the Eels, who as mentioned above looked easily the best of the four losing teams last week while the Cowboys are dealing with not only a significant injury toll but backing up from a sapping 90-minute game. Did they just play their grand final or are they returning to form at the right time? They should give the Eels a stern test but we'll tip the blue and golds to get it done in a tight one. Parra by two.
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:07:45 GMT 10
Halftime: Parramatta Eels 10 North Queensland Cowboys 6
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:08:01 GMT 10
Fulltime: North Queensland Cowboys 24 Parramatta Eels 16
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:08:26 GMT 10
NRL.com
Cowboys halfback Michael Morgan has orchestrated a second-half masterclass to send North Queensland into the preliminary finals with a 24-16 victory over the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
The Cowboys completed at 100 per cent in the opening half but were left to rue two length-of-the-field tries against the run of play to trail by four at the break to a free-flowing Eels outfit, who were heavily backed in front of an impressive crowd of 41,287.
Finals experience was the key in the end however with back-to-back tries to the Cowboys in the second half proving the ultimate blow as the Eels were starved of territory on the back of Morgan's boot.
Parramatta simply had no answers for Paul Green's side at the backend of the contest with Morgan crossing for a well-deserved four-pointer with five minutes left to kill off any chance of a comeback and effectively end the Parramatta's finals campaign.
The Eels were forced to play with 16 men for 75 minutes with Daniel Alvaro taken from the field for a head injury assessment after a collision with Taumalolo, with the forward later ruled out of the contest.
Parramatta winger Kirisome Auva'a spilt a kick in the fifth minute to allowed North Queensland the first chance to attack.
But the advantage reversed sourly for the visitors when a cross-field kick was cleanly picked up by Semi Radradra, the Fijian flyer racing 100 metres to score under the posts for a 6-0 lead.
It proved to be Radradra's last highlight in the NRL, with the winger going over for his 82nd try in the competition before departing for French rugby.
North Queensland responded within three minutes when Eels centre Brad Takairangi was caught in-field. The Cowboys sent the ball right to create the overlap and Kane Linnett found Kyle Feldt who went over in the corner, diving acrobatically with centimetres between his body and the grass.
Neither side could capitalise on territory inside their opposition's 20-metre zone with last-play options leaving a lot to be desired. Parramatta went close on two occasions with Michael Jennings unable to find a teammate in space, before a Mitchell Moses grubber kick was taken out of Radradra's grasp from Lachlan Coote.
The Eels' hit the lead again with another long-range try against the run of play, when a Morgan kick ricocheted off Will Smith's chest and the Eels fullback raced 80 metres to score untouched.
Parramatta started the second half in a jittery fashion as the Cowboys controlled early possession to deliver two killer blows and suddenly race to an eight-point lead.
Another kick from Morgan was left to bounce by Smith and Cowboys prop John Asiata wrestled the Eels No.1 in-goal and snatched the ball in the process to score.
It was a reason to celebrate for Asiata with the utility forward's first try in the NRL Telstra Premiership after 76 appearances.
Returning Cowboys centre Justin O'Neill split through the Eels defensive line to help set up the visitors' third – Te Maire Martin opting to turn the ball back inside on the last tackle for Coen Hess to stroll over untouched.
Brad Arthur's side began to lose their way with a series of errors midway through the second half as the Cowboys used their finals experience to their advantage.
Moses went close but fell short of the line with Hess pulling off a try-saver, before back-rower Manu Ma'u lost the ball in the act of scoring the following play.
Parramatta's woes continued when a returning Kaysa Pritchard threw a forward pass immediately after getting onto the paddock, before the experience of Taumalolo jolted the ball free from a charging Suaia Matagi.
Taumalolo was again enormous for the Cowboys with 211 metres in 55 minutes, while opposite number Nathan Brown was strong in a beaten side as Jennings darted over for a consolation four-pointer with seconds remaining.
North Queensland now set up a date with the Sydney Roosters in next week's preliminary final at Allianz Stadium for a place in the 2017 grand final.
North Queensland Cowboys 24 (Feldt, Asiata, Hess, Morgan tries; Lowe 4 goals) defeated Parramatta Eels 16 (Radradra, Smith, Jennings tries; Moses 2 goals) in the semi-final at ANZ Stadium. Half-time: Eels 10-6. Crowd: 41,287.
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:09:31 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:10:11 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:10:59 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:11:39 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:12:15 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:13:02 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 2, 2020 19:13:36 GMT 10
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