It’s exciting NRL Round 8 action when two of the top five teams in the ladder square off when the 5-2 Parramatta Eels visit the 4-3 North Queensland Cowboys. Close proximity in the ladder this season isn’t the only similarity these two teams have, as they have split the last 41 meetings 20-20-1, about as even as you get.
This match features a couple of the better offenses in the NRL, but each are riding strong defensive performances last time out, allowing a combined six points. Offensive prowess and recent defensive success makes Saturday’s total difficult to handicap. Let’s check the Eels vs Cowboys Betting Analysis below.
Matchup Information
- Saturday, April 28th, 4:35 AM ET,
- TIO Stadium, Darwin
Eels vs Cowboys Betting Analysis
Eels Betting Analysis
The Eels had a nice bounce-back game last round after their inexplicable 21-20 loss to the Wests Tigers on April 18th. The Wests Tigers are one of the worst teams in the NRL with just a 2-5 record, but Parramatta rebounded with a 39-2 domination of Newcastle, obviously coming out angry after their defeat the week before.
The big question ahead of this week’s round 8 rugby betting is what version of the Eels we see based on their Jekyll/Hyde performances of the past two weeks. Parramatta’s win over the Knights last week was impressive, but they are also just a 2-5 team. Besides a 48-14 win over the Dragons, all five of the Eels other games have been decided by six points or less.
Make no mistake, Parramatta does have great upside, they’re 5-2 and rank third in the NRL with 209 points. The Eels also rank 3rd in tries and are just one goal behind the storm for most in the NRL. Mitchell Moses has been one of the more effective players in the league this season with 73 points and 30 goals, both second behind only Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm.
Cowboys Betting Analysis
North Queensland also had a strong defensive showing last weekend with a 30-4 drubbing of Newcastle. Much like Parramatta, the Cowboys have beaten up on the bottom of the table lately, with Newcastle being just 2-5 on the season and their win the week prior coming against 2-5 Canberra.
The Cowboys are up to 4-3 on the year and in 5th place in the NRL. That makes Saturday’s game with the 3rd place, 5-2 Eels, extremely important. North Queensland has yet to beat anybody inside the top 8 this season, but Parramatta has their statement game in a 28-24 win over the Storm in round 3, Melbourne’s only loss so far this season.
The Eels can score, and Moses is one of the top offensive players in the NRL. The Cowboys may have more depth, though, as they are 5th in the league in scoring, led by Valentine Holmes, who is third in total points and goals, while Jeremiah Nanai ranks fourth in tries.
Updates
Both teams are going with the same 17 that they did in their respective wins last weekend.
- Eels won 32-16 in August 2021
- Eels have won 6 of the last seven at TIO Stadium
- Cowboys have won 3 of the last five overall
- Eels have won 4 of 5 overall
- Cowboys have won 2 of the last three at TIO Stadium
- Eels won 42-4 in July 2020
Eels vs Cowboys Betting Preview
The Eels have put together two very dominant wins over the Cowboys in their two meetings over the last two seasons, but North Queensland also handed Parramatta their last loss at TIO Stadium back in 2017.
Parramatta is a -10.5 favorite in this matchup based largely on their 5-2 record and the fact that they’ve fared well vs. the Cowboys recently. The Eels are -360 on the moneyline, with North Queensland paying +275 for an upset win in this weekend’s rugby betting picks.
Both of these teams can score but also played great defense last week, which is why the total of 41.5 could go either way.
Ultimately this one looks like the Eels’ to have. North Queensland has been surprising this season, but they’ve also beat up largely on inferior competition. A rude awakening is coming against the Eels in Saturday’s rugby betting action.
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