Round 20 (v Eels) - Teams & Stories

[Granty]

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys (NYC) v Eels

Round 20 Toyota Cup

5.20pm, Friday 25 July 2008
Parramatta Stadium


Cowboys

1. Steve Eliott
2. Ben Lancini
3. Brandon Boor
4. Sam Bowie
5. Obe Geia
6. Ray Thompson
7. Brad Payne
8. Josh Land
9. Ryan Carr (c)
10. Ben Spina
11. Jack Cooper
12. Chris Faust
13. Nick Slyney

14. Nathan Barraclough
15. Tyson Martin
16. Leo Faagutu
17. Shaun Maloney

Coach: Grant Bell


Eels

1. Nathan Gardner
2. Mase Laulu Togagae
3. Taputoa Rea
4. Taniela Lasalo
5. Hemani Moala
6. Daniel Mortimer
7. Cameron Speechley
8. Jonathon Mannah
9. Anthony Mitchell
10. Tim Robinson
11. Jay Heming
12. David Baumann
13. Martin Lewis

15. Luke Mottinelli
16. Mitchell Allgood
17. Joel Latham
18. Kene Te Whata
19. Albert Kelly
20. Brendan Train

Coach: Matt Cameron

[Granty]

http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52115

Eels’ Grand motivation

Andrew Bryan
NRL.com

They did the impossible in Premier League last year and memories of that title could just be the spark Parramatta need to secure a finals berth in the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Parramatta limped into seventh place in the 2007 Premier League, winning just five of their last 17 games.

But the Eels turned their form around when it mattered, winning all four finals including a dramatic Grand Final triumph over North Sydney when they scored a try in the final 20 seconds to claim a memorable title.

Five of the Eels’ NRL side that will line up against the Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night were a part of that side – Matthew Keating, Joel Reddy, Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams and Todd Lowrie.

And they are using their Premier League triumph as motivation to prove that the Eels are still in the Telstra Premiership hunt.

Eels hooker Keating says the similarities between the two seasons are not lost on them.

“We went through the same thing with our Premier League team last year,” Keating said.

“We just could not win a game, but we got one win and it turned our whole season around. From there we went all the way and won the comp.

“A few of the boys were in that team last year and they have said the same thing, it is just all about confidence for us really. There is no reason why we can’t do it in this competition as well.

“We have seven games to go and if we win five of those, we make the top eight.”

The Eels are coming off three successive losses and desperately need to beat the Cowboys to stay in finals contention.

“We have the team on paper to do anything in this competition,” Keating said.

“We just have to get some confidence as a team and as individuals and we can definitely turn it around.

“Everyone knows the Cowboys have had a lot of injuries and a lot of people out. But they still have a good team, plenty of enthusiasm, which is probably what we need.”

Not that Keating will be lacking enthusiasm – either of them!

Matthew and his younger brother Kris, both Parramatta juniors, have been named in the Eels’ starting side together for the first time.

Both have come through the junior development system and have been playing at Parramatta Stadium since they were seven.

At the start of the year, Kris described the prospect of playing alongside his older brother in first grade as the ultimate goal and now they will start a match together for the first time.

“We can’t wait, we have plenty of hard work to do, but it is a big buzz for us and the whole family,” Matthew said.

“I talk to Mum and Dad everyday and they have always supported us, they are pretty excited. There is still a lot of work to become a consistent NRL player, but they are very proud of both of us.

“We go down to our local junior club with Krisnan Inu and see all the little kids running around and help them out when we can. When you play for a local team and then make it to NRL it is really good.

“It just shows them that they too might play in the NRL one day.”

The Eels will be looking to improve their defence, which has leaked 394 points so far this year.

“We are concentrating on our goal line defence and little things like that that we didn’t pull off last week,” he said.

“Our goal line defence was pretty ordinary against Manly. But our concentration hasn’t been good all year, I think it is just the little lapses in parts of the game that are costing us.

“I am only new to the NRL but all the older boys tell us that you can’t have a lapse for even five minutes, you have to be switched on for the full 80 and that is something we have to work towards until the end of the year.

“Manly are on top and are definitely going to be the team to beat and we stuck with them for the first half, which should give us confidence going into the clash against the Cowboys.”


Click here for Ticket information.
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/Shows/Show.aspx?sh=EELSPARA08

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/07/25/14911_sport.html

Under-20s Cowboys seek revenge over Eels

JOSH ALSTON

July 25th, 2008

THE Cowboys under-20s will be looking to reel in the one that got away when they lock horns with the Eels in Sydney tonight.

A late Tom Humble try had the game seemingly sealed at Dairy Farmers Stadium the last time the two teams clashed before Parramatta's Johnathan Mannah stole a draw in the final seconds of the game.

Coach Grant Bell said the players were looking to go one better against the Eels.

"We were probably left a little bit disappointed with the end result after playing Parramatta last time up here," Bell said.

"They snatched it from us right at the death and I think they're a benchmark side in the competition.

"They're a big side, they're a physical side with a lot of experience.

"Our guys are obviously keen to continue their development and it's a side I think the boys will be keen about playing."

The Cowboys will go into tonight's clash without Humble and Chris Reisen after the pair were suspended in the aftermath of last weekend's fiery punch-up against the Broncos.

But after coming through that physical encounter, as well as a tough game against New Zealand previoulsly, Bell said the players were confident of matching it with another large forward pack.

"I there's things that you take out of all games," he said.

"The Broncs were a big football team, the Warriors were a very large footy team and our guys take something out of that.

"Probably physically it took a bit out of us, Warriors into Broncos, but we've had a good full week in preparation.

"We've had an opportunity to reflect on some of the defence that we weren't quite as happy with against the Broncs, particularly that we can improve on against Parramatta."

[Granty]

just realised that the Foxsports site has live(ish) score updates for the Under 20's :tonguesmiley:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/matchresults/0,,8870,00.html

Score Update

at Half Time: Eels 6 - Cowboys 12

[Granty]

Score Update

just after half time, try to the Eel - by the delay in score updates it looks like they missed the conversion

Eels 10 - Cowboys 12

[Granty]

Score Update

at 55:06 minutes into the game

Try in the 55th minute to Sam Bowie and converted

Eels 10 - Cowboys 18

[Granty]

Score Update

Eels strike straight back

at 58:04 minutes

Eels 16 - Cowboys 18

[Granty]

Score Update

two more quick tries to the Eels

at 64:22 minutes

Eels 28 - Cowboys 18

[Granty]

Full Time

Eels 28 - Cowboys 18


Scorers

Eels

Tries
Jonathan Mannah 26m
Taniela Lasalo 44m
Taniela Lasalo 58m
Daniel Mortimer 62m
Jay Heming 64m

Goals

Nathan Gardner 27m
Nathan Gardner 59m
Nathan Gardner 63m
Nathan Gardner 65m


Cowboys

Tries

Ben Lancini 5m
Ray Thompson 32m
Sam Bowie 55m

Goals

Steven Eliott 6m
Steven Eliott 33m
Nathan Barraclough 56m

[Granty]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/07/26/14954_cowboys.html

Under-20s Cowboys mowed down by Eels

JOSH ALSTON

July 26th, 2008

THE Eels have again broken North Queensland hearts after stealing a 28-18 win from the Cowboys in their Toyota Cup clash at Parramatta Stadium last night.

The last time the two teams clashed Parramatta came from behind to clinch a miraculous draw in round four.

Again last night the Cowboys led for most of the contest but were gunned down by the fast-finishing Eels who snapped a three-game losing streak to stay in finals contention.

The pain of the loss could be exacerbated by the judiciary this week after stand-in fullback Steven Elliot was put on report for a dangerous tackle five minutes before the break.

The Cowboys were first to score through Ben Lancini before the Eels levelled the scores through prop Jonathan Mannah.

Parramatta came within an inch of scoring just before halftime when halfback Cameron Speechley crossed near the posts, but was held up.

Moments later Brandon Boor cut the Eels' defensive line to pieces as he raced 50m to set up five-eighth Ray Thompson for a try to give North Queensland a 12-6 halftime lead.

A miracle ball from Eels winger Hemani Moala near the sideline allowed centre Taniela Lasalo to bring the deficit back to within two points.

Sam Bowie then extended the Cowboys' lead to 18-10 in the 66th minute after diving on a Brady Payne Grubber before two late tries to the Eels sealed the result for the home team.

PARRAMATTA 28 (T Lasalo 2 J Mannah D Mortimer J Heming tries; N Gardner 4 goals)
d NORTH QUEENSLAND 18 (B Lancini R Thompson S Bowie tries; S Elliott 2 N Barraclough 1 goals).