Cowboys romp home to convincing win over in form Eels

The North Queensland Cowboys have romped home to a 42-14 win over a lacklustre Parramatta Eels side in front of a crowd of 13,285 at 1300SMILES Stadium in Townsville.

In what was an extremely one-sided affair, it was ultimately poor starts in each half that cost the Eels in a tough night for them in Northern Queensland. The Eels just couldn't get any decent amount of ball at any point throughout the match, with possession flow sitting at over 60% to the Cowboys for the majority of the game.

The Cowboys impressive victory was built on the back of a dominant performance from their giant forward pack with Australia and New South Wales hopeful James Tamou finishing the match with over 170 run metres, closely followed by a strong performance from second rower Jason Taumalolo who ended the match with over 140 run metres.

It took only 5 minutes for the Cowboys to open up their account for the night with Johnathan Thurston chasing through on a Michael Morgan grubber to get the night's first try. Two more Cowboys tries followed in quick succession with Matthew Scott and Curtis Rona both adding their own tries within the 20 minute mark.

Amazingly, despite hardly having any ball, the Eels were able to get within four points of the Cowboys at halftime. Paul Green wouldn't have been happy with the soft defence shown from his side as Ken Sio went over in the 25th minute, followed by a 33rd minute Pauli Pauli try with what were basically their only two chances of the half. Chris Sandow took the score to 18-14 and within a converted try with a penalty goal right on half time.

The second half began as the first did, with Kane Linnett scoring only 5 minutes into the half. When Sandow went himself and got over the line 10 minutes later, it looked as though the Eels might be back in it, however the video referee correctly ruled that Sandow had knocked on in attempting to ground the ball.

A second Kane Linnett try in the 57th minute, followed by a second Curtis Rona try in the 65th ended any hope of an Eels fight back, not that it was ever likely. A brilliant individual try to Morgan in the 70th minute sealed what was a great night for the Cowboys as he grubbered in behind the Eels defence before chasing through on his own kick for to give his team a 42-14 win.

There were a couple of nervous moments for NSW fans as Origin hopefuls Nathan Peats and Jarryd Hayne took knocks late in the match. Despite both of them staying down for a while, they both alleviated any concerns by finishing out the match.

Both sides will have a much needed, and well deserved week off as the representative season begins next weekend. Some will be hoping for a representative call up with Australia playing New Zealand on Friday night before City takes on Country on Sunday afternoon.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (42)
Tries: Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Scott, Kane Linnett (2), Curtis Rona (2), Michael Morgan
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (7/7)
Penalty Goals:

PARRAMATTA EELS (14)
Tries: Ken Sio, Pauli Pauli
Field Goals:
Conversions: Chris Sandow (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Chris Sandow (1/1)

LATE MAIL: Cowboys - Gavin Cooper has been ruled out for North Queensland. Joel Riethmuller starts in his place.

LATE MAIL: Eels - Mitch Allgood has been given a week off to recover from concussion. Taniela Lasalo called into the side onto the bench wearing jersey #18

Welcome the second Saturday game, a match-up between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Parramatta Eels.

Tonight's teams are experiencing different fortunes so far this year. Surprisingly it's the Eels who have started the season in brilliant form while it is the Cowboys who have been struggling.

The form of these teams usually rests on the form of their stars Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston. Which one of these champions will be able to inspire their team to a win tonight?

1: We are UNDERWAY here at 1300SMILES Stadium as the Eels kick off

3: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Semi Radradra makes an unforced error.
Semi Radradra fumbles the ball in a heavy tackle. Cowboys with a scrum feed on half way

6: VIDEO REFEREE: With the first attacking opportunity, Michael Morgan puts in a little grubber. Thurston scores but we are checking for offside.

6: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Johnathan Thurston. Kick to come.
No offside and the Cowboys get an early try.

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston converts his own try.

8: Great set after points for the Cowboys as the Eels are trapped within 10 of their own line.

10: A high bomb from Thurston but the Cowboys knock it on in the contest. Turnover Eels.

11: PENALTY Cowboys and it is more pressure early for the Eels.

12: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Matthew Scott. Kick to come.
A simple pass from Tate out of dummy half and Scott is in close to the posts.

14: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston extends the lead to 12.

14: It has been ALL the Cowboys in the opening 14 minutes.

15: Sio just gets back into the field of play for the Eels after a Thurston kick rolled through his legs.

16: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Jarryd Hayne makes an unforced error.
Hayne has made a mess of a rolling ball and knocked it on metres from his own line.

17: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
Rona goes over untouched.

19: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston gets it from the sideline.

19: Cowboys with 66% possession so far!

21: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Joel Riethmuller makes an unforced error.
Sandow has a kicked charged down but it is knocked on by Joel Riethmuller.

25: Parramatta finally with a chance in the opposition half here.

25: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Ken Sio. Kick to come.
First chance in the Cowboys half and Sio has the try in the corner.

27: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Sandow converts a tough attempt.

27: WOW the Cowboys restart is out on the full by a country mile!

28: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Manu Ma'u makes an unforced error.
A good opportunity ruined by a Manu Ma'u knock on.

29: Poor end to the set for the Cowboys and the Eels get the ball via a turnover.

31: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Manu Ma'u makes an unforced error.
Manu Ma'u knocks on at dummy half after being SMASHED in a tackle from Aston Sims. Sims is letting him know about it too.

32: VIDEO REFEREE: Rona may be over for his second here but we are checking if Radradra pushed him out before getting it down.

31: NO TRY: Rona has knocked on in attempting to get it down.

32: PENALTY Eels - a good chance to get out of their half for a moment.

33: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Pauli Pauli. Kick to come.
Two chances, two tries. Soft defence from the Cowboys.

34: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
The gap comes back to 6 points.

36: HIGH kick from Corey Norman but Rona takes it well.

37: An awkward kick from Thurston and Hayne juggles it for a moment before taking it.

38: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Jarryd Hayne makes an unforced error.
Forward pass from Hayne in good attacking range. He isn't having his best night tonight.

39: Sandow intercepts a Thurston pass. A good chance late here.

39: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ray Thompson makes an unforced error.
Thompson's hand gets in the way of an Eels pass and he is deemed to have knocked it on.

39: PENALTY Eels - Cowboys trying to slow the play the ball.

40: PENALTY Eels - a lot of late pressure here for the Cowboys. The Eels will choose to kick a penalty goal though.

40: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PARRAMATTA EELS
Penalty goal attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Sandow makes the score 18-14 after it was 18-0 early on.

40: HALF TIME at 1300SMILES Stadium, and the Cowboys lead the Eels 18-14.

40: We are UNDERWAY in the second half.

41: Hayne runs through a big hole and the Eels are onto the attack.

42: Poor end to the set after a promising start. Rona takes a nothing kick in his in goal and it's a restart from the 20.

43: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Brent Tate makes an unforced error.
Tate tries to bat back a Thurston kick but knocks it on.

44: Peats kicks out of dummy half but it is way too deep and the Cowboys will restart at the 20.

44: PENALTY Cowboys for a strip. However the main concern is Thompson who is down holding his knee and in obvious pain.

44: Ray Thompson is back up and the Cowboys are on the attack.

45: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
A simple move to the left and Linnett is over.

47: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston converts the try.

49: Thurston's kick hits the corner post. 20 metre tap for the Eels.

49: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Semi Radradra makes an unforced error.
Semi can't handle a loose pass on the turf.

50: PENALTY Cowboys and on the attack deep in the Eels half.

51: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Michael Morgan makes an unforced error.
Morgan picks up a Linnett flick pass but knocks it on after a last ditch Hayne tackle on his own line.

53: Matthew Wright is trapped in goal from a Sandow kick. Line drop out.

54: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Wright makes an unforced error.
Wright tries to make an intercept pass on his own line but can't get a hold of it.

54: VIDEO REFEREE: Sandow tricks everybody by running himself and getting over. Checking grounding.

55: NO TRY - Sandow has lost the ball.

56: PENALTY Cowboys - Mannah too slow to get off the Cowboys attacker.

57: VIDEO REFEREE: We are checking grounding on a Linnett try for the Cowboys.

57: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
The grounding is ok and it is a TRY!

58: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
The lead is out to 16 now.

59: The Eels restart is allowed to bounce and goes dead in goal. Line drop out for the Cowboys.

60: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Pauli Pauli makes an unforced error.
Pauli knocks on in good attacking range and the Cowboys are let off the hook.

60: PENALTY Cowboys for a 2 on 1 strip.

63: Manu Ma'u makes a bit of a break. He throws a pass but it goes straight into Cowboys hands.

63: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Jason Taumalolo makes an unforced error.
A knock on close to the Eels line.

64: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Jarryd Hayne makes an unforced error.
And now Hayne gives it straight back to the Cowboys 20 metres out from his own line.

65: VIDEO REFEREE: Rona chases through on a Thompson kick and it might be another try to the Cowboys. We are checking offside.

65: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
TRY! Rona has his second.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
From the sideline, Thurston has got it again.

67: Cowboys lead possession 63% - 37%.

68: PENALTY Eels as the Cowboys players goes on with the tackles a tad too long.

69: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
David Gower makes an unforced error.
Gower is half into a gap and drops it. Now Thurston picks it up and is off down field.

70: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
A BRILLIANT individual try to Morgan. A grubber in behind the Eels line and he chases his own kick through for a try.

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
A kicking exhibition from Thurston today as he adds another two.

73: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Glenn Hall makes an unforced error.
Ball pops out from a good solid hit. Eels on the attack.

74: Heart in mouth stuff for Eels (and NSW) fans as Hayne stays down for a moment but he is back up now.

75: A Thurston kick rolls dead in goal. The Cowboys are still looking to score points despite such a big lead.

77: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Pauli Pauli makes an unforced error.
A knock on from Pauli. It really has just been a poor all round performance from the Eels.

77: OFFICIAL CROWD at 1300SMILES Stadium: 13,285

77: Time off as Nathan Peats stays down with an injury but he is now back up.

79: Hopoate tries to do something himself with a grubber behind the line but he can't regather.

80: A final chance for points for the Cowboys but they are caught with the ball on the last.

80: A Hayne chip to Semi Radradra right at the end but the bounce isn't a good one.

80: FULL TIME at 1300SMILES Stadium, with the Cowboys defeating the Eels 42-14 in a very one-sided affair.