The Parramatta Eels take on the North Queensland Cowboys in the elimination Semi Final of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, 16 September.
For the clash, Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur has named an unchanged side that 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.
For the opposition, Head Coach Paul Green has named the same seventeen players that came away with a thrilling 15-14 extra time victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Allianz Stadium last week.
Green has an extended bench of Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Corey Jensen, Shaun Fensom, Ray Thompson, Justin O’Neill, Braeden Uele and Patrick Mago.
The Eels had nine wins from 10 games before the Storm loss last week. The Cowboys on the other hand, who last week were led by a rampaging Jason Taumalolo, enter the clash with just one win from the last six rounds of the regular season before their victory last week.
Historically, both sides split the head to head tally, with the Eels 18 wins from 36 clashes, plus one draw. The Cowboys have won eight of the past 11 meetings, although the past four matches are two a piece.
In their last clash, the Eels suffered a 32-6 defeat at Darwin’s TIO Stadium in Round 14 of this season.
The two sides have only met one time in the Finals, where the Cowboys came away with a convincing 29-0 victory at ANZ Stadium in 2005.
The winner of this clash faces the Sydney Roosters on Saturday 23 September.
Kick off is at 7:40pm.
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Match Details: Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys, ANZ Stadium, Saturday 16 September. Kick off at 7:40pm.
Televised: Channel Nine and Fox League – Live from 7pm.
The History: Played 36; Eels 18; Cowboys 17; Drawn 1. The Cowboys have won eight of the past 11 meetings, although the past four matches are two a piece.
In their last clash, the Eels suffered a 32-6 defeat at Darwin’s TIO Stadium in Round 14 of this season.
Parramatta Eels squad: 1. Will Smith 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Kirisome Auva'a 6. Corey Norman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Daniel Alvaro 9. Cameron King 10. Tim Mannah 11. Manu Ma'u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Beau Scott 15. Kenny Edwards 16. Siosaia Vave 17. Suaia Matagi 18. Kaysa Pritchard 19. Peni Terepo 20. David Gower 21. Josh Hoffman
North Queensland Cowboys squad: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Javid Bowen 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Michael Morgan 8. John Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Ben Hampton 15. Coen Hess 16. Corey Jensen 17. Shaun Fensom 18. Ray Thompson 19. Justin O'Neill 20. Braeden Uele 21. Patrick Mago
Match officials: Referee: Matt Cecchin; Assistant Referee: Ben Cummins; Touch judges: Brett Suttor and Chris Butler; Review Official: Ben Galea; Senior RO: Ashley Klein.
