The Parramatta Eels have won their last two games, with victories over the Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers, and Blue & Gold co-captain and forward Beau Scott says the teams return to playing football the way they started the year has brought rewards.
The Eels were facing five consecutive losses, but victories over the past fortnight has been pleasing for the Blue & Gold.
“We have been getting back to the football that works for us, like we did in the first two weeks of the competition,” Scott said.
“It is always a happier week at training coming off a win!"
“We have had a bit of a patchy start, but we got back to the way we wanted to play the last couple of weeks.” Scott added.
The Eels will be looking for their third consecutive victory, in their third game in just twelve days, when they travel to Townsville to take on the North Queensland Cowboys in Round Nine of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
The Eels do not hold a good record north of the border, and Scott says the team will be looking to change that this time around, aiming to come away with the two points heading into Rep Round.
“We haven’t got a good record travelling up to North Queensland. It is probably a game we need to go up there and play the football we have been the last fortnight or so,” Scott said.
“We have got back to the way we want to play, the way we are training to play, and the results are there.”
“Everyone is after the two points heading into the bye and emptying the tank, and we will be no different.”
The Cowboys, have been without their captain Johnathan Thurston for the past few weeks after being ruled out with injury, and despite being named on the bench this week, Scott still expects a tough encounter at the Cowboys’ home, whether he plays or not.
“It is a hard trip, just like New Zealand, it is a long way up there, they have great support, great home town fans up there and it doesn’t make it any easier for us so we will definitely have our work cut out for us.”
The Eels were forced to make one change to their line up, with Brad Takairangi ruled out with an injury forcing Kenny Edwards into the halves alongside Corey Norman.
Scott expects Edwards to do the job.
“Whoever we put there in the halves, with Kenny Edwards there this week, he knows the role he has to play and he will get on with the job,” Scott said.
“Everyone still has to play that part, whoever we put in that position, but that will come because injuries are part of the game unfortunately.”
“Let’s hope he can keep up his good record!” Scott added when Edwards spoke earlier in the week about winning four from five games last year when he played at five-eighth.
Scott also had praise for fellow forward Nathan Brown, who has impressed during the opening eight rounds of the competition.
“Browny is going great and like you said has been thrown into a couple of different roles so far and playing long minutes,” Scott said.
“He has definitely been one of the consistent players in our team.”
“I think he is just a footballer, that puts his body on the line week in week out.”
The Eels take on the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium on Friday 28 April in Round Nine of the NRL Telstra Premiership. Kick off is at 7:50pm.
