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Five Things - Eels v Cowboys, Round Eight

The Eels are looking to go back-to-back and remain top of the NRL ladder when they host the Cowboys in Round Eight at Bankwest Stadium.

The Blue and Gold head into the match with a 6-1 record for the season, while the Cowboys enter the clash with a 3-4 record.

Eels Captain Clint Gutherson will play his 100th NRL game, while Jai Field will make his club debut in the number seven jersey.

Here are five things you need to know about the game.

Fans return to PARRAdise

7,500 fans will watch from the stands of Bankwest Stadium for the first time since Round One on 28 March.

A limited number of corporate partners and members were allowed to watch from suites for the last few Rounds.

This is the first time the stands will be occupied with more than cardboard cutout fans.

Eels’ new halfback

Jai Field will have his chance to shine in the halves after being handed his Eels debut.

The 22-year-old will officially become Parramatta Eels player #806.

He has big shoes to fill, when he pulls on the number seven jersey replacing the injured Mitch Moses.

Field has 11 NRL game under his belt, after spending four seasons with the St George Illawarra Dragons.

He joins young gun Dylan Brown in the halves.

Stat attack

The Eels haven’t beaten the Cowboys since 2018, but history shows the clubs have been pretty evenly matched.

Out of 39 meetings, the Eels have won 18 to the Cowboys 20 wins.

Eels winger Maika Sivo has scored 15 tries in 16 games at Bankwest Stadium.

Cowboys Winger Kyle Feldt has scored eight tries from his past five games against the Eels.

New turf at Bankwest Stadium

The laying of new turf at Bankwest Stadium was brought forward a week and was re-laid on Monday.

It comes after the surface took a heavy toll with the venue hosting 11 NRL games in the space of 22 days.

All Round Eight matches at the stadium will go ahead as scheduled.

Team Changes

Jai Field replaces Mitch Moses at halfback.

David Gower returns to the bench for the first time in 2020 in place of Daniel Alvaro.

Jordan McLean is out injured.

Francis Molo will start at prop and Reuben Cotter joining the bench.

Val Holmes is closing in on a return and has been named in the reserves.

Acknowledgement of Country

Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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