CommBank Stadium will play host to Friday's Round 13 NRL game between Parramatta Eels and North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with Parramatta Eels heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Parramatta Eels vs. North Queensland Cowboys game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday May 26, 2023 at 8:00 pm

Where: CommBank Stadium

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Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds

Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview

North Queensland heads back to Sydney again just six days after one of the most harrowing defeats in the club’s history.

Seemingly reviving their campaign with convincing wins over the Roosters and Dragons, the Cowboys achieved instant infamy via a 66-18 thrashing from last-placed Wests Tigers.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are without Maroons quartet Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter, Valentine Holmes and Tom Dearden.

Centre Zac Laybutt and winger Robert Derby make their NRL debuts, Ben Hampton slots in at five-eighth and Griffin Neame and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown return on the bench.

Parramatta, meanwhile, produced a stunning 36-16 upset of streaking bogey team South Sydney last Friday.

It was the Eels at their best – seen all too infrequently in 2023 – as Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown shone off the 400-metre-plus platform laid by Junior Paulo and Wiremu Greig.

But the Eels have several enforced engine-room changes this week.

On top of Paulo’s NSW duties, Parramatta’s pack has been hit by injuries to Ryan Matterson and Andrew Davey.

Midyear recruit Joe Ofahengaue comes straight into the line-up, while Matt Doorey is recalled and Luca Moretti is set to debut off the bench.

Recent results and Origin absentees take the gloss off the preliminary final rematch narrative.

Parramatta’s comeback 24-20 win in Townsville last September to snag a grand final spot was their third in four games against the Cowboys and atoned for a 35-4 loss in Darwin earlier in 2022.

The teams’ performances could not have been more disparate last week.

The Cowboys do have an opportunity to get the jump on a depleted Eels pack, but their backline changes make any potential advantage difficult to capitalise on and the blue-and-golds’ depth looks adequate enough to chalk up back-to-back wins for just the second time this season.

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Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Tip

Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Teams

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Wiremu Greig 9. Josh Hodgson 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Matt Doorey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ofahiki Ogden 15. Brendan Hands 16. Luca Moretti 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Haze Dunster 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Jack Murchie 22. Isaac Lumelume

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Robert Derby 6. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jake Granville 14. Jack Gosiewski 15. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Mitchell Dunn 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Thomas Duffy 22. Jason Taumalolo