Cowboys v Eels NRL R21 betting tips & preview – 22/7/23

Cowboys v Eels best bets

Cowboys v Eels match preview

Super Saturday for round 21 of the 2023 NRL Premiership wraps up in Townsville with the North Queensland Cowboys hosting the Parramatta Eels at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. The two sides sit on equal points for this season, but who will win this match and secure a top-eight position on the NRL ladder?

Cowboys coach Todd Payten is fortunate to name an unchanged line-up following his side’s victory over the Sea Eagles in round 20.

Eels coach Brad Arthur has been forced to make one change following the suspension of Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Ofahiki Ogden has been named to start in the front-row in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

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Cowboys v Eels betting predictions

The North Queensland Cowboys are solid favourites in head-to-head betting despite the Eels winning on their only previous trip to Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The visitors have won five of their last six matches to sit in seventh spot on the NRL ladder. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have won each of their last five matches, including victories over the Storm and Panthers in Townsville. The home side should cover the -7.5 point line and win in this match at $1.90 odds with the top betting sites.

Scott Drinkwater has been the form fullback of the NRL throughout the State of Origin period. The Cowboys star has scored six tries (including one in extra time to beat the Panthers), assisted a further 10 tries, and broken a mountain of tackles and defensive lines. It will only be a matter of time before Drinkwater scores a try ($2.03) on Saturday night.

Valentine Holmes has also been in brilliant form throughout the last seven weeks, scoring five tries including doubles against the Rabbitohs and Tigers. This weekend he lines up on Eels centre Bailey Simonsson, who has missed 17 tackles in the last two weeks alone. Holmes should prove too strong for his opponent and score a try at some stage in this match ($2.18).

Key matchup: Scott Drinkwater v Clint Gutherson

Scott Drinkwater vs Clint Gutherson

Scott Drinkwater has been untouchable throughout the last two months with his incredible playmaking abilities, while Clint Gutherson is a unique style of fullback. The Parramatta Eels captain will need to harder than he has all season to bridge that gap to Drinkwater and give the Eels a chance for victory.

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