Eels exit sees Storm & Roosters firm for NRL Grand Final

NORTH Queensland Cowboys continued their stunning late-season surge on Saturday to book a place in the preliminary finals of the 2017 NRL Premiership.

The victims on this occasion were the Parramatta Eels, who have failed completely and utterly to deliver on the hype they brought into the post-season.

Now, having only scraped into the top eight as a result of St George Illawarra’s incompetence, the Cowboys are only 80-odd minutes away from the most unlikely of title fights.

In the absence of JT, one Cowboy has really stood up this finals series. Here he is calling for some composure #NRLEelsCowboys #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/9yxhQHcRgm

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) September 16, 2017

What a time to score your first #NRL Try!#NRLEelsCowboys #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/4XEYwGSPvI

— NRL (@NRL) September 17, 2017

When people said eels could win the comp😂. #NRLEelsCowboys pic.twitter.com/2dOl4ik2i6

— Jace🇦🇺 (@JaceMorris98) September 16, 2017

Although Paul Green’s men remain the outsiders in the premiership betting, their quote at CrownBet.com.au has plunged into $9.

Next on the hit list are the Sydney Roosters, who have already dealt with one set of Queenslanders this finals series.

Even though the Chooks finished second on the ladder and hold the second line of premiership betting at $3.50 odds, they have given punters little reason to back them with any confidence this season.

Roosters really haven’t impressed me this year, despite their ladder position. Could see Cowboys giving it a real shake#NRLRoostersCowboys

— Sandy Lanceley (@sandylanceley) September 16, 2017

NRL finals losers WK1- 2x beach teams, WK2- 2x West Syd teams, Therefore WK3= 2x QLD teams #NRLFinals #NRLStormBroncos #NRLRoostersCowboys

— NRL CONSPIRACIES (@NrlConspiracies) September 16, 2017

#NRLStormBroncos #NRLRoostersCowboys
The QLD dominance continues beyond Origin and into the Preliminary Finals. #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/XKu2C1G75g

— bettingclub (@bettingclubaus) September 17, 2017

On the other side of the draw, the Brisbane Broncos have the unenviable task of taking down the runaway favourites.

The Melbourne Storm were far from their fluent best in the qualifying finals, but that does not the make the job any easier for Wayne Bennett and company.

The Storm are holding steady at $1.75 for the flag at CrownBet, while the Broncos have blown out to $7 since their disappointing display against the Roosters in week one.

#NRL There's a good reason why NRL scheduled #NRLStormBroncos Friday night…there's no #AFL in Melbourne that night.

— crowdiegal (@crowdiegal) September 16, 2017

#NRLStormBroncos tickets are now on sale for Broncos Non-Ticketed Members. 🎟 Secure yours now: https://t.co/FIMQDdBRtM pic.twitter.com/zKTsqLt8Nr

— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) September 18, 2017

Broncos when the remember they now have to play the Storm next week #NRLBroncosPanthers #nrlstormbroncos pic.twitter.com/IWRx5yVgez

— Stew Costello (@stewcostello) September 15, 2017

Given the overwhelming support for Melbourne, it is no surprise to see so many Storm stars at the top end of betting for the Clive Churchill Medal.

Cameron Smith is the obvious $3 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au, with his chums Cooper Cronk ($7) and Billy Slater ($9) filling out the podium.

Sydney’s Mitchell Pearce has the fourth line at $10 odds, while Brisbane’s Anthony Milford ($23) and North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo ($31) head the betting for their respective clubs.