Eels vs Cowboys NRL betting tips & top odds – Round 8, 2022

Both the Parramatta Eels and North Queensland Cowboys come off terrific performances in Round 7 of the 2022 NRL Premiership and will lock horns in Darwin for what should be a terrific main event on Super Saturday in Round 8.

The Eels belted Newcastle 39-2 and barely raised a sweat in doing so, while the Cowboys put in a tradesman-like performance to comfortably dispatch the Titans 30-4 at home.

The Eels currently have a shortage in the outside backs and it’s proven to add another wrinkle to their attack.

Dylan Brown was more than comfortable at left centre as he pitches in to help during an injury crisis, but he interchanged nicely with Jake Arthur in the attacking half, so his great form wasn’t wasted being further away from the football than normal.

Their middle put on a sensational display and bullied Newcastle in their last start, and outside of Jason Taumalolo, they comfortably winning that battle on paper too.

It would normally make them a fantastic candidate for a 13-plus margin bet at $2.15 with Marantelli Bet, but the humidity will make the ball harder to handle and their opponents are well-versed in tropical conditions, so take the safer option for a 1-12 point win at a tasty $3.05.

A good first try scoring option might be Bailey Simonsson on the left wing. He was wonderful against Newcastle, running for 152 metres and his pace might prove the difference against a slower combination of Kyle Feldt and Peta Hiku on that edge.

Dylan Brown has shown this season he can create space down that side of the field and it feels like Simonsson’s time to cash in.

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The Cowboys have started the season in much better fashion than many predicted, but this game shapes up as a great test for them moving into the middle third of the season.

They’ve beaten Canberra twice, a dismal Titans team and the Broncos. It is hardly a murderer’s row of opponents, but you can only beat what is in front of you.

The Roosters loss at home showed the concerns many had are legitimate, but a game against a top-four team a month later is a great chance to show what they’ve learned in that time.

They might be a $3.60 outsider with online bookmakers, but they are definitely a punchers chance to get the upset.

Parramatta’s form had been streaky until last weekend, and Newcastle have been so bad they’ve enhanced their rivals perhaps slightly more than what is truly reflected.

It will either mean they regress back to what they were for the first six weeks and it opens the door for the Cowboys to spring the upset, or we realise the Eels are starting to find their groove.

The back line has been a surprise for the Cowboys this year, and Scott Drinkwater has created a selection headache with his scintillating play at fullback when recalled.

Many will take the $18 on offer for him to score the first try of the match, but the better option is to take him at $3.60 to score at any time and combine it in a same-game multi.

Whenever you can get $2.50 for Kyle Feldt to score a try, you’d be mad not to take that as well.

Key matchup: Gutherson vs Drinkwater

The Eels have become less dependent on Clint Gutherson as a creative player, but that still doesn’t take away from what should be a wonderful battle between he and Scott Drinkwater.

Drinkwater on attacking scrums and set plays in the attacking 20-metre zone is a nightmare to defend against, while Gutherson is a persistent threat in the middle third to burst through on an offload and set up a try in that manner.

Both highly skilled in different ways and they’ll light Darwin up.

Eels vs Cowboys predictions & best bets

Parramatta will get the win at the 1-12 point margin and we’ll walk away from the game believing the Cowboys aren’t far away from getting a win against a top-four contender.

Eels vs Cowboys same-game multi tips

Eels 1-12 with Bailey Simonsson, Kyle Feldt and Scott Drinkwater all scoring tries pays a juicy $50.42.

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