Rugby League
2025-08-10 - Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
A Sports Betting Pick by Stu
Rugby League : Australia : NRL
Sunday, 10 August 2025 - KO 1605 AEST
Parramatta Eels
Parramatta’s season is effectively over after another disappointing run but there are some encouraging signs if the team can remain close enough to injury free for the remainder of this year and next year. With a 6-13 record, they’ve slipped to 15th on the ladder after dropping four of their last five matches, including two disappointing defeats to the Raiders by 24 and Panthers by 22.
This puts the Eels in danger of the wooden spoon with just 1 win ahead of the 2 bottom placed teams. Their attack, once their greatest strength, has looked disjointed without consistent forward dominance, and defensive frailties have cost them dearly.
The return of Mitch Moses who again shoulders most of the responsibility of sparking the Eels attack has been one of the highlights. His superb kicking game will be crucial against a Cowboys side that thrives off quick territorial gains and offloads. Zac Lomax provides leadership at the back, but Parramatta need a lot more punch from their middles to lay the groundwork.
Returning to CommBank Stadium should help—although the Eels have lost their last two at the venue, typically they do improve greatly at home as shown when the thoroughly beat Manly 30-10 about 6 weeks ago.
Parramatta Eels Team News - Brad Arthur has made a couple of changes to freshen the side, Kelma Tuilagi is named on the bench while Jordan Samrani comes into the centres.
North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland come into this clash in good spirits after a hard-fought win over the Raiders in Townsville last week, extending their run to four wins from their last five.
Todd Payten’s men are clicking into gear at the right time of year, with Scott Drinkwater pulling the strings from fullback and Tom Dearden defending his heart out in the halves. The Cowboys are placed 13th, just 1 point clear of the Eels this weekend meaning a loss would drag them into a battle of the wooden spoon too.
The Cowboys forward pack has been their trump card lately, with Jason Taumalolo returning to form and Reuben Cotter leading the defensive charge. Their ability to dominate possession through middle third control will be key against a Parramatta side that can turn games quickly if given momentum.
One major concern for the Cowboys is their away form—while they’ve been solid enough at home 4-1-5, their record in Sydney this year sits at just 3 wins from 7 starts.
North Queensland Cowboys Team News – huge inclusions for North Queensland, Jason Taumalolo, Jake Clifford, Viliami Vailea and bench forward Thomas Mikaele all return from injury.
Odds
Parramatta lead the betting, $1.62 to $2.35, the line 4.5 points and total points is 47.5
The Betting Verdict
The late Sunday game in Round 23 sees Parramatta host North Queensland in what looms as a vital fixture for both sides to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Eels, desperate to halt a form slump, return to CommBank Stadium where they’ve traditionally been a far more threatening outfit. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are in danger of slipping down the ladder and could also find themselves in a fight for the wrong end of the ladder.
These two sides have shared a fairly even rivalry in recent seasons, with Parramatta holding a slight edge 23-1-22. These teams last clashed in 2024 in the only meeting that season, Parra winning 27-20 at Commbank. Of note, 6 of the last 7 matches have hit at least 40 points. At this venue, North Queensland are 7-15 while the Eels win 61% of their home matches at Commbank.
At CommBank Stadium, Parramatta have the upper hand over the Cowboys, winning the last three encounters at the venue, by 7, 8 and 38 points. The Eels familiarity with the ground and crowd support could give them a lift, and the Cowboys will need to defy history and prove they can travel and win, this will only happen if their forwards lay a strong platform.
A loss here could drop that team into a fight for last place so I expect an open, attacking contest with probable momentum swings—exactly the kind of game that could define each side’s season.
Given both sides recent form lines, the Eels appear the more stable and confident outfit, but their opponent welcomes back some excellent players to make this a tricky betting proposition.
With a high scoring contest expected, the safest play may be the over 47.5 points at $1.91, both teams possess attacking firepower and neither team has been even close to watertight defensively in 2025. Eels to win, just.
Value Option: Scott Drinkwater anytime tryscorer at $2.90
The Pick :
Parramatta Eels 28-26 North Queensland
