Round 10 Friday night footy heads to Townsville as the Cowboys host the struggling Eels.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys continue to be one of the hardest teams to predict in 2026.<\/p>\n
After a shaky start they rattled off four straight wins, suffered a heavy defeat, then bounced back with consecutive victories once again.<\/p>\n
Parramatta have been far easier to read lately, losing five of their last six including heavy defeats to the Warriors and Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n
North Queensland deserve favouritism at home, but recent meetings between these clubs suggest this should stay close.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys have beaten Parramatta just once in their last five clashes dating back to 2022, and even that was only by eight points.<\/p>\n
Townsville gives them the edge here, but a tight victory feels the most likely outcome.<\/p>\n
The high total reflects how both teams have featured in shootouts this season.<\/p>\n
However, this matchup traditionally trends heavily towards the under.<\/p>\n
Incredibly, the last Cowboys vs Eels game to clear 55.5 total points came while Barack Obama was still President of the United States.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s 17 straight meetings staying under this mark.<\/p>\n
Drinkwater has quietly hit top gear, scoring five tries across his last five appearances.<\/p>\n
With Jeremiah Nanai sidelined, expect the Cowboys\u2019 fullback to become even more involved around the football.<\/p>\n
His support play alongside Jaxon Purdue and Braidon Burns has been excellent, and Parramatta\u2019s edge defence remains vulnerable.<\/p>\n