Five things you need to know: Prelim Final v Eels
The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys host the Parramatta Eels in a Preliminary Final at Queensland Country Bank Stadium tomorrow night.
1. HISTORY
No Cowboys team has ever played a preliminary final home – until tomorrow night. North Queensland have reached the Preliminary Finals on six previous occasions, winning three. The most recent prelim appearance was a 29-16 victory over the Roosters in 2017.
2. UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
Parramatta and North Queensland have only met once in 2022 – a 35-4 Cowboys victory in Round 8. The Eels hold a 22-21 lead in the overall head to head match-up, but have not won in North Queensland since 2017 and have never played at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
3. STICKING STRONG
Cowboys Head Coach Todd Payten has named an unchanged 17 for the Eels clash. Tom Gilbert again starts in the second row, as per the last change against Cronulla, with Luciano Leilua to start from the interchange.
4. BIG TIME
Fourteen of the Cowboys 17-man squad are set to play their first ever home finals match as a Cowboy. Only Kyle Feldt, Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess have ever played a home final in Cowboys colours.
5. BREAKING RECORDS
Friday’s game is the fourth sell out of the season at Queensland Country Bank Stadium – a Cowboys club record. On top of the prelim final sell-out, crowds also hit capacity for the Storm, Broncos and Panthers fixtures.
