The NRL shifts to Darwin as Parramatta look to continue their climb up the ladder as they take on the Cowboys who are likely to welcome back Johnathan Thurston.

The Eels recorded a strong win over the Warriors last week with Mitchell Moses gaining in confidence each week with his new teammates. The Eels could welcome back their own star half in Corey Norman, with a up-in-the-air lineup change due for the New South Wales club should Norman be declared fit to play.

Last week’s win did come at a cost however with Josh Hoffman and David Gower out through injury. Tim Mannah returns to the starting side to take on a Cowboys side searching for back to back wins for the first time since the end of March.

Several Cowboys have a point to prove this weekend, with Thurston needing to prove his match fitness ahead of next week’s Origin squad announcement while Coen Hess and Justin O’Neill are both pressing for Origin spots, albeit each under different circumstances.

Should Thurston play, you would expect him to find holes in a sometimes liable Eels defensive line, however their attacking form of late has been enough to get them over the line, and we’ll back them to do that again this week.

Eels by 4.

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