Cowboys vs Eels

The North Queensland Cowboys host the Parramatta Eels in the first NRL's preliminary final. Follow Sportsmail's live blog for the build-up to the game and ...

It would be fair to say, not even the most optimistic Cowboys fan would have predicted North Queensland to be one win away from a Grand Final. The teams emerge onto the field at Queensland Countrybank Stadium and the scene is picture-perfect as the venue hosts a preliminary final for the first time. Fireworks are going off and the roar welcoming the Cowboys onto the pitch is as loud as anything we've heard this season. The Eels winger makes no mistake and crosses for the first try of the game. The Eels waste no time in making their numerical superiority count as Reagan Campbell-Gillard crosses for his second try of the season. Parrammatta go nowhere with their set of six, gifting the Cowboys the perfect attacking platform and North Queensland make the most of their opportunity. North Queensland move the ball forward at speed and benefit from a six-again call, to march into Parramatta's half. A broken passage of play then leads to the Cowboys starting their final set of the game from inside their half. The Cowboys have had 55 percent of possession, but found themselves trailing twice to Parramatta, who have looked dangerous whenever they have managed to get their forwards involved. Mitchell Moses looks rejuvenated and pins the Cowboys back on their try-line. The Bunker rules out the try and it's still 24-20 to Parramatta. North Queensland repeatedly slam on the door, but the Eels refuse to buckle.

The Eels will have the chance to end their 36-year premiership drought next Sunday, after a 24-20 victory over the Cowboys in Friday night's Preliminary ...

The Eels get a chance to end their premiership drought in next Sunday's grand final against either the Panthers or Rabbitohs. The way they managed the second half was much better than ours, I don’t think they made an error and the way they scrambled and defended their line, that’s the difference between a win and a loss." Mitchell Moses made a massive sacrifice for his team-mates today, he didn’t get to see the birth of his daughter, that’s huge, it shows you what it means. I thought we stayed composed, started the second half strong, but in the end Parramatta played finals footy for [longer]. To be 12-all at half-time, after having Jase (Taumalolo) in the bin for 10 minutes, I thought that was a really good effort. A crucial try-saver which kept Parramatta right in the contest.