Parra out to smash hoodoo

THE Parramatta Eels are walking into the NRL equivalent of a graveyard, but as far as Eels assistant coach Steve Murphy is concerned tonight could be the start of new beginnings.

The Eels arrived in Townsville yesterday ahead of tonight’s showdown at 1300SMILES Stadium, a venue where Parramatta have lost nine of their past 10 games.

Only one player from the squad to play tonight, captain Tim Mannah, was part of Parramatta’s last team to win at 1300SMILES in 2010.

Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston — who is expected to play tonight — Ray Thompson and Scott Bolton are the only Cowboys players to have experienced a home defeat against Parramatta.

“You really can’t think about things Murphy said.

“I know it’s a cliche but at kickoff it’s nil- all and it’s a new team, a new environment and new occasion completely.

“Historically we haven’t been good here, but it’s a new game and we’re looking forward to it as an opportunity.

“We’ve had some troubles controlling the ball up here which has put us under all sorts of pressure, so we’ll have to complete and have long periods of possession to hopefully wear them down.”

Parramatta won their first four games in Townsville starting from 1996 through to 2000, but have been on a dry run since then, afford to like that,” with their draw against North Queensland in 2001 at 1300SMILES leading into one of the NRL’s most dismal away records.

Only Parramatta’s record in Canberra is worse, with the Eels losing 11 of their past 12 games in the nation’s capital.

Parramatta’s last Townsville came last Round 8, which the won 32- 16.

Speculation surrounded the availability of Thurston, but Murphy said the Eels never had doubts about Thurston’s fitness.

“We’re been preparing as if he’s playing, there won’t be any surprises there,” he said.

“He was named in jersey No. 19 or something, so we assumed he was going to take his place.”

The knee injury suffered by five- eighth Brad Takairangi in last weekend’s 18- 12 win over Penrith has seen the Eels forced into another halves shuffle, with second rower Kenny Edwards slotting into No. 6 alongside halfback Corey Norman.

Edwards has been thrown into one of the toughest challenges any makeshift five- eighth could face, squaring off against Test players Thurston and Michael Morgan, but Murphy believes the versatile backrower can hold his own.

Edwards played three games at five- eighth alongside Norman last season, and Parramatta won all of them.

“Kenny’s done the job before,” Murphy said.

“He’s just a rugby league player and he’ll play in any position, and we’ve really missed him in the eight weeks he’s had out.”

Marata Niukore and former Cowboys player Cameron King have dropped out of Parramatta’s extended squad. clash in year in Cowboys