Ace Up EEls Sleeve

The two benches will be crucial in next weekend's Eels-Cowboys grand final qualifier, and the Eels have an ace up their sleeve in tough Kiwi Marata Niukore.Usually starting on the bench, Niukore was given a starting spot and was superb in the Eels' 40-4 thrashing of Canberra last Friday night, scoring two tries in the final 10 minutes and coming up with 168 run metres.Niukore gives the Eels real thrust and the Raiders had no answer to his power running game.The Warriors would have loved watching him rip into the Raiders - the big forward is off to Auckland next season.The Eels literally ran the Raiders off their feet in a remarkable bounce-back from the previous week's loss to Penrith to get into their first GF qualifier since 2009.Some 13 Eels ran for more than 100 metres, with four of those getting over the 200 metre mark.Those are remarkable statistics - but the Eels will find the going a lot tougher against the well-drilled Cowboys defence in the heat and humidity of Townsville.

Tigers may appeal farcical Cowboys loss

Don't be surprised if lawyers get involved in the farcical finish to the Cowboys-Tigers clash in Townsville on Sunday.The Tigers are fuming at the way they were stripped of victory after the full-time siren by a highly questionable decision by the Bunker.The Bunker had got plenty wrong before this howler, but what really upsets the Tigers is they believe the rules don't allow the referee to refer a captain's challenge to the Bunker when the referee makes no decision.The Tigers caught the ball from a short kick-off, leading by a point, when the siren sounded.The Tigers jumped for joy at what would have been the upset of the season, but the Cowboys fired in a captain's challenge and the referee sent it to the Bunker, which found a dubious 'running off the ball' scenario from the kick-off, giving the Cowboys the penalty that won the game.The Tigers have already submitted a complaint to the NRL but are awaiting clarification from League HQ before deciding on their next move.Don't be surprised if it becomes a case of lawyers at 10 paces as they fight to gain the two points they believe are rightfully theirs.

Cowboys snare mid-season signing for finals run

The Cowboys have signed former Knights and Broncos outside back Gehamat Shibasaki to boost their backline depth for the run to the finals.With injuries starting to hit the club, the Cowboys zoomed in on Shibasaki, who played the last two seasons in Newcastle before a brief move to Japanese rugby.The 24-year-old will start playing with the Cowboys' feeder club in the Queensland Cup, the Blackhawks, but is expected to get a few runs in the top grade before the finals."He in on a train and replacement contract for the rest of this season," Cowboys coach Todd Payten confirmed to WWOS."He's a nice kid and looks good at training."Shibasaki has played 27 games in four seasons at Newcastle and Brisbane, scoring six tries.

Townsend May Join Cowboys Early

Still on Townsend, he may find himself in Townsville sooner rather than later. His contract doesn't kick in until next year but he is currently playing for the Sharks' feeder club Newtown. The Sharks are prepared to let him move early - if the Cowboys can arrange a suitable player swap. The two clubs are currently looking at their options. The Cowboys are struggling for direction in the halves and recently allowed the much-improved Jake Clifford to go to Newcastle. Townsend is a premiership-winning five-eighth who would give coach Todd Payten leadership and a kicking game.