The "MOMAX is finally here" image was produced by the Eels' club.
The Knights host the Eels tonight at McDonald Jones Stadium in a milestone 300th game for Dane Gagai. Both sides sit in the bottom four and are desperate to snap losing habits in a season slipping away.
Team Lists
Friday, 16 May 2025, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm AEST
Weather: Cloudy, 18°C, humid (87%), light winds 9-15km/h
Ground: Expected to be good
Sportsbet: $1.81 Knights, $2.04 Eels
Referees: Todd Smith (on-field), Wyatt Raymond & Dave Munro (Touch Judges), Kasey Badger (Bunker buzz in Smith's ear)
Knights:
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 11. Dylan Lucas 5. Fletcher Hunt 6. Fletcher Sharpe 19. Tyson Gamble 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Tyson Frizell 16. Thomas Cant 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott
Bench: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 17. Brodie Jones 18. Jack Hetherington
Extended bench: 22. Paul Bryan
Cut: TBC 7. Jack Cogger 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Kyle McCarthy 4. Bradman Best (injury)
Head Coach: Adam O’Brien
Eels:
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 12. Kitione Kautoga 15. Luca Moretti 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 16. Jordan Samrani 17. Toni Mataele 19. Ryan Matterson
Extended bench: 18. Joash Papali’i
Cut: 11. Matt Doorey 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Jake Tago 22. Brendan Hands
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
For the Eels, Matterson makes a return to the starting 17. Moretti comes in for Doorey who is cut. For the Knights, Lucas comes in for the injured Best and Cant comes into the starting pack with Hetherington in on the bench.
Stats
- The Eels have won 7 of their past 8 against the Knights.
- Mitchell Moses has scored 60 points in his last 4 games against Newcastle..
- Fletcher Sharpe has scored 6 tries in his last 5 games.
By the Numbers: Attack versus Defence (at R11). This week the worst attack meets the worst defence - something has to give.
| Attack (ppg) | For | Defence (ppg) | Against |
| Storm (3rd) | 34.7 | Bulldogs (1st) | 15.3 |
| Raiders (4th) | 27.8 | Sharks (5th) | 18.0 |
| Bulldogs (1st) | 27.1 | Storm (3rd) | 19.1 |
| Broncos (7th) | 26.2 | Knights (14th) | 19.3 |
| Manly (8th) | 24.9 | Warriors (2nd) | 20.9 |
| Cowboys (6th) | 24.7 | Broncos (7th) | 21.6 |
| Sharks (5th) | 24.5 | Souths (11th) | 22.1 |
| Panthers (16th) | 24.4 | Manly (8th) | 22.7 |
| Dolphins (12th) | 23.8 | Dolphins (12th) | 22.8 |
| Roosters (9th) | 22.7 | Raiders (4th) | 23.0 |
| Dragons (13th) | 22.0 | Dragons (13th) | 23.7 |
| Tigers (10th) | 21.4 | Panthers (16th) | 24.6 |
| Warriors (2nd) | 21.0 | Tigers (10th) | 25.8 |
| Titans (15th) | 20.7 | Cowboys (6th) | 26.2 |
| Eels (17th) | 16.8 | Roosters (9th) | 27.3 |
| Souths (11th) | 15.9 | Titans (15th) | 30.0 |
| Knights (14th) | 13.6 | Eels (17th) | 30.2 |
Form and Frustration
Newcastle’s struggles at home continue, with just one win at McDonald Jones Stadium this year from four games — a Round 2 victory. Since then, they've dropped six of their last seven games. Despite boasting the fourth-best defence, the Knights’ attack is the worst in the competition.
The Eels, meanwhile, have won only two of their past seven to sit last. The Eels have made more errors than the opposition in every game bar three - and won two of those.
In most games, they’ve shown effort and been in the fight despite lacking punch in the pack at times. But have been undone by poor ball control, errors and poor execution — leading coach Jason Ryles to reflect: "An old bloke once told me, the scoreboard is the last thing that changes.”
Last week's losses for both teams at home reflected those season-long themes.
Last Week: Recap
Jordan posted some decent stats for the Eels last week. What will be his future position?
Against the composed Dolphins at Commbank, the Eels were in the fight once again, but poor ball control (77%-89% completions and 10-6 errors) and bombed tries meant the Eels couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities and good possession (52%-48%). The Dolphins executed better, won some crucial moments, and had the class to pull through 20-16.
Against the struggling Titans at MacDonalds Jones, the Knights couldn’t score a point in the second half. Despite a promising half-time lead of 20-6 they got overrun by the Titans to go down 24-20.
Dane Gagai will make his 300th NRL appearance.
Bottom Line
Despite their ladder positions, only two wins separate the last-placed Eels from the sixth-placed Cowboys and eigth-placed Silvertails. The margin between success and failure in this topsy-turvy season has been razor-thin. A win for Newcastle could re-spark belief and honour a club legend. For the Eels, MOMAX might be the circuit-breaker they’ve been waiting for. Losing has become a habit for them since mid-2023. A win would give them hope of avoiding a spoon and building something for next year and beyond.
Replies
9 Knock ons by penis and he doesn't make the list??
Yeah you guys are right, Penisini has been woeful all year.
The lack of basic skills by Penisini is on show every week. Can't run & pass. Drops the ball too much. Too many errors which he needs to clean up.
There's a lot to like about this side. Watching them slide on the edges defensively I haven't seen in forever. It brought a tear to my eye.
Williams is playing right and edge doing a great job. Imagine if we had the luxury of starting him there because we had some serious muscle in the middle?
We need some cattle. Not an entirely new pack, just 2-3 quality middles and maybe an edge. If we had that tonight it would be 30-0. We'd be kicking down the front door. Thankfully the Knights pack is going worse.
Cmon boys get this done!!!
Yes its the Penrith, Storm, Canterbury smother tackle and he has it working ok, Roosters are just getting it back (that's why Dom Young is being let go). We are still vulnerable behind the ruck, but Newcastle didn't go there, we lost against Dolphins and Sharks because of it. Its more technical and inexperience at this point but it is still a huge improvement. I haven't seen any stats but my guess is our missed tackles are down to buggery.That said Lomax is very clever in sealing the wing by herding them against the line, Defensively the line is the best ally of an outside back. JAC also uses it very well , its simple experience and is still a mystery that BA could never master it..
Matterson, for a guy that should be on a mission has been very underwhelming, looks disinterested and unfit.
When will Ryles and these guys learn that it is error as and stupid penalties that are undermining the improvements?
Jack Williams is on fire
He has been fab
Agree, was great tonight, Dylan Walker again also - such a great footy IQ.
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