In front of the biggest home crowd of the season against the struggling Knights hellbent on avoiding the spoon, the Eels have one last chance to build momentum for next year, honour Will Penisini’s 100th game as well as Members' Appreciation Day. They also have the chance to win three-straight for the first time since mid-2023.
History Leans Parra
Parramatta have won 7 of their past 8 against Newcastle. The Knights, meanwhile, limp in on an eight-game losing streak. Their worst run in eight years since the 2015-17's three-consecutive spoons. Their Dark Ages after Bennett.
11-Year Hoodoo
Newcastle haven’t beaten Parramatta in Parramatta since 2014.
Getty Images: Moses celebrates with Iongi in last week's boilover against the Warriors. Mose has scored four tries in his last three games against the Knights.
Evolving, Devolving
Parramatta are 4/6. Newcastle 0/8, conceding 36 points a game. In that stretch, the Eels have beaten finals contenders Warriors, Roosters and Broncos, a win over the Cowboys and narrow losses to Souths and the Storm.
The Eels' revival is built on resilience, conceding just 17.7 points per game since Round 21, which is comparable the the top-two defences overall. The Dogs (16.9) and Storm (18.7). A season of gradual improvement. A horror start (1/6). Then, Gradual progress (4/11). Now, a gritty late surge.
The Knights were in it at the break against Cronulla18-10 last week, before getting overrun 40-16 on the back of poor completions. Without Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharp and Dylan Lucas, they’ve spiralled winlessly since round 16 when they had the second-best defence and were more competitive. Since then, they have had both the worst attack and worst defence in the competition. Losing Leo Thomson for this game, doesn't help their cause.
One Thing
On top of injuries, the Knights’ end of season schedule has been brutal. Seven of their past eight opponents sit in the top seven including the Raiders, the minor-premiers, twice.
Against top-eight sides they struggle (1/12) with their lone win over a finals contender a then last-paced Penrith in Round 12. They fare better against bottom-nine opposition (5/11). Will we see a closer, harder game than many expect?
Milestone Madness
Parramatta have made a habit of winning on milestone days over the last seven weeks. Paulo’s top-ten club entry. Addo-Carr’s 200th and 150th try. Walker’s 250th. Legacies matter.
Final Word
Form, logic, history and bookies all favour Parramatta. Yet, expectations breeds different sorts of pressure. Not just to win, but win well against a desperate Knights. The fate of the spoon in their hands.
How did we fare the last time that happened? In Round 24, heavy favourites against Souths, they stumbled to a 20-16 loss on the back of sloppy completions and a mountain of errors. A mental relaxing. Souths, hungier, won the loose ball contest. Ryles admitted: "We Got What We Deserved."
For Parramatta, this isn’t just about beating a wounded Newcastle. It’s about proving they can maintain their edge, even as heavy favorites, learning from the past. To carry real belief into the future. A loss would be a sour end.
Team Lists
Eels (12th) v Knights (16th)
Sunday, 4.05pm AEST, 7 September 2025, CommBank, Parramatta
Weather: Expected sunny, 15-20˚C, 15km/h moderate winds
Sportsbet: $1.22 Eels, $4.45 Knights
Referees: Wyatt Raymond (on-field ref), Liam Kennedy (bunker), Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski and Phil Henderson (touch judges)
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker
Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Matt Doorey 16. Charlie Guymer 17. Jordan Samrani
Reserves: 22. Joash Papali’i
Players cut: 18. Dean Hawkins 19. Dan Keir 20. Toni Mataele 21. Joey Lussick
Coach: Jason Ryles
Knights: 1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jakob Arthur 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 13. Tyson Frizell 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 15. Mathew Croker
Bench: 14. Jayden Brailey 16. Thomas Cant 17. Elijah Leaumoana 19. Cody Hopwood
Reserves: 18. James Schiller
Players cut: 10. Leo Thompson 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Connor Votano 22. Lachlan Crouch
Coach: Adam O'Brien
Eels:
In — Mitch Moses' old partner in crime crime, Dylan Brown is six. Brown hasn’t played at six since R19 (Panthers), before playing centres (R23-25.
Out — Joash Papali'i to extended reserves.
Knights:
In — Frizell at prop, Cody Hopwood onto bench
Out — Leo Thompson
Replies
Lol jumping the Wests Tigers is great. Ol' Benji having trainers jump on him celebrating at HT then go on to be kept scoreless in 2nd half lol.
Staying above Wests with a win is enough for me. Still need to win.
Wests have spent so much money and brought in every player under the sun, Parra has a way higher upside then them. Ryles just getting started 🥳
Bulldogs in deep trouble, Xeri gone and Kikau
Sharks looking the goods and will have a decent finals series.
Did you see that Cooper Bai play yesterday? he'll play origin I think
Titans have got a gem there
Thanks for the tip Joel. Today the knights are coming...to our house...for a change.
They are motivated to not finish last. We understand and although still without Ponga and and their injured 5/8, they'll be near full strenght and hoping..
But they have no halfs-only Jake and Cogger.
We win comfortably
Bai looks promising, Joel. Aggressive like his old man, high-energy for the short time he was on. Will be interesting to watch his career unfold.
The Eels should win but the last game they were favourites and should have won they lost. It really depends on what Eels team turns up but if they want to finish the year on a good note and gather momentum for next year then they really need to turn up and put Newcastle out completely!
Here's why Dylan Brown is playing today
“I’d been thinking about Dylan for a while, and while we were never going to make room for him this last game, the opportunity came up,” Ryles said.
“Joash Papalii was booked in for surgery on his wrist, but the surgeon could only get it done early Monday, so that meant we could kick things along a little quicker [and bring back Brown].
“[The recall] is not a reward for Dylan, but a mark of respect from myself and the club. He’s been exceptional, the way he’s conducted himself since the news.”
Disappointed joash isn't playing or Dean for whatever reason enjoyed watching there efforts, the team deserves a winning end after turning around the start
Great preview as always HOE, thankyou for this & for the massive effort again this year with all the previews and blogs you’ve written.
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