It was a match the Eels never looked like losing against an almost inept Newcastle side but in wet, soggy conditions the Knights were able to pull out a last minute try to seal a remarkable six to four victory against Parramatta.
All eyes were on Timana Tahu to begin with, who started the game in fiery fashion after his recent stint in the spotlight. However, Tahu's aggression was misdirected and after one caution for a careless shot Tahu was sent to the bin leaving the Eels to defend their line one man down. However, the Eels held their line well while Newcastle struggle to sustain pressure with poor handling.
Things got worse for Parramatta when Eric Grothe copped a knock on his troublesome knee and was forced from the field with Justin Horo taking his place at right centre.
Fortunately for the Eels, Newcastle's case of the dropsies only worsed and indeed reached endemic proportions. It was contagious too, and the Eels responded to being given plenty of football by regularly handing the ball back to the Knights. At stages, the numbers of dropped balls was nothing short of comical and neither team were able to mount any attacking pressure.
There was only one real chance of the first half and that fell to Justin Horo who chased after a kick ahead and despite reaching the ball ahead of the Newcastle Knights he knocked the ball forward trying to ground it.
Both teams really needed their forwards to start rolling forward and Parramatta's bench pair Tim Mannah and Justin Poore stepped up to put the Eels on the front foot early. In particular, Poore produced a magnificent start to the second half combining a number of big hits with a strong break that saw him beat three with a bump, fend and step. Unfortunately, he had no support and the chance went begging.
As the second half crept on, Newcastle's failure to get to the end of their set meant Parramatta was the only team with any real chances and they were finally able to convert when Tom Humble sent a ball wide to Horo and the big fella made up for the first half near-miss by just getting across the line. Luke Burt's conversion struck the post but at least there were some points on the board.
Burt had an opportunity to push the lead out to six with a long-range penalty but pushed the ball just wide, leaving the Knights needing just a converted try to gain the lead. They nearly got it too when an overlap developed after another Eels mistake, but the Knights went for a cut-out pass instead of using the numbers and the pass travelled forward.
Newcastle's incompetence meant that it looked like the Eels would probably hold on but the Knights were able to take advantage of a scrappy kick that Tom Humble couldn't gather and the ball spat out wide and Junior Sau went over for thhe equaliser. That left Kurt Gidley with a kick that would put the Knights in front with just a minute to go and the Newcastle captain nailed it from the sideline. A short kick off gave Parramatta one last hope but a Jarryd Hayne chip avoided Luke Burt and Newcastle held on for an ugly but important win.
Replies
And it's Junior Sau not Sow...
i cannot believe we lost that game, how can we have any faith in the Eels with performances like that.
Miracles like last year don't happen two years in a row.
Extremely disappointed, especially since the knights dropped so much ball.
We just cannot seem to play in the rain.
,
Onto next week - bigger and brighter. :-)
Special mentions to Justin Poore, Brendan Oake and Justin Horo. Stand outs in a ver poor Eels outfit.
Ando, sack him please.......... Or let him go. Worst overpaid forward in the comp.
even cronulla would have scored more tries tonight
pathetic performance
morts showed why the dogs are happy they didn't get him and KK showed why he doesn't deserve a contract
Broncos will put 50 points on us
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