This top-of-the-table clash between Parramatta and Newcastle has massive implications for how the finals will shape up. After the Dragons thrashed the Broncos last night it has now become a four way shoot out for the minor premiership between all four teams mentioned above. A win by the Knights will almost certainly secure the regulation season title for themselves while a win for the Eels will lift them to equal first with the Novocastrians and the Dragons.
Both teams will be looking to rebound from last start losses with the Knights getting overrun by the Broncos while Parra will be kicking themselves for dropping a game to the mid-table Sea Eagles.
The Eels have been reinforced by a raft of returns including: Kaysa Pritchard (NSW Cup), Fred Junior Mauala (Injury), Fabian Goodall (Injury), Nathan Davis (Injury) and Jordan Muna (Injury).
Unfortunately, the weather forecast is indicating rainfall over Newcastle which will likely detract from what may have otherwise been a scintillating game of football. Mistakes and simple footy will likely rule the day.
You can catch the game live on Fox Sports 1 at 10:30AM or follow the game via my updates right here on 1EE.
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Dyldam Parramatta Eels vs Newcastle Knights
1. Nathan Davis
2. Leva Li
3. Fabian Goodall
4. John Folau
5. Halauafu Lavaka
6. Ryan Matterson (c)
7. Zach Dockar-Clay
8. Tui Kamikamica
9. Kaysa Pritchard
21. Pauli Pauli
23. Kelepi Tanginoa
12. Tyrell Fuimaono
13. Josh Aloiai
Interchange:
10. Fred Junior Mauala
11. Jordan Muna
16. Alex Twal
17. Jeff Markus
Some big guns come back into the team! Kelepi Tanginoa and Pauli Pauli make their way into the starting line up. Junior Mauala and Jordan Muna drop back to the bench while Lussick and Raeli are the unlucky duo who drop out all together.
Newcastle kick off to start the game today.
Matterson has to race up to catch a floating kick that was caught on the breeze. Good work from the 5/8.
Strong ruck work from the Eels early in this set as they race over half way but Dockar-Clay's kick sails far too deep as it gets unwanted assistance from the strong breeze.
20m restart for the Knights.
Some second phase ball for the Knights as they push into Parra's half. Parra scramble well to shut down an overlap down their right edge and bring up the last.
The Knights run it to the other edge and very nearly create the overlap but the Eels kill the ball and make the turnover.
Simple stuff from the Eels as they come out of their red zone. Kaysa Pritchard looks for a 40/20 early in the count. The kick is a decent one but with the crazy wind it just has the wrong angle and rolls dead! This wind is ridiculous.
Some fortune for Parra now as Kaysa Pritchard helps jam the ball out in a tackle near halfway. Replays suggest the ball went backwards.
Parra work the ball down their left edge early in this set. Matterson runs the ball without support and is a pulled down. The Eels come back to the right via Kamikamica and Aloiai on the next two tackles before Matterson does really well to force a line drop out after getting slow ball on the last. Matterson switched to the right for that play.
Davis fields the restart, which barely travels 30m. The Eels create an overlap down the left and Goodall had Leva Li over for all money but his pass was terrible as it slips from his hands. Li tries to clean it up but is forced into touch. Squandered chance there.
Never mind that though! The Knights gift the ball back to the Eels from the scrum!
Good run from Folau from the scrum win. Goes close to the try line. Tanginoa is hammered on the next play as the Knights shoot from the line with great speed.
Parra go close to scoring again! Matterson slices through the defence down the left and offloads to Pauli back on his inside but the hulking forward can't hold onto it! Another wasted scoring chance.
20m restart for the Knights as Pauli's knock on rolls dead.
Newcastle roll up field with the seven tackle set but fail to complete the set as Mamo receives a forward pass. Both teams are disregarding the weather and playing adventurous football, even with the mistakes it brings.
Pauli has a strong run and offload before Matterson is nailed in a terrific tackle. The Eels come to the right where Fuimaono makes a good run to bring up the last.
Dockar-Clay chips it on the last but it is a poor one. There is chaos in the scramble for the ball and the ball ends up in the hands of Jake Mamo who streaks downfield to score.
The Knights want to quickly take the conversion in order to prevent a challenge!
The Eels are able to get the challenge off but although there is a suggestion of a knock on the refs rule there isn't sufficient evidence to over turn the call! Tough decision but probably the right one given the camera angles.
Comes back to the bad kick from Dockar-Clay who wasn't able to adjust for the wind properly.
The conversion is successful.
Newcastle lead Parra 6-0
12min gone.
Some more brutal defence, this time from the Eels as Pritchard and Folau both make dominant tackles across two plays.
Davis is well positioned to clean up the fifth tackle kick and brings the ball back for a ~15m gain. Lavaka and Li are involved early in the set as the Eels look to build some momentum in the middle. Dockar-Clay is caught running the ball on the penultimate tackle, meaning Matterson will be taking the kick but he too struggles to find range - opting to stab it in behind with too much force for yet another 20m restart.
Good result for Parra from the extended Newcastle set. Feeney looks to get the ball in behind the Eels down their right edge but the kick whacks Pritchard in the head - who was not playing at it - before bouncing into touch 10m short of halfway in Parra's half.
Matterson links with Dockar-Clay up the middle, who does very well to beat Feeney's shoot attempt before picking up a penalty.
Pauli rumbles the ball up the middle, sucking in plenty of defenders and opening up play down the right. The Eels waste little time in executing the play in down said edge as Dockar-Clay fires a good ball to Davis on the outside slant. Davis has men on his outside but cuts back inside and slides through two defenders to score! Much better stuff from the Eels.
Surprisingly Dockar-Clay is kicking.
The conversion is successful though mind you.
The Eels lock the game up at 6-all
18min gone.
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