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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 24, 2023 19:48:38 GMT 10
FRIDAY 28th April: Parramatta Eels vs Newcastle Knights at CommBank Stadium, 6.00pm
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 28, 2023 22:15:26 GMT 10
Eels v Knights: Matterson, RCG out; Mann, Croker to start
Parramatta play host to Newcastle in game one of Friday night footy with both sides desperate for a victory as they languish around the bottom of the ladder after eight rounds.
The Eels are looking to make it six straight against this week's opponents in a record that dates back to 2019, including a dominant 39-2 win in enemy territory last year.
Parramatta paid the price for a poor opening half in Darwin last week in which they gave up four tries, and despite showing improvement in the second 40 they couldn't catch the Broncos in a 26-16 defeat.
The loss of influential prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard and experienced back Bailey Simonsson only added to coach Brad Arthur's woes, as his side slipped to their fifth loss in eight games.
Newcastle, meanwhile, suffered a narrow defeat for the second week in a row in Round 8 – losing 18-16 to the Cowboys only a week on from suffering golden point heartbreak against Penrith.
The positive note for coach Adam O'Brien would have been the successful return of star five-eighth Kalyn Ponga, who added plenty in his first game back from a concussion lay-off and should be better for his reduced-minute run last week.
Team News
Eels: Ryan Matterson (illness) is a late withdrawal with Bryce Cartwright starting on the edge and Ofahiki Ogden coming on to the interchange. Sean Russell moves into the centres to cover for Bailey Simonsson (head knock) and Haze Dunster returns to the wing. Makahesi Makatoa joins the interchange bench to cover for the injured Reagan Campbell-Gillard (leg).
Knights: A couple of late changes for the visitors with Kurt Mann to start at hooker and Mat Croker at lock, pushing Phoenix Crossland back to the bench alongside Tyson Gamble, Jacob Saifiti and Jack Hetherington. Simi Sasagi will be 18th man.
Stat Attack
The Eels have won their past five games against the Knights.
Dane Gagai has scored six tries in his past five games against the Eels.
Eels second-rower Bryce Cartwright will play his 150th NRL game.
The Knights play their first game at CommBank Stadium since 2020.
Maika Sivo has scored 40 tries in 41 games at CommBank Stadium.
NRL.com
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 28, 2023 22:20:06 GMT 10
Gutho scores three as Eels guns fire to pummel poor Knights
Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson crossed for his first career hat-trick as the big names combined to put a poor Knights side to the sword with a 43-12 win at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
Both sides traded tries early before the Eels produced eight line breaks in the first half to set up a 30-6 lead against a Knights outfit that missed 65 tackles throughout the contest.
Marquee men Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses crossed for tries before Gutherson fooled a clumsy Knights defensive line at dummy half twice to cross for a double.
He had a treble by the 46th minute as the Eels let slip a few more opportunities throughout the evening.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien opted to start Kalyn Ponga at five-eighth, a move that backfired with the representative star missing 10 tackles throughout the contest.
A fifth try before half-time via Sean Russell set up a 24-point lead and the Knights never looked threatening in the second half to entertain a comeback despite a try to Dominic Young in the 63rd minute.
Gutherson's third of the evening, finishing off another Moses linebreak, ensured the Eels secured a much-needed win leading into their Magic Round clash with the Titans.
A late offload from J'maine Hopgood helped the Eels to their seventh of the evening through Junior Paulo under the posts.
Match snapshot
Parramatta lost Ryan Matterson to illness pre-game with Bryce Cartwright, playing in his 150th game, starting on the edge.
Newcastle's night started how it turned out, with an error after the first tackle following a poor pass from Kurt Mann, who didn't play the second half due to an abdominal injury.
Eels halves Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses crossed for early tries, taking the line on in a positive for Brad Arthur after recent performances.
The Eels racked up eight line breaks to one in the opening half with the home side racing to a 30-6 lead. They finished with 13 overall.
Parramatta made 16 errors in the win, highlighting how much they could've scored more points with chances going begging.
Eels skipper Clint Gutherson racked up the first hat-trick of his NRL career after 14 doubles previously.
The Knights missed 65 tackles in the loss, including 35 in the opening 40 minutes.
12 of Parramatta's 17 all ran for over 100 metres including Makahesi Makatoa (194 metres) off the bench.
The Eels have now won their past six games against the Knights.
Play of the game
Some of the Eels tries on Friday night were so soft that it wasn't until Clint Gutherson's third of the evening did we see expansive play that was finished off by the Eels captain.
What they said
"I thought we played the power game the best we have this year. We were a bit frustrated that we left a bit out there but I challenged the forwards to run off the back fence. It's the best we looked in terms of what we wanted to look like with the footy. We want to get better. We completed at 50 percent at one stage in the second half but it's the closest we've been to where we want to get to." - Eels coach Brad Arthur.
"I didn't see it coming. It was a horrible performance, let's be honest, but they haven't been horrible [all year]. I'm not going to kick them to death, I think it's been a really big month, on field and off field. There's some stuff going on there... and losing Brails (Jayden Brailey)... it probably sounds like excuses but I don't care if they sound like excuses, the team has been working hard for a month." - Knights coach Adam O'Brien.
What's next
The Eels will enjoy a nine-day turnaround before they feature in the final game of Magic Round weekend next Sunday evening against the Titans. Bailey Simonsson (concussion) and Ryan Matterson (illness) could be available for the clash.
Newcastle, meanwhile, will miss out on playing at Suncorp Stadium with the bye scheduled for Adam O'Brien's men. Knights forward Adam Elliott is closing in on a return from a groin injury.
NRL.com
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Post by Electric Eel on May 19, 2023 22:31:24 GMT 10
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