Round 13
Newcastle Knights 18 l. Parramatta Eels 20

2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Eels end Knights home run
Mon June 8, 2009
Source: www.parraeels.com.au

The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have brought Newcastle's winning streak at home to an end, scoring a determined 20 to 18 victory in front of an 18,085-strong crowd at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The Eels twice fought their way back from six point deficits to seal the win with a try and penalty goal in the final ten minutes of play.

In an at-times bruising encounter, the Eels showed composure when it counted to inflict the Knights first loss at home in ten games.

The win sees the Eels move along to 11 competition points, one clear of next week's opponents, the Wests Tigers.

Head coach Daniel Anderson introduced his eighth debutant for the year, Jonathan Wright becoming the712th player to play First Grade for Parramatta after the Newcastle product was a late addition to the starting line up to play the Knights.

A clever kick in behind the defensive line put the Knights on the board after 10 minutes, Keith Lulia diving on the bouncing ball to score. Kurt Gidley's conversion made it 6-nil the way of the home side.

Some deft offloads and a Jeff Robson break in the middle of the field laid the platform for the Eels first in the 18th minute, the 55 metre movement finished off by the outstretched hand of Joel Reddy who defied two defenders in reaching out to score. Luke Burt converted to lock it up at 6-all.

The Eels then had a try denied in the 23rd minute, Jeremy Latimore diving over only to have it denied by video referee Bill Harrigan for obstruction on Knights prop Danny Wicks.

A big Scott Dureau 40-20 reaped immediate rewards for the Knights, a simple failure to man up in defence seeing Junior Sau stroll over to make it 12-6 to the home side with nine minutes left to play in the first half.

Harrigan denied the Eels a second time six minutes out from the break, Kevin Kingston hitting the legs of Tim Mannah while diving over from dummy half.

A see-sawing second half was cracked open 16 minutes after the break when Robson scored for the Eels, the halfback's kick ricocheting off the legs of a defender and straight back into his arms giving him the easiest of runs to score. Burt's conversion locked up the scores at 12-apiece.

Jarrod Mullen missed with a shot at field goal 12 minutes from time, at the end of a set played entirely inside the Eels 20 metre zone.

A penalty for taking the man out without the ball then allowed the Eels to edge themselves into the lead, Burt making no mistake with the kick to make it 14-12 the visitors way with nine minutes left to play.

A piece of Daniel Mortimer brilliance then put the Eels out to an eight point lead with six minutes to play, kicking and regathering before firing a no look pass inside to Fuifui Moimoi who scored under the posts.

Burt converted for a 20-12 lead.

Video referee Harrigan could have turned saviour for the Knights when Mullen bulldozed his way over 90 seconds later, ruling refs call despite the Knights five eighth appearing to lose the ball over the line.

Referee Gavin Badger awarded the try, Gidley converted and again the buffer was back to just two points.

But despite frantic attempts over the final two minutes of play the Eels would hang on to record their first win since round eight, running out 20-18 victors.

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP
Parramatta Eels 20 (Joel Reddy, Jeff Robson, Fuifui Moimoi tries; Luke Burt 4 goals from 4 attempts) defeated the Newcastle Knights 18 (Keith Lulia, Junior Sau, Jarrod Mullen tries; Kurt Gidley 3 goals from 3 attempts) At EnergyAustralia Stadium. Crowd: 18,085 Half Time: Newcastle 12-6.


Preview: Knights v Eels - NRL Round 13
Sun June 7, 2009
Newcastle received way too little credit for their victory over the Bulldogs last Sunday.

For a team that has struggled to win big games over the years without marquee players (such as Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Kurt Gidley), the Knights' 24-14 win ranks high among their most impressive performances.

They fielded the most inexperienced line-up of any in the NRL this season yet managed to outmanoeuvre a Bulldogs side that led the competition after 11 rounds and were at close to full strength.

Five-eighth Jarrod Mullen seized the opportunity to show up NSW selectors over his admission from the Blues' team with a performance of class and composure. He had a leading hand in every Newcastle try.

The return of Gidley and James McManus from Origin and second-rower Steve Simpson from injury will give the Knights a further boost this week and make them overwhelming favourites to overcome the Eels.

Parramatta produced a dismal attacking performance against Cronulla last Saturday night but at least Origin star Jarryd Hayne will offer some spark and variety this week.

Look to the Knights to continue on their winning way with a victory by a 13+ margin and consider also a Newcastle try as First Scoring Play.

First Tryscorer hopes include Junior Sau, Akuila Uate or James McManus for Newcastle or Jarryd Hayne or Joel Reddy for Parramatta.

Sunday June 7, 2009
Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels at Energy Australia Stadium, New Lambton, Newcastle (NSW)

Newcastle Knights
1. Kurt Gidley (c), 2. James McManus, 3. Junior Sau, 4. Wes Naiqama, 5. Akulia Uate, 6. Jarrod Mullen, 7. Scott Dureau, 8. Mark Taufua, 9. Isaac De Gois, 10. Danny Wicks, 11. Steve Simpson, 12. Zeb Taia, 13. Chris Houston. Subs: 14. George Ndaira, 15. Matt Hilder, 16. Richie Fa'aoso, 17. Marvin Karawana, 18. Tim Natusch, 19. Keith Lulia (two to be omitted).

Parramatta Eels
1. Jarryd Hayne, 2. Luke Burt, 3. Taulima Tautai, 4. Joel Reddy, 5. Eric Grothe, 6. Daniel Mortimer, 7. Jeff Robson, 8. Nathan Cayless (c) , 9. Matthew Keating, 10. Fuifui Moimoi, 11. Nathan Hindmarsh, 12. Joe Galuvao, 13. Todd Lowrie. Subs: 15. Kevin Kingston, 16. Tim Mannah, 17. Jeremy Latimore, 19. Etu Uaisele.

Date: Sun June 7 2009, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10 [Sun June 7 2009, 5:00AM GMT]
Referees: Gavin Badger, Brett Suttor

Predictions:
Dennis Righetti: Knights by 8
Matthew O'Neill: Knights by 10

OVERALL:
Total Games: 37
Newcastle Knights wins: 19. [Pts: 733]
Parramatta Eels wins: 17. [Pts: 755]
Draws: 1

Biggest wins:
Newcastle Knights: 30 pts: 1994 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup - Round 10 - [View] Sun May 15: Knights 34 d. Eels 4 [Crowd: 16372]
Parramatta Eels: 50 pts: 2005 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 14 - [View] Sat: Knights 0 l. Eels 50 [Crowd: 15842]

Biggest Crowd: 2001 NRL Telstra Premiership - Grand Final - [View] Sun Sep 30: Knights 30 d. Eels 24 [Crowd: 90414]

Last 50 games against each other form line (most recent matches at end of line):
Newcastle Knights: LWWWLDLLWWWLWLWWLLLWLWLWWWLWLLLWWLWLW
Parramatta Eels: WLLLWDWWLLLWLWLLWWWLWLWLLLWLWWWLLWLWL

Last 10 games:
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 21 - [View] Mon: Newcastle Knights 32 d. Parramatta Eels 12 [Crowd: 16435]
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 3 - [View] Fri: Parramatta Eels 24 d. Newcastle Knights 23 [Crowd: 15176]
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 17 - [View] Mon: Parramatta Eels 10 l. Newcastle Knights 34
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 18 - [View] Sat: Eels 46 d. Knights 12 [Crowd: 13167]
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 1 - [View] Sat: Knights 25 d. Eels 6 [Crowd: 26198]
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 20 - [View] Sat: Eels 10 l. Knights 16 [Crowd: 16168]
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 14 - [View] Sat: Knights 0 l. Eels 50 [Crowd: 15842]
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 13 - [View] Sat Jun 5: Knights 16 l. Eels 18 [Crowd: 18331]
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 3 - [View] Sat Mar 27: Eels 38 d. Knights 34 [Crowd: 15031]
2003 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 16 - [View] Sun Jun 29: Knights 30 d. Eels 16 [Crowd: 18704]

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