Parramatta force a dropout when Fletcher Hunt throws a risky offload near his own line and Kalyn Ponga cleans it up in the in-goal, and Ponga’s dropout sails over the dead-ball line on the full.

In the old days that would be a penalty to Parramatta but not any more, so the Eels get a play-the-ball instead and soon turn it over via a Kitione Kautoga error.

Josh Addo-Carr then forces a turnover with a hit on Ponga as he tries to collect a wayward pass, before Will Penisini makes another mistake for the Eels. It’s been that kind of a half, but Parramatta have a lead at the break for the first time in 2025.

Eels lead Knights 10-0 at half-time

Ponga shows signs of life as Knights go on the attack

Debutant Knights winger Fletcher Hunt is under a ton of pressure from Mitchell Moses’ high kicks, up against aerial specialist Zac Lomax, but he’s getting the job done so far and the Knights get away with one as both he and Lomax get a touch to a ball that goes dead in the in-goal.

Then the Knights start their seven-tackle set well with Kalyn Ponga beating a couple of defenders and linking up with Fletcher Sharpe. Newcastle earn a penalty with J’maine Hopgood ruled to have tackled Ponga off the ball, and then force a goal-line dropout when Tyson Gamble’s grubber is taken dead by Josh Addo-Carr.

Eels lead 10-0 after 35 minutes

The Knights use and lose one of the worst captain’s challenges you’ll see, Thomas Cant dropping the ball while attempting to get up and play the ball.

Newcastle have put the offloads away tonight but are still managing to come up with errors, while the Eels continue to look dangerous – this time with a Mitchell Moses bomb that is allowed to bounce, with Fletcher Hunt touching the ball on the way down and giving Parramatta an extra set in attacking territory.

Eels lead 10-0 after 31 minutes

Both teams have lost middle forwards to HIAs – J’maine Hopgood for the Eels and Adam Elliott for the Knights – with Dylan Walker and Mat Croker taking the field.

The Knights get a rare attacking chance in Parramatta territory and a last-tackle kick bounces off an Eel and back into Newcastle hands – and the hosts get another set of six. But they waste the chance with a poor pass from Fletcher Sharpe and Sean Russell picks it up and runs clear for the Eels.

Eels lead 10-0 after 23 minutes

And now Zac Lomax has a try in his first game back for the Eels, finishing off a great sweeping move to the right with a nice catch from a high cutout pass and then a diving finish in the corner. It’s a good sign for his chances of getting a NSW Origin call-up on Sunday, after fellow Blues hopeful Mitchell Moses opened the scoring.

Eels 10 lead Knights 0 after 16 minutes

A fantastic run from Jack Williams puts the Eels on the attack and they then stretch the Knights’ defence to the left. The next tackle Dylan Brown puts up a pinpoint bomb and his halves partner Mitchell Moses brings it down for the first points of the game.

Eels lead 6-0 after 12 minutes

Now it’s the Knights’ turn to send the ball through the hands but it leads to a similar result, Kalyn Ponga putting Fletcher Hunt into a bit of space on the wing but the rookie is going to get dragged over the sideline so he throws a hail mary pass inside and Mitchell Moses pounces on it for the Eels.

Knights 0, Eels 0 after 10 minutes

After a couple of no-nonsense sets, the Eels spread it wide and make a half-break down the right, Zac Lomax linking up with Viliami Penisini, but Penisini is eventually carried over the sideline by the Newcastle cover defence.

Newcastle are keeping things very simple early on, though they do have a new eye-catching sight on the left wing with Fletcher Hunt boasting a flowing mullet that might even outdo his namesake Fletcher Sharpe.

Hunt now pulls off a terrific leaping catch to bring down a dangerous Mitchell Moses bomb.

Knights 0, Eels 0 after five minutes

After Dane Gagai poses for photos with his family on the field ahead of his 300th NRL game, we’re ready to get things underway.

Kalyn Ponga kicks things off for the Knights and the Eels bring it back through Junior Paulo.

Knights 0, Eels 0 after one minute