Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 18 match is between Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:55 local time with the game to be played at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle. The home team Newcastle Knights are the favourites for the match.

View our preview and teams for the game between Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels.

When: 19:55 | Friday 13/07/2018

Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Preview:

Bottom of the table clash but in the context of the season, a real battle for who doesn’t want the wooden spoon.

Injury troubles to crucial players will unfortunately hinder the remainder of the season for the Knights.

Losing Kalyn Ponga to injury is a massive blow as he is the key indicator for the attack and the likely spark with what they do.

Slade Griffin’s horrific knee injury is a sad story as he has been a real revelation.

Footy can be a real cruel game at times and I hope he will make a full recovery but in the meantime, his absence in the middle third will be sorely lost.

The Eels were done and dusted for a win against the comp leaders the Dragons last week but found a way to lose it in the dying stages.

A real tale to their season.

I do however think they’ll have the firepower to get the two points against a weakened team.

The Knights will try their hardest and be competitive but if the Eels are fair dinkum and complete well, they’ll get home.

KEY BATTLE: Mitchell Pearce v Mitchell Moses

The battle of the halves will be important to direct their team and execute the correct game plays they each have.

I like the power of the Eels on the edges and think they will both have a good day out if they can execute.

The Verdict

The Knights have been vulnerable in those areas and with no Ponga to talk and direct, I think they Eels will get home well.

Newcastle has a 17-28 (37.8 percent) O/U record playing within its home state in night matches since 2013.

Unibet Odds:

Newcastle at $2.06

Parramatta at $1.78
Odds:

Tip: Newcastle Knights at $2.05

Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Michael Jennings at $15.00

More Info:

Teams:

Newcastle Knights:

1 Nick Meaney, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata’utia, 4 Cory Denniss, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Mitchell Pearce (c), 8 Josh King, 9 Danny Levi, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Mitch Barnett, 12 Aidan Guerra, 13 Herman Ese’ese

Interchange: 14 Nathan Ross, 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Jamie Buhrer (c), 17 Jacob Lillyman,

Reserves: 18 Luke Yates, 19 Sam Stone, 20 Jack Cogger, 21 JJ Felise.

Parramatta Eels:

1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Brad Takairangi, 13 Nathan Brown

Interchange: 14 Tepai Moeroa, 15 Tim Mannah (c), 16 David Gower, 17 Peni Terepo

Reserves: 18 Kane Evans, 19 Kirisome Auva’a, 20 Jaeman Salmon, 21 Kaysa Pritchar.

NRL News:

Skipper Mitchell Pearce will return for Newcastle for Friday’s NRL clash with Parramatta.

Pearce has missed the last 10 weeks because of a pectoral injury with the side struggling during that time.

Coach Nathan Brown said he had been cleared by medical staff and would take on the Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium.