Sunday’s second NRL Round 16 match is between Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights with the opening kick to commence at 15:00 local time. The game is to be played at Pirtek Stadium which see’s home team Parramatta Eels hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights.
Where and when: 15:00 | Sunday 29/06/2014 @ Pirtek Stadium
Preview:
After scoring a rare away win over a depleted Bulldogs in round 14, the Eels ventured to Melbourne last week full of confidence but their poor record in the southern capital was only enhanced by disappointing 46 – 20 loss.
The Eels were on the back foot early, gifting the Storm too much possession and they paid for their mistakes dearly, trailing 18 – 0 after 25 minutes.
Two tries in the final ten minutes had the Eels closer to their opponents then they should’ve been at the break at 18 – 10.
The turning point of the game came in the 60th minute of the match when Eels halfback Chris Sandow was sent to the sin-bin for back-chat. The Storm exposed his absence in the defensive line on the right-hand side and ran in three tries in ten minutes.
It was an average effort from the Eels, the kind that continues to the hound them at pops still too regularly (Cowboys – Round 8, Penrith – Round 12) but thankfully for the Eels and their supporters, they return to Pirtek Stadium for this game where from six games this season, they’re yet to be defeated.
The Eels are a team that can produce plenty of points but as demonstrated last week, firstly they have to do the hard yards before trying to push the passes.
KNIGHTS
Finally, the Knights cracked it for a win last Monday night when holding off a late challenge from the Cowboys to secure only their third win of the season 36 – 28.
The win will release a significant amount of pressure that has been on the club and players who have both faced a tumultuous year on and off the field.
Whilst they took the two competition points, the Knights still leaked more than twenty points in the match – the fourth consecutive match they have done so and tenth time this year.
With Parramatta’s strong record at home, where they’ve score 96 points in their past three matches, this kind of defensive effort will not be good enough.
The Knights will head into this match with largely the same side as took to the field last Monday, an occurrence that’s been infrequent this year at best.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Eels haven’t scored a win over the Knights since 2009 and have lost the last five clashes between the two clubs.
The Eels of 2014 however are a different team to previous years and their record at home is too good to ignore.
After each of the recent losses the Eels have been able to bounce back with a win and whilst they’ll be made work for it by the Knights, should do so again here as well.
Teams:
EELS: Jarryd Hayne (c), Semi Radradra, Ryan Morgan, Willie Tonga, Vai Toutai, Corey Norman, Chris Sandow, Tim Mannah (c), Isaac De Gois, Junior Paulo, Kenny Edwards, Pauli Pauli, Joseph Paulo, Interchange: David Gower, Mitch Allgood, Peni Terepo, Darcy Lussick, Kelepi Tanginoa.
KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joseph Leilua, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Kurt Gidley, David Fa’alogo, Adam Clydsdale, Willie Mason, Beau Scott, Robbie Rochow, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Tyrone Roberts, Korbin Sims, Kade Snowden, Chris Houston, Joseph Tapine.
News:
Wakefield coach James Webster praised his side’s guts and determination after they sprung a surprise 36-28 defeat on reigning Super League champions Wigan.
At 34, Australian Webster became the competition’s youngest head coach when he took over from Richard Agar at the start of the month, and has since overseen two victories.
The Wildcats had led 24-18 at half-time with captain Danny Kirmond among their four try scorers before the Warriors hit back with Liam Farrell scoring two of their five tries.
But with Danny Washbrook and Reece Lyne running in the decisive late scores, the hosts moved 10 points clear of the drop zone.
“It was an exciting game. I thought the boys played really tough and gutsed it out,” said Webster.
“Wigan came at us for the full 80 minutes. I thought it was a decent game of rugby if you’re a neutral, and you will have enjoyed it.
“But as a Wigan or a Wakefield supporter there were a couple of moments where it was heart-in-your-mouth sort of stuff.
“I’m under no illusions that we got them at a good time. The first day I spoke to my staff preparing for Wigan, I said we had a massive advantage.”
To compound the defeat, Wigan dropped down to third after wins for new leaders St Helens over Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos over Widnes Vikings.
Veteran captain Paul Wellens grabbed a brace for the Saints, as did Mark Percival, as they ran in seven tries in a comfortable 38-16 win.
It was a closer affair at Widnes as Rhinos made up a six-point half-time deficit by running in five second-half tries to win 38-28.
London Broncos’ search for their first league win of the season continues after they lost out 38-22 at Huddersfield Giants on Saturday.
James Cunningham crossed in the first half but it was outnumbered by four from Giants through Scott Grix, Brett Ferres, Jermaine McGillvary and Joe Wardle.
McGillvary and Wardle then added their second tries after the break with Broncos head coach Joe Grima was left to rue his side’s slow start.
“You can’t give any team a 20-point start, let alone a side like Huddersfield Giants,” he said.
“There’s got to be a wooden spoonist in every competition. We’ll be doing our best to avoid it.”
