After not seeing these two teams play each other in a finals match for 20 years, this game certainly stood up to its promise. The Eels won’t be entirely satisfied with their efforts, but they will be very happy to have got the job done and take the opportunity to take down their Penrith neighbours next weekend.
The Knights look devastated, but they did themselves proud today, they were in the game until the end. The kicking games of the halfbacks proved crucial in the end. Moses had a much better game than Pearce in the battle of the Mitchells and that was the difference in the end.
It was a great end to the first week of finals as we say farewell to the Knights and Titans, while the Rabbitohs and Storm will enjoy a week off. Next weekend we’ll have the Sea Eagles up against the Roosters and the aforementioned western Sydney derby between Parramatta and Penrith to see who will go through to the penultimate week of the finals. Until then, stay safe and keep rugby leaguing!
Full time: Eels 28-20 Knights
Wow, what a game that was! It had everything, a swinging lead, some sensational tries, brilliant conversions and even a penalty try! Bill Harrigan would be so proud. So it will be the Eels to take on the Panthers in a western Sydney derby next weekend.
PENALTY TRY! Eels 28-20 Knights (Penisini, 78)
Well, that will be a big talking point! Tuala tackles Penisini without the ball and the bunker judges that he would have scored. An easy conversion for Moses to finish it off.
76 mins: Well this is going right down to the wire. Desperate defence from the Knights, knowing their season is on the line. They manage to keep it alive and stampede down the field to try to get back in the lead. They can’t put enough pressure on however and the Eels get a restart from the 20 for a nice, easy jaunt down the field.
74 mins: Frizell has to leave the field after a minor injury, but he’s still not looking 100% after his HIA earlier. The Eels come at them hard after the line drop out, some nice quick passing to the right, before coming back to the middle. Moses puts a lovely kick in and Cartwright looks like scoring, but he’s held up in goal.
72 mins: Desperation is mounting now - it’s too long for the Eels to try to hold the Knights off, they know they need to try to score. The Knights don’t even have the luxury of considering that option, they’ve simply got to score. The Eels have given themselves a chance with a good kick and a line drop out.
70 mins: Into the final 10 minutes of the game now and still only two points separating the two teams. The crowd are right behind the Knights and their North Queenslander fullback Ponga - how influential will they be in this last crucial period?
68 mins: Which team will stand up to the pressure best? Neither team has a particularly experienced finals line up, so the senior players will need to inspire something and keep things calm. Ferguson does just that with a fantastic mark in the corner.
66 mins: The Knights aren’t making the same kind of metres they were when they looked dominant, they’re struggling through the Eels’ defence at the moment. The Eels look more confident, but they can’t turn that confidence into points just yet.
64 mins: I got very excited about Moses putting in a grubber on the 5th tackle, it makes such a nice change from the 4 million bombs we’ve seen so far in this game. It serves them well, keeping the Knights pinned firmly down their end for the next set. A big clearing kick isn’t enough to keep the Eels down their end for long and they make good ground.
62 mins: The Eels want to make the most of this opportunity and fly quickly into the Knights’ 20. They pick up a penalty for a strip in the tackle but the Knights challenge it and it’s overturned. The Knights answer with a solid set of six and get back on defence to keep the Eels down in their own end.
60 mins: Well, just what the Knights didn’t want after that excellent try - Pearce puts the ball down off the kick off.
TRY! Eels 22-20 Knights (Tuala, 57)
Wow, this game is far from over! Ponga sets up another beautiful try for Tuala - very similar to the first try of the game. Clifford can’t get the conversion this time, but it’s a close game and the Knights are full of energy.
57 mins: Here comes the Knights confidence, right on cue after a try. There’s so much energy in their defence now, they’ve got a lot of belief in their ability to get this win right now. They have a good start to their attacking set, but lose it in a tackle just as they’re getting on a roll. Junior Paulo is the latest player to be put on report after his shoulder makes contact with Mann’s head and the Knights get a penalty.
TRY! Eels 22-16 Knights (Tuala, 52)
Well, well, well - this keeps things interesting. I did say the Knights needed to be the next to score and they were indeed. The grounding looks a little sus, but both referee and bunker confirm it’s OK. Clifford nails a brilliant conversion to close the gap a little further.
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52 mins: The Knights will need to be the next to score if they hope to stay in this game. A charge down from a Pearce kick gets them another set of six, which will help. Another set restart for an offside gives them another boost up the field.
TRY! Eels 22-10 Knights (Ferguson, 47)
The Eels take a quick tap after a penalty and they look like they mean business. Moses knows where his winger is and puts a great ball over the top to Ferguson who makes a speedy run down the right hand side to score in the corner. Moses follows it up with a lovely conversion, that bends back to go between the posts.
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47 mins: Best tries to make up for his error with a huge tackle that dislodges the ball, but it travels backwards and Gutherson gets it back for another six tackles. Unfortunately they lose it soon after and the Knights head up the field. Then it’s the Knights turn for an error, losing the ball in a tackle - judged a loose carry.
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45 mins: An energising defensive play from the Eels sees them push Bradman Best into touch and gets them the ball in good field position.
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43 mins: Have I talked enough about the 5th tackle options yet this game? I didn’t think so. I feel like someone needs to have a chat with both teams about this. I would have expected it to be the coaches, but if it has to be me, I’m willing to get on the blower and sort this out. The Eels kicked another easy one down the ground and the Knights just got tackled on the 6th,.
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41 mins: And we’re off in the second half - who will keep their 2021 premiership hopes alive?
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Half-time: Eels 16-10 Knights
Well, what a half! The Eels certainly looked to be the dominant team for a lot of that half, but they didn’t get the points on the board to solidify the lead. The Knights made only a couple of visits into the Eels’ 20 but made the most of it when they got there. A couple of late tries puts the Eels in front, but there will be plenty more action to come in the second half.
TRY! Eels 16-10 Knights (Ferguson, 38)
Moses is in everything now - he gets into space and puts on a beautiful cut out pass to Penisini, who beats Ponga and flicks it out to Ferguson to score in the corner. Moses can’t convert, but they’ll be happy with this lead.
TRY! Eels 12-10 Knights (Moses, 37)
The Knights give away another couple of set restarts and the Eels say thank you very much! The halfback takes on the forwards, steps around Ponga and scores under the posts, before converting his own try.
35 mins: Brodie Jones has failed his HIA, so we won’t see him back on the field this afternoon. Josh King is being assessed now and Waqa Blake is on report for contact with the head in the tackle.
34 mins: Some nice movement from the Eels down the left hand side, getting the ball right down to the Knights line, but another poor kick option on the 5th tackle lets them down. It’s no doubt something both coaches will be addressing at half-time. Particularly for the Eels who have scored more tries from kicks than any other team this season, this is a crucial element to get right.
32 mins: Hunt breathes a sigh of relief that his error didn’t cost his team any points and they progress down the field and push the Eels down into their own end, but a little ill-discipline restarts the tackle count. Once again the Eels decide putting up a bomb is the best 5th tackle option and once again it’s taken on the full.
30 mins: Newcastle challenge a decision from referee Ashley Klein who has ruled that Hunt touched the ball before it goes into touch. The evidence is inconclusive, so the Knights retain their challenge, but the Eels get the ball deep into the Knights’ end. They can’t capitalise with a simple drop by Nathan Brown 10m out.
28 mins: The Knights are a team that need to be full of confidence to play well, so that try came at a good time for them, as they were starting to languish under the pressure of the Eels before that point. They’re looking much more energised in defence and will hope to take this confidence into the rest of the match.
TRY! Eels 6-10 Knights (Hymel Hunt, 24)
The repeat set brings the goods for the Knights as Hymel Hunt reins in a wild pass, then steps inside to beat three defenders and score through the middle. It goes to the bunker for a review for obstruction, but the video ref judges that it was a defensive decision by Dunster that forced the overlap and the try stands. Clifford converts the try into front to push the Knights out further.
24 mins: A penalty to the Knights now, after a late tackle by Marata Niukore, who has also been placed on report. The Knights have their first foray into the Eels 20m since their early try and get a repeat set.
22 mins: Frizell has passed his HIA and will return to the field, which will be a relief for the Knights. They need a little boost to get them through this next part of the match with the Eels coming at them hard and making them work for their metres. Now we’re stopping for a HIA on Brodie Jones who leaves the field.
20 mins: The Knights had a little look at a 40/20, but again there’s not enough on the kick to fool the Eels who bring it 50m down the field to keep the Knights down their own end.
18 mins: A penalty to the Eels, with Sauaso Sue on report for twisting the knee of Blake Ferguson in the tackle. Ferguson looks very uncomfortable and heads for the sideline. The Eels got close down the left hand side, but a wild pass gives the Knights a chance to regroup and stop Dunster from scoring.
16 mins: Both teams could certainly be putting a lot more pressure on the fullbacks through their fifth tackle options. It’s getting a little predictable at both ends with a simple high ball going up time after time.
14 mins: The Knights are looking tired in defence, perhaps a little deflated by that Eels try after such a strong start. I’m keeping an eye on the turf through the centre as it’s starting to break up a little, which will make quick changes of direction a little harder and may benefit the defence.
12 mins: The try has spurred the Eels on and they’re putting a lot more pressure on the Knights now, pinning them down their own end and making it very hard for them to move.
TRY! Eels 6-4 Knights (Waqa Blake, 9)
A little half break from Junior Paulo shows what the Eels are capable of and they pick up a second consecutive set, but the game pauses while a HIA is conducted on the Knights’ Tyson Frizell. He didn’t look good when he stood up, but surprisingly he’s allowed to stay on the field. The Eels use the little rest to their advantage, scoring down the left through Blake, with the try converted by Mitchell Moses.
8 mins: A bit of excitement in there with a second kick for the Eels almost getting them a try through Dylan Brown, but he couldn’t quite hold on to the ball to ground it over the line. Both sides are playing fairly cautiously and solidly so far, still scoping each other out early in this game.
6 mins: The Eels made some good ground from their first set, but it’s another easy kick to pick up and not much pressure put on the Knights on their own try line. It’s a strange old kicking game on the whole, Pearce puts a kick out on the bounce from the 5th tackle and give the Eels a start from the 20m line.
4 mins: The Knights are back on the attack, looking confident after that early try. Pearce puts in an early kick, but he can’t fool Gutherson who picks it up on the full.
TRY! Eels 0-4 Knights (Enari Tuala, 1)
So the Knights got a nice little piggy back down the field to start us off and complete a simple set, getting the ball to Ponga down the left hand side who sets up an easy little try in the corner for Tuala. Clifford misses the goal to the right, but the Knights will be happy with that start.
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Kick off!
And we’re off in Rockhampton! It’s a big crowd in the house for a venue that’s so far away from both Newcastle and Parramatta. The Knights are in white with the Eels in their classic blue and yellow. It’s the Eels to get us underway, kicking off with a bit of a disastrous start, Gutherson putting the ball out on the full from the kick off.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien seems calm and confident prior to the start of the game and says that their star fullback Kalyn Ponga is raring to go and has an ‘eye of the tiger’ look in his eyes. He wants his players to do their jobs and have fun. It’s a nice vibe to see from a coach.
While the Eels are the favourites for this game, I wouldn’t count the Knights out at this stage. They’re big fans of causing some chaos and they’ll relish the chance to knock the Eels out this afternoon. Both teams rested a lot of their stars last weekend in an effort to keep them fresh for today’s clash, so there will be a lot of well-rested, highly motivated players on the field. They haven’t played each other since Round 13 this year, when it was the Eels with a huge 40-4 win, so there will be a bit of scoping each other out at the start of this game.
Parramatta Eels
Meanwhile, the Eels have got this team ready for action:
1. Clinton Gutherson
2. Haze Dunster
3. Will Penisini
4. Waqa Blake
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Ray Stone
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Marata Niukore
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange:
14. Will Smith
15. Bryce Cartwright
16. Isaiah Papali’i
17. Makahesi Makatoa
18th:
20. Tom Opacic
Newcastle Knights
The Knights have just one change from the team they named on Tuesday, with Jirah Momoisea coming out of the team.
Here’s how they’ll line up this afternoon:
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Enari Tuala
3. Kurt Mann
4. Bradman Best
5. Hymel Hunt
6. Jake Clifford
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey (c)
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Mitch Barnett
14. Sauaso Sue
Interchange:
13. Connor Watson
15. David Klemmer
16. Josh King
17. Brodie Jones
18th:
20. Simi Sasagi
Of course, with this being an Eels home game, it will be taking place deep in the heartland of Parramatta - Rockhampton, QLD. The stadium is looking glorious as it gears up for this big match
📍 Browne Park, Rockhampton#NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/gM2lnQMF5O
— NRL (@NRL) September 12, 2021
Preamble
Let us take a journey back in time. It was 2001 and the rugby league world was preparing for an epic showdown - the grand final between the Newcastle Knights and the Parramatta Eels. Little did we know it would be one of the last times we could enjoy a grand final that wasn’t ruined by the simple fact of having the Melbourne Storm in it. This all-NSW affair was the talk of the town. Neutral fans chose their side by figuring out whether they had more yellow or red in their wardrobe to pair with the blue of their bootcut hipster jeans.
It was the NRL’s first night time grand final and the stars were out to play that night. The Eels had Nathan Hindmarsh and his less-remembered brother Ian, as well as Jamie Lyon before he decided he never wanted to play with the Eels again. Jason Taylor was their halfback and Brett Hodgson their fullback.
Meanwhile, the Knights were basically fielding the NSW State of Origin team - they had Matt “the original” Gidley in the centres, Timana Tahu on the wing, Danny Buderus in hooker and of course Andrew “Joey / the good one” Johns in halfback. As was customary at the time, Bill Harrigan was refereeing but inexplicably there were no major controversies in this game.
For a while it looked like the Knights were going to walk it in. My sister, who had chosen to support the Eels that day before converting to become a full-time Knights fan the next season, started covertly removing the yellow ribbons from her hair at half-time with Newcastle up 24-0 in what remains the biggest ever half-time lead in a grand final. The Eels closed the gap in the second half to give the game a respectable 30-24 scoreline, but it was the Knights who took home the honours that day, though they’ve never done so again. The Eels played in another grand final in 2009, which they also lost.
So here we are, 20 years on, with these teams set to play each other in a finals match again. It’s not a grand final - frankly with the form of these two teams over the past 20 years, it would be bordering on miraculous if it was - but it’s a finals game nonetheless, so a walk down memory lane is just what we all need.
The winner of this game will face the Penrith Panthers next weekend, after the Panthers suffered a shock loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday. Throw in a couple more upsets and could we see one of these teams make it to another grand final? Probably not, but we can dream.
