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Your say – who wins?
Hetherington shot sets up Newcastle chance
Jack Hetherington makes up for his early penalty with a big hit in defence that forces an error from the Eels, and the Knights get a full set within striking distance. But Parramatta’s defence is again up to the task and Sharpe coughs up possession.
Eels lead 6-0 after 15 minutes
Knights go close
Newcastle get their first chance in attack on the back of a penalty but the last pass, a looping effort from Jack Cogger to winger James Schiller, goes to Schiller’s feet rather than his hands and clatters off an Eels defender and over the dead-ball line.
The Knights get a repeat set from a goal-line dropout, but the next set peters out with Fletcher Sharpe held up just short of the tryline.
Eels keep up the pressure
Parramatta are on the attack again with Newcastle forward Jack Hetherington penalised – not the first or the last time that has happened – and within a few tackles the Eels are inside Newcastle’s 10 metres again. A dangerous chip kick is spilled but Fletcher Sharpe is able to scoop up the loose ball for Newcastle.
The Eels celebrate their first try of the year.Credit: Getty Images
TRY: Brown scores as Eels make dream start
The Knights end a solid first set with fullback Will Pryce getting away a kick on the last tackle. Pryce is standing in for fullback Kalyn Ponga, who may do plenty of general play kicking himself this season as the Knights try out yet another new halves combination.
Parramatta look more threatening in their first set, a Dylan Brown bomb forcing an error from Newcastle.
And from the resulting scrum – TRY! And of course it’s that man Brown. The star five-eighth gets the ball on the left of a midfield scrum and has enough space to barge his way through the defence from 10 metres out. Parramatta halfback Ronald Volkman converts.
Eels lead 6-0 after five minutes
All eyes on battle of the No.6s as the game gets underway
The Eels take the field in their almost all-yellow jerseys, led by stand-in captain Joe Ofahengaue, then the Knights are greeted by a pretty strong pre-season crowd. The battle of the five-eighths will be intriguing here, with Brown the star in the headlines and Sharpe seemingly getting a new role this season.
Parramatta kicks off and we’re underway.
The young All Star who saved his dad’s life
It’s not related to tonight’s game but a cracker of a story today on young Roosters and Indigenous All Stars forward Blake Steep, who swam 1.6 kilometres back and forth through sharky seas after his father suffered a heart attack underwater.
“I was seeing a few sharks, nothing too big, but definitely more than we saw on our way out the first time,” Steep said.
“There’s blood in the water, I didn’t bring the gun … ‘far out, this could be bad’.”
Brown’s future clouded but Penisini keen to stay
By Dan Walsh
Parramatta might still be waiting on tenterhooks while Dylan Brown decides his future, but Will Penisini has seen enough of the new Eels era to take up his player option and look to commit to the club beyond his current contract.
Like Brown, whose contract saga has dominated the headlines leading up to Jason Ryles’ debut as an NRL coach, Penisini is a free agent with an option in his favour for 2026.
The 22-year-old has long been highly regarded at Parramatta, to the point previous coach Brad Arthur described him as “someone the club wants to build around”.
“I want to stay here and I’ve been talking to Rylesy about it,” Penisini said. “We’ve spoken about my future, not too much, but hopefully the club and my management can sort something out longer term.”
The coin toss
Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell and Parramatta’s Joe Ofahengaue at the coin toss with referee Belinda Sharpe.Credit: Getty Images
Tonight’s team lists
Newcastle Knights
1. Will Pryce 2. James Schiller 3. Kyle McCarthy 4. Riley Jones 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Brodie Jones 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Jack Hetherington 11. Thomas Cant 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell. Interchange: 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jackson Hastings 17. Sebastian Su’a 18. Matthew Arthur 19. Connor Votano 20. Jermaine McEwen 21. Elijah Leaumoana 22. Siteni Taukamo 23. Logan Aoake 24. Wilson De Courcey 25. Cody Hopwood 26. Tyrone Thompson 27. Fletcher Hunt 28. Malachi Smith
Parramatta Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Jake Tago 3. Richard Penisini 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Arthur Miller-Stephen 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Kitione Kautoga 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Charlie Guymer. Interchange: 14. Joash Papali’i 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Toni Mataele 17. Bryce Cartwright 18. Joey Lussick 19. Ryley Smith 20. Saxon Pryke 21. Te Hurinui Twidle 22. Brock Parker 23. William Latu 24. Joshua Lynn 25. Araz Nanva 26. Samuel Loizou 27. Max Tupou 28. Teancum Brown
