Eels break Hunter hoodoo by knocking off Knights

with additional reporting by Jack Clifton

The Parramatta Eels have delivered an upset of sorts at Hunter Stadium today, downing the Newcastle Knights 28-22 despite trailing early in front of over 16,000 fans.

A blistering opening from the Knights had the blue and gold faithful sure a long evening was ahead, with both Chris Houston and Akuila Uate crossing for tries in the first ten minutes to race the home side to a 12-0 lead.

Parramatta then decided to use the wind from the kickoff and regained the ball, eventually clawing a try back to reduce the gap to six. They shortened the gap again just before halftime with Folau crossing for his second. At halftime the Eels went in just two behind at 12-10.

The second half started with a flurry - the sides traded penalty goals to see Newcastle lead 14-12 inside the first five minutes after the resumption, before they each traded tries - crucially the Eels converted theirs and scores were level at 18-18 after 52 minutes.

The Knights then reclaimed the lead with 24 minutes remaining through James McManus, who scored in the corner to put his side four ahead, but it wouldn't last. Nathan Peats buried over twice in the remaining time to edge the Eels in front - first by two, then by six. Try as they might, the Knights' attack was poor in the closing stages and lacked penetration, allowing the visitors to hold on for their first win at the venue since 2009 - and their first in their gold away jersey since early 2013.

Next week both these clubs will feature in the bumper ANZAC Day five-match program. Newcastle are at home to the in-form Cowboys at 2pm on Saturday, while that night the Eels are in Brisbane to face the Broncos at 8pm.

Match Details

Newcastle Knights 22 Parramatta Eels 28
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Crowd: 16953
Halftime Score: Newcastle Knights 12 Parramatta Eels 10

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (22)
Tries: Chris Houston, Akuila Uate, Dane Gagai, James McManus
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Tyrone Roberts (1/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (28)
Tries: John Folau (2), Bureta Faraimo, Nathan Peats (2)
Conversions: Chris Sandow (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Chris Sandow (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Corey Norman
2 points - Nathan Peats
1 point - John Folau

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Hello and welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Sunday Afternoon Football! We have two teams that are desperate to get back to winning ways.
Newcastle vs Parramatta and it could get desperate! Both sides started the season in fine form but have fallen on hard times in the last two weeks.
The weather is grey and overcast with the threat of rain and there is a strong gust, not dissimilar to the conditions that were here two weeks ago in the game against the Dragons. 50 km winds is the word around town!

Team changes see David Fa'alogo starts at prop and Korbin Sims drops to the bench, For Parramatta Brad Takarangi comes in for Ryan Morgan and Danny Wicks starts at prop, Richie Fa'aoso comes in for his first game since a broken neck, he starts from the bench.

About 5 minutes from kick off here guys and gals. Get comfortable because i've got a feeling this is gonna be a game where you won't want to miss a second!

Here comes the Parramatta Eels to a frosty reception

Here we go! Kick off!

Gower drops the ball back off the kick off and Parra start their saet 1m out from their own goal line

1: Sandow gets an ugly kick away giving the Knights great field position. They get a penalty two tackles later and will now be camped right on the Parra line

2: On the last tackle Mullen hits a great right foot step but is tackled only 3m out, not sure he knew that was the last tackle there...

3: Parra running with the wind in this half, strong breeze.

4: Parra also have a shocking track record here at Hunter Stadium, only 6 wins in 23 matches

5: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Chris Houston. Kick to come.
Wonderful early movement from the Knights sees Uate in space and race 50 metres downfield, Houston backs up and Uate sends him in to score under the posts!

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
6-0 knights from right in front

8: Newcastle well and truly on top at the moment, lots of possession and field territory

9: Penalty to Newcastle only 15m out from their own line, Parra hurting themselves at the moment

11: Roberts sends an up and under bomb and Reece Robinson and he spills it! 10m out scrum for Newcastle. More pressure for the Eels

12: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Akuila Uate. Kick to come.
They're in again the Knights! Mullen with a lovely cut out pass and Uate strolls in to plant down! Parra in trouble early!

14: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Roberts slides it home and Newcastle open up a handy 12-0 lead after 13 mins

14: Parra get the ball from the kick off! The wind brings it back and Parra have a great chance to hit back!

15: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by John Folau. Kick to come.
They go to the short side on the last and John Folau shows great strength to hold off the incoming defenders. Parra needed that badly.

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Lovely strike from Sandow and its game on at 12-6

17: Penalty to Parra on the first tackle! Pressure relieving there.

17: Parra now only 30m out...

18: Sandow runs at the line and pouts a smart grubber and sends the knights defenders around, McManus knocks it dead and all of a sudden Parra have a spring in their step.

20: On the last tackle Sandow grubbers and Uate takes it and juggles it and regathers it in mid air! fantastic stuff

20: Penalty to Newcastle know, they have the ball about 40m out, good chance for them to build some pressure, especially with this strong wind at their backs

22: Mullen knock it in to the in goal and Robinson is surrounded by a swarm of blue and red jumpers, Drop out.

22: Short drop out by Sandow and the Eels get it back, that dropout had so much air!

23: The wind is favouring the Eels in some passages of play, bizzare!

24: The knights again run it on the last, Gagai busts the line and is scrambling towards the try line, but Parra get to him and ground him 10m out, good defence there.

26: Mullen kicks it towards the right wing, Uate is flying towards it and it's a foot race between Robinson and Uate, Robinson clean up but is grounded in goal. Drop out, Can the Knights get some points here?

26: Short pass is knocked on by Korbin Sims who has just come on, wasted chance by Newcastle there.

27: Norman with a 30m break to get Parra on the front foot

27: Richie Fa'oaso is back in rugby league with his first hit up since 2013, great to see him back

29: Newcastle put up a high bomb for only the second time today, but Robinson is equal to the task, good take.

30: Penalty to Newcastle, off side by Parra, pressure is relieved and the Knights will get some good field position, only 10 mins out from half time

31: Mullen with yet another nice kick is cleaned up by Robinson, but he is drilled in the in goal by Leilua for another drop out!

31: Heavy contact with a big run by Tariq Sims from the drop out

32: Fa'aoso has taken a stray head clash and he is in la la land, he has been taken off.

32: Newcastle lose the ball only 10m away, again they have shot themselves in the foot.

32: Parrmatta doing very well to only trail 12-6 in this strong wind.

35: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by John Folau. Kick to come.
Norman sends Terepo through a hole and he is grounded 15m out, on the last the ball is sent to Folau who despite the attention of two defenders has planted it down! Try Time to the Blue and Golds!

36: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow unsuccessful.
Pushes it across the face and the score remains 12-10

38: Norman sends a good clearing kick away after the Eels struggled to get out of their own end. Newcastle will desperately want points before half time

39: Corey Norman fields the kick from Roberts and Parra get the 20m restart.

40: Norman drills his kick into touch and that will do us for the first half folks.

40: Parramatta will be delighted that they only trail by two after such a poor start. They will have the breeze at their backs in the second half. Will that be enough to see them home in the second half? Join us in 10 minutes to find out.

40: We are underway for the second half.

41: Roberts shapes to pass and knocks it on! Parra with a great opportunity.

42: Penalty to Parra 20m right in front. Parra opt to take the penalty goal.

42: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PARRAMATTA EELS
Penalty goal attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
No issues for Chrissy Sandow, it's all locked up at 12-12

43: Knights get the ball back after the kickoff is held up in the wind, crazy stuff

44: Penalty to Newcastle now, Peats offside. Newcastle will take the Penalty goal now!

45: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Penalty goal attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
From almost directly in front Roberts nails the goal, 14-12 to the Knights

46: Mullen does a little kung fu fighting in trying to gather the ball from the kick off, falls flat on his face but thankfully for the Knights they have the ball!

48: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Bureta Faraimo. Kick to come.
Ahhh this is great from Chris Sandow, has the ball on the last, sends in a stab kick and it sits up beautifully for Bureta Faraimo who scores! Wonderful stuff!

48: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Sandow slots the conversion, Parra lead 18-14. Topsy turvy game at the moment

49: Knock on by Parra from the kick off and Takarnagi collects it but he's in an offside position! Silly boy! Penalty to Knights

49: Knights on the attack

50: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Dane Gagai. Kick to come.
This is crazy stuff and the Knights are back level! Gagai is sent in to space by Mullen, is ankle tapped but gets up and lunges for the line and he is over! 18-18!

52: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Shocking kick by Roberts and we will stay level for the time being, but who knows how long that will last!

52: Hows ya breath folks? Still trying to catch mine!

53: Parra work it out from their own end after a solid set after points from the Knights

54: 40/20 PARRAMATTA EELS
Chris Sandow kicks a 40/20.
Sandow with a big play, nails a great 40/20, lobbing it over the knights Winger!

54: Parra attacking the Knights line again!

55: Stockwell cleans up a Norman grubber, they get the ball back but Corey Norman is ruled offside and Newcastle escape with yet another penalty

56: Very dark at Hunter stadium now,

56: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by James McManus. Kick to come.
McManus scores after some great play by Leilua, Knights running riot at the moment all against the Wind!

56: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Kick is waved away! 22-18

61: Can the eels hit back? They're on the back foot and Newcastle have all the momentum

62: High shot on Wicks, lazy there from the Knights. Gives the eels a good opportunity to get amongst the points again

62: 20m out

64: The eels looked destined to score on the left but Takarangi doesnt see the unmarked players and is taken, eventually the Knights clean up throygh Tapine and they survive! Great defence

65: Final 15, who is going to come out on top? Still any one's game folks...

66: Mullen has interfered in the play the ball and the Eels get a penalty, 20 m out from the line.

66: Pressure here for the Knights can they survive?

66: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Nathan Peats. Kick to come.
Peats notice the Newcastle defenders lying deep and he burrows under three defenders to score for the Eels! 22-22 as the rain starts to fall here in Newcastle

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Beautiful kick by Sandow! Curls it home! 24-22 to Parramatta.

68: Parra finally get the ball from the kick off!

69: Mullen cleans up a smart chip and chase by Sandow and Newcastle have the ball only 20m out from their own goal line

69: Knock on Newcastle! Could this be costly? Parra scrum only 30m out.

71: Sandow grubbers but Gagai comes to the rescue and the Knights now work it out from their own end

72: The Knights need something, perhaps some Mullen magic?

72: Newcastle have the ball on their own 20, their defence is holding firm but do they have anything left in the tank against this strong wind?

73: Forward pass by Mullen on their own 40m line! That's a killer! Knights 10th error, Eels have only made 3...

74: A Parra try here could seal it I think.

74: We're going upstairs for a possible try to Nathan Peats.

75: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Nathan Peats. Kick to come.
Grubber by Sandow and both Leilua and McManus fumble it and Peats races through to ground it! 28-22!

76: Newcastle get the ball back from the kickoff again!

77: Knock on Gidley on the last only 10m out!

75: Kick no good by Sandow! 28-22, game still alive for the Knights!

78: Last tackle for Knights on their own 30m line and play hot potato, Houston kicks it out on the full!

78: 90 seconds left, Newcastle need a miracle...

79: Knock on by Watmough only 15m out and 48 seconds to go! One last chance for the home team to score, they have to go 85 metres thoiugh

80: Roberts makes a line break and looks to be away but Danny Wicks with a big time play and he drags Roberts to the ground and forces the error! Parra win!