Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Verdict
The Knights are backed to make home advantage count and bring up their fourth consecutive victory. I'm taking the Knights to cover their -15.5 line at home in a high-scoring game that goes over the 53.5 line.
- Knights have won their last three games
- Three of the Knights' last four wins have been by 20+ points
- Knights have scored 36+ points in their last three games
- Knights have seen Over 53.5 points in five of their last six games
- Eels have failed to cover a +15.5 line in three of their last four defeats
- Three of the last four meetings have seen Over 53.5 points
- Eels have leaked 30+ points in their last four games & have the worst defence in the comp
- Dom Young has scored 14 tries in 10 games this season, converting five of his seven try-scoring games into doubles
- Dylan Brown is playing his 150th NRL game against his former club - expecting a big performance with heavy involvement
Knights vs Eels Head To Head
Eels have won eight of the last nine meetings between the teams, but these are two different sides today.
Newcastle Knights Form - Winning Run, Up To Fifth
The Knights have registered a 7-4 record coming into this contest, sitting pretty in fifth spot on the ladder.
That includes three consecutive victories over the Rabbitohs, Dragons and Titans where they've scored a total of 122 points.
Ponga is arguably in career-best form and the Knights will be praying he gets through Origin unscathed on Wednesday night.
Newcastle absorbed early pressure in their last outing during Magic Round against the Titans before running away with the game in the second half, with Young scoring a hat-trick.
Parramatta Eels Form - Defensive Struggles
It's been a disappointing season for the Eels, who head into this clash down in 14th spot on the ladder with a 4-7 record and the worst defence in the NRL.
Parramatta are conceding an average of 34.4 points per game this season, so it comes as no surprise they are battling away towards the bottom of the ladder.
A big injury toll hasn't helped their cause and they will desperately need Moses back on deck as quickly as possible if they are to mount an unlikely finals charge.
After a thrilling golden point triumph over the Cowboys, the Eels failed to back it up during Magic Round and were never in the hunt during a 34-8 defeat to Melbourne.
Knights vs Eels Team News
For the Knights, Ponga has been named to back up from Origin, along with Jacob Saifiti at prop.
Otherwise, it's the same starting side that beat Gold Coast, with Thomas Cant joining a six-man bench.
Big blow for the Eels, with Moses and Paulo sidelined through injury.
However, Parra do get some players back, with Isaiah Iongi and Kitione Kautoga returning from ankle and knee injuries respectively. Joash Papalii moves to five-eighth to partner Ronald Volkman in the halves.