McDonald Jones Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 17 NRL game between Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Newcastle Knights heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Newcastle Knights vs. Parramatta Eels game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday June 29, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Where: McDonald Jones Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Odds
Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Preview
Crunch time for Newcastle and Parramatta, both looking to snap losing runs and stay in the Top 8 fight.
The Knights lost three in a row to the Bulldogs (32-2), Storm (36-28) and Panthers (26-18) prior to last weeks bye.
The post-Ponga injury bump has well and truly subsided and Adam OBriens charges look increasingly like a team without a spearhead or leader.
British import Will Pryce will make a much-hyped NRL debut at five-eighth, replacing Jack Cogger in the Knights only starting line-up change. Kai Pearce-Paul comes onto the bench for Jack Hetherington.
The Eels have lost seven of their last eight, with a brief upswing courtesy of a win over Cronulla dampened by successive losses to Canterbury (22-18) and the Roosters (28-18).
Despite having the bye last week, they were leapfrogged by two teams and now sit last.
NSW halfback Mitch Moses has been named to back up for the Eels, Maika Sivo is back from injury bumping Daejarn Asi out of the team and Kelma Tuilagis suspension sees Bryce Cartwright star and Matt Doorey join the bench, where Matt Arthur will also debut.
The Eels have won six straight against the Knights, including victories by 30-plus margins in the sole 2022 and 2023 clashes.
The blue-and-golds have scored 79 points to six in their last two visits to Newcastle.
Parramatta is yet to win away from CommBank Stadium in 2024, which may be enough for Newcastle despite losing three of its last four at McDonald Jones Stadium.
But with the Eels last 10 games producing 40-plus points (six 49 or more) the over shapes as a better play in this one.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Tip
We're tipping Newcastle Knights to win at $1.88 odds.
Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Teams
Knights team: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Kai Pearce-Paul 17. Brodie Jones 18. Mathew Croker 19. Jack Hetherington 20. Jack Cogger 21. Krystian Mapapalangi 22. David Armstrong
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Blaize Talagi 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Matt Doorey 17. Ryan Matterson 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Joey Lussick 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Jake Tago 22. Charlie Guymer
