Sometimes it is just written in the stars. On a weekend where the Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights clash across the NRL, NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg so too do they meet in the SG Ball where the winner will take all for the competition. The Parramatta Eels forged a path to the big dance on the back of tough and courageous wins over the reigning Harold Matthews champions in the Western Suburbs Magpies and this season’s minor premiers in the Canberra Raiders. All that is left for them is to get the job done against one final opponent – albeit a formidable one in the Knights.

The grand final kicks off at 2:30PM and as always you can follow the updates right here on TCT and catch the official live stream via the link below.

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Parramatta will receive the ball to open the grand final.

Newcastle will eventually kick off once we find the official game balls. There we go after a minute or so as the Knights send the ball Sam Tuivati’s way. The big man gets us underway with Charlie Guymer taking the second run. Saxon Pryke carries defenders just shy of Parra’s 40m mark before Lance Fualema steams into the line. A second carry from Tuivati sets up the kick as Josh Lynn sends up a testing kick for the fullback Fletcher Sharpe. Blaize Talagi leads the chase and gets to the contest for the ball as it spills out towards Devonte Vaivela but the referee quickly signals a Parra knock on.

Trouble for Newcastle in their opening set though as they lose the ball on their 30m line. The Eels get a huge chance now to open the scoring!

Sanders breaks left from the scrum win to feed Richard Penisini on tackle one. The ball is centred for two plays before Parra venture back to their left with fullback Apa Twidle. The custodian looks to rifle a cutout pass to Mohamed Alameddine but it collects the head of Penisini first and dribbles over the dead ball line. Got the wires crossed there.

Big metres for the Knights on the back of a 7-tackle set but Alameddine defuses their attacking kick safely before Penisini earns a penalty due to offside defenders. Fualema leads the Eels down their right before Lynn plays to Talagi down the right. The shift is on to the left where Ethan Sanders plays his hand superbly! He digs deep into the line to find his ultra dependable backrower Dom De Stradis! Dom flies through a hole and handles the play in front of Sharpe perfectly as he plays back inside to Sanders and the Eels have the lead!

Try scored by Ethan Sanders. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 6-0

7min gone

Great charge from Tuivati! It sets up the Eels beyond their 20m mark for tackle two. Guymer and Pryke come in for work before Sanders feeds Dom for good metres. Fualema sets up the kick as Sanders bombs Sharpe. Neat set but the kick chase is offside and undoes all the territorial pressure.

Parramatta defend cleanly from the resultant set though as Newcastle run it down their right on the last before their fullback puts in a hurried grubber. It is actually an extremely well weighted kick but Twidle is positioned perfectly to get back into the field of play before the Knights are again done for infringing inside the 10m mark.

Oh my goodness that was silky smooth! Joshua Lynn is not to be outdone by his halves partner Sanders as he puts captain Charlie Guymer through a gap with a gorgeous ball before the line! Credit to Charlie for working a disguised overs route there and the big backrower is into the backfield. Options to his right and he finds Devonte Vaivela as the winger touches down in the right corner!

Try scored by Devote Vaivela. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 12-0

13min gone

Back to the 20m mark for big Sam again. Tremendous opening charge. The Parra forwards are laying an excellent platform in these opening exchanges and the Eels get to their clearing kick after points again but for the second time they concede a penalty immediately afterwards – this one for a crusher I believe. Just need to tighten that aspect up.

Back-to-back set restarts have Newcastle hammering the Parramatta goal line as they play out the back down their left. Vaivela jams the centre leaving the sideline exposed to quick pass – which happens – but a huge last ditch dive and push from Talagi gets the winger into touch as he looks to plant the ball! What a defensvie play!

Really solid set in return from the Blue & Gold as they work downfield and give the ball back to Newcastle just a metre off their line. Again though the referee has found a relieving penalty for the Knights and again they don’t have to fight their way out of trouble.

Big hit from Pryke early in the defensive set for Parra. Newcastle try to force an offload in a congested ruck and it is tipped forwards into a defender! Scrum is set on Parra’s 40m mark in the centrefield.

Talagi and Pryke get the early carries this set. Guymer centres it before Sanders plays left to Twidle for a run. Back midfield to Pryke. The Eels spin it right on the last with a cutout to Vaivela who ranges back infield, beating a couple of defenders, but is pulled down 5m out.

Oooh that was a good kick chase to finish Parramatta’s next possession! Looks like Richard Penisini that was flying through on the towering bomb from Sanders. He nearly comes down with it flying through but loses it in the contest.

Shades of Ponga there as a long cutout pass sails in front of the left winger and into touch. Conservative set from the Eels follows as Sanders looks to trap the Knights near the line. His low, stabbed kick refuses to break to the left though and rolls dead ingoals. Rough break on the bounce there.

Big chance from the Knights at the end of their next set. They send the attacking bomb to Parra’s right edge and Talagi loses it on the defusal attempt. Scramble defence saves the immediate play but there is a full set to defend now. The Knights get over the line twice but are held up both times but on the last a charge down from Guymer bounces wickedly sraight back into the hands of halfback Taj Blackman. The Novocastrians finally cross on the weight of a tidal wave of posssession but there are question marks about when held is held as the ref allows an absolute age for their forward Beau Slade to fight on the goal line and get to the ground.

Try scored by Beau Slade. Conversion successful by Ethan Ferguson.

Knights trail 6-12

28min gone

Classy work from Apa at the back as he takes the bomb and beats the first chaser. Seb Piukala takes the Eels deep into Newcastle’s half before Lynn has the Knights trapped on their goal line with a tidy kick on the last. Oh my, why? Why go for the charge down there. Again it takes a perfect deflection for the Knights and they get a fresh set. And then a set restart call comes. All Newcastle here between luck and calls and Parra will do well to turn them away. Speaking of luck they bomb to their left and the winger spills it in the contest but it falls perfectly into the hands of the sweeping centre Ferguson who slides over in the corner. A brutal torrent of calls and possession (and ill-judged chargedowns) have brought this game all the way back for the Knights.

Try scored by Ethan Ferguson. Conversion successful by Ethan Ferguson.

Knights lock the scores up at 12-all

34min gone

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 Newcastle Knights 12

Second Half

Eels to kick off.

Knights let the ball bounce and again get a friendly break. And again as the first penalty of the half goes there way. Looks like the incident is going on report as well – perhaps for attacking the knees? It puts Newcastle deep in Parra’s half though and armed with the chance to take their first lead of the game.

Parra aim up though and repel the Knights before Alameddine reads the grubber perfectly to put the Eels back in possession. A good set follows as the Blue & Gold fight their way back to centrefield and send a clearing bomb into the corner. Exactly what was needed there.

Geez another big call goes Newcastle’s way there as Vaivela is dragged into touch from the ground. Those are almost always penalties but not today.

Talagi and Vaivela nearly drive Ferguson into touch from the next set but again the miracle offload finds a Knight again. This is entering the Twilight Zone. Vaivela gets the big save though as he climbs the ladder to defuse the attacking kick. He gets taken in the air by the way and guess what – no penalty,

Bereft of any calls coming their way the Eels do it themselves with Matt Arthur stepping up and out of dummy half to drill a 40/20! A masive flop is missed. Shock. Matt Arthur is at the fore again as he plays infront of the uprights. Leans left out of dummy half and plays across the face to a flying Guymer who smashes his way through the score under the black dot!

Try scored by Charlie Guymer. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 18-12

44min gone

Oh goodness there is a rampaging Sam Tuivati on the loose as he skittles kick chasers for a big gain. He should have got a penalty for a second effort as well but it is very much that kind of day. Quality set after points here as the Eels get to a Sanders’ kick and flip the field.

And now good work from Alameddine as he is awake to a 40/20 attempt from dummy half and bats the ball safely infield before tidying it up. Flops ahoy here from Newcastle and eventually it is too much for even this referee to ignore. Huzzah a penalty!

The defence is barely containing Tuivati here as a six again call comes. Parra are patient here with the play as they work left to Richard Penisini. He is downhill and skiing against a backpedalling defence and he just pins his ears back and gets low to power over in the left corner. Great passage of play here for the mighty Eels!

Try scored by Richard Penisini. Conversion unsuccessful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 22-12

50min gone

Nice footwork from Spnce through the middle there before Tuivati has another charge. Twidle is hit HARD but bounces up and another terrific, Moses-eque clearing kick from Sanders is backed up by a ferocious kick chase from the Parra left edge! Newcastle are pinned deep in their half late in the set but get a call for a slow ruck. Looked like a fair call there.

Another penalty comes against Sanders and he is mystified about the nature of it as he looks to touch judge and main official for an explanation. Newcastle set about their next possession as they build from right to left. A set restart here as well as Newcastle practically wade in tackles here. They are able to get over as they play before the line between forwards and they will narrow the margin to four points with 16min left on the clock.

Try scored by Mayson Metcalf. Conversion successful by Ethan Ferguson.

Knights trail 18-22

55min gone

The Knights work a strong set following points but the Eels reply with a quality possesion of their own. Game is in the championship moments now and it is the Eels who force the error! Ferguson looks to skip out to his left but gets jammed in under his ribs and the ball spills out.

Scrum is set 30m out from the Newcastle goal line. Eels work left to Alameddine who takes the tackle. Back right with Pryke before Lynn runs it to the left. Parra set up midfield with Spence and the right edge shift follows. It probably isn’t how they drew it up but Apa Twidle finds Devonte Vaivela down the right with the legendary bounce pass as he cutout ball hits the deck and FINALLY the Eels get the lucky break as it pops up into the hands of Devonte who bags his double in the right corner!

Try scored by Devonte Vaivela. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 28-18

61min gone

Lance and Will Lewis lead the way early on here before Saxon chalks up another carry. Patty Spence continues a nice stint on the field before Lance sets up the clearing kick with around withering carry. Sanders completes the set with another excellent kick.

Huge play from the Newcastle fullback here as he works from a late offload. He gets in behind the ruck and chips ahead in a brilliant piece of daring play. He gets the regather with an insane pick up but a spirited chase from Talagi gets him short of the line. The Eels are at 6s and 7s from the break though as the halfback Blackman runs to his right and finds a gap to slide through and score. Ferguson misses a huge conversion from the right of the posts! Sixties is claiming ownership of it as well.

Try scored by Taj Blackman. Conversion unsuccessful by Ethan Ferguson.

Knights trail 22-28

64min gone

Good footy from both teams here. Strong runs met with strong defence. Twidle takes to the air to defuse the skied bomb and lo and behold the chasers were offside! Sanders finds touch 10m short of halfway as Talagi gets us back underway. Infield now with Raff. Lance and Sam set up the field goal attempt by Sanders strikes it low and to the right and the Knights will work with a 7-tackle set as the clock winds under 3min of play.

OH WHAT A TAKE! Newcastle look to the skies for the big try but Alameddine was making that attacking kick his and only his from the get-go! He leaps through the air and takes it with his hands above the head. Tough set for the Eels from there but Lynn sends the ball downfield with 1min on the clock. Here we go!

Newcastle get a penalty from just outside their 40m mark. No 6-again there. Newcastle have only two or three plays left here and they have no plan as LAnce Fualema makes the big final tackle on the five-eighth it looks like. The referee looks deadset stunned as he doesn’t know whether to call and end to the game or let play go on with no time on the clock but eventually signals an end to play! THE EELS HAVE DONE IT!

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 28 defeat the Newcastle Knights 22

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