The Eels have an opportunity to make their biggest statement of the season when they take on the Knights in the opening game of Round 5.

Conversely, Newcastle will be looking to bounce back to premiership-winning form against an ultra confident Eels outfit.

The Knights suffered a narrow 14-12 defeat to the Cronulla Sharks in their last outing, marking their second consecutive loss. With a 2-2 record after four games, they currently sit in fifth place.

Meanwhile, the Eels are in third with their strong 3-1 start to the season.

Game Info

Date: Sunday, August 24, 2024

Kick-off: 11:00 AM AEST

Venue: Eric Tweedale Stadium, Granville

Referee: Belinda Sharpe 

Broadcast: Foxtel and Nine Gem

Live Stream: Kayo & Nine Now

Team Lists

Parramatta Eels 

1. Abbi Church, 2. Zali Fay, 3. Rory Owen, 4. Rosie Kelly, 5. Monique Donovan, 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku, 7. Rachael Pearson, 8. Elsie Albert, 9. Taneka Todhunter, 10. Madeline Jones, 11. Chloe Jackson, 12. Mahalia Murphy, 13. Kennedy Cherrington, 14. Rosemarie Beckett, 15. Tyla Amiatu 16. Jade Fonua, 18. Tafao Asaua

19. Breanna Eales 17. Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis, 20. Lindsay Tui, 21. Kate Fallon, 22. Pihuka Berryman-Duff

Steve Georgallis has retained an unchanged starting lineup, with the only change being prop Tyla Amiatu who returns from illness and takes a spot on the bench, pushing Breanna Eales to the replacement player role in jersey 19.

Tyla Amiatu celebrates

The Eels have struck form early this season, with wins founded on exceptional defence. They function as a cohesive unit and when the scramble is required, they keep turning up. Defensive attitude and application is setting the standard, so the attack doesn’t always have to be flawless. There’s a lot of pride in the jersey for this team, and it’s meaningful for fans.

Plenty of credit for this re-ignited Eels team must go to Steve Georgallis. The highly experienced coach has had a significant impact on the Eels, producing quality performances from his charges, both as individuals and as a team.

Newcastle Knights

1. Tamika Upton, 2. Tenika Willison, 3. Shanice Parker, 4. Abigail Roache, 5. Lilly-Ann White, 6. Georgie Roche, 7. Evie Jones, 8.Tayla Predebon, 9.Olivia Higgins, 10. Kayla Romaniuk, 11. Laishon Albert-Jones, 12. Yasmin Clydsdale, 13. Hannah Southwell, 14. Nita Maynard, 15. Simone Karpani 16. Rima Butler, 17. Grace Kukutai

18. Sheridan Gallagher 19. Jacinta Carter, 20. Viena Tinao 21. Jules Kirkpatrick, 22. Isabella Waterman

Knights Head Coach Ben Jeffries has named young halfback Evie Jones to make her NRLW debut, stepping in for Jesse Southwell (concussion).

A local junior from Muswellbrook Rams and an Australian Schoolgirls representative, Jones has risen through the Knights pathways system to become player No.56.

The Game

Last week’s 12-10 result against the Tigers may not have been as straightforward as anticipated, but the Eels managed to grind out a hard-fought win against a determined opponent.. 

While the Parramatta offence wasn’t as sharp as in previous weeks, the team’s defence and resilience was evident and it’s the new hallmark of this Steve Georgallis coached side.

However, as much as we laud the Eels defence, Georgallis will be looking for the attack to click into gear against the two time premiers.

Missed kicks were costly for the Knights in their loss to the Sharks. They outscored Cronulla by three tries to two, but it’s the total points on the scoreboard that matter and the Knights loss meant that they have now dropped out of the top four.

The absence of Jesse Southwell will be tough to overcome this week, and there’ll be a lot expected of young Jones. How well Newcastle copes without their star half will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.

Tamika Upton

Of course, the dynamic Tamika Upton will also have a huge say for the Knights. A four-time premiership winner—an NRLW record—Upton’s explosive change of pace can instantly dismantle opposition defences. She has been involved in at least one try per game this season (two tries, three try assists), along with two line breaks and 10 tackle busts.

For the Eels, Cassey Tohi-Hiku is proving to be the ideal partner for Rachael Pearson this season, and in combination with Abbi Church they provide genuine strike power to the spine.

Tohi-Hiku’s running game has troubled the right edge of every team she’s faced, averaging over 115 metres per game.

Defensively, she misses only 1.25 tackles per game, and her work on the edge and in cover contributes significantly to an Eels team that concedes just 11 points per match. 

This reflects the defining feature of Parramatta in 2024—a grinding style that wears opponents down and keeps the Eels on the front foot. 

Expect plenty of runs from the Eels’ number six, especially targeting Evie Jones.

This will be a tight contest, and a tough one to predict.

Prediction: Knights by 4

Player of the Game: Tamika Upton

Kye

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