Parramatta's big guns Mitch Moses and Clint Gutherson launched their 2023 season in style as the Eels downed the Knights 36-14 in Round 2 of the Pre-Season Challenge on Friday night.
Moses had a try assist, a 20-40 kick and ran for 88 metres while Gutherson collected a try and 123 running metres as the Eels tuned up for their season opener against Melbourne on March 2.
The Knights took just five minutes to open the scoring through England World Cup sensation Dom Young, who finished off some slick ball movement from Jackson Hastings, Lachlan Miller and Dane Gagai.
Six minutes later it was a couple of Parramatta's new recruits showing their skills with former Panther J'maine Hopgood getting a nice flick pass to Junior Paulo who found ex-Bulldog Matt Doorey for the try. Moses converted for a 6-4 lead.
Playing his first game of the season it was Gutherson extending the Eels' lead in the 20th minute when he grubbered on the last tackle and pounced on the loose ball to score after the Knights failed to clean up.
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A dropped ball by Young shortly after opened the door for the Eels to sweep to the right-hand side, winger Sean Russell taking the final pass from Gutherson to score his team's third try.
The Knights hit back in the 29th minute when Bradman Best left three defenders in his wake before the Eels skipped clear again courtesy of a Dylan Brown try laid on by his halves partner Moses.
On the stroke of half-time Young came within an ace of grabbing a second when he put in a 70-metre sprint to chase a Jackson Hastings downfield kick only to lose control as he attempted to ground the ball.
Doorey dives over
Ahead 22-10 at the break, the Eels took advantage of consecutive six-again calls to skip to an 18-point lead after 53 minutes when Jake Arthur put Jack Murchie into a hole from close range.
Midway through the second term Russell made it a double for the night when he took a pass from Penisini to cross in the corner and the Eels were home at 32-10.
Marzhew showed his power to cross for the Knights' third try with 11 minutes to play to make it 32-14 before Isaac Lumelume plunged over from close range to round out a big win for Parramatta.
After losing their opening match to Penrith last week, the Eels looked a vastly different proposition with Moses, Gutherson and forward leader Junior Paulo back on deck.
Match snapshot
- Prolific Knights winger Dom Young bagged 14 tries in 20 games last season and followed that up with nine tries in five games for England at the World Cup.
- Fullback Lachlan Miller made a solid debut for the Sharks with 167 running metres and five tackle breaks.
- Former Panther J'maine Hopgood had a hand in two first-half tries and got through a power of work in defence (38 tackles) for the Eels.
- The Eels picked up 12 points for the win and all three bonus points with seven tries, six line breaks and 12 offloads.
Moses to Brown magic
- The Eels completed 34 of 37 sets at 91 per cent while the Knights were 31 of 39 at 79 per cent.
- Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga was rested in the second term after playing the opening 40 minutes in his new role at five-eighth. His opposite number Dylan Brown also sat out the second half.
- The Eels suffered injury blows to forwards Shaun Lane (jaw) and Matt Doorey (ankle).
- Former Titan Greg Marzhew ran for 164 metres and broke nine tackles in a powerful display for the Knights.
Murchie hits the gap
Play of the Game
Trailing 16-4 with 10 minutes to go in the first half the Knights hit back in style with a try to barnstorming centre Bradman Best that started well inside their own half. Winger Greg Marzhew made 30 metres with a strong charge before Kalyn Ponga jumped in to dummy half and found Best who beat three defenders on a 30-metre run to the line. After injuries restricted him to just 14 games in 2022, Best will be keen to put a string of matches together this year and he looks to be in great shape with round one just a fortnight away.
Best and Ponga combine
What They Said
"It was a good hit-out for us. I thought we defended our line pretty well. It's pretty exciting, coming off what happened last year, how we finished was obviously upsetting but we know we can mix it with the best sides. We've added a few goods players to our roster and they've really impressed in the pre-season. We had a few injuries today which could hurt us but whoever comes in next can do a job." - Eels halfback Mitch Moses
Adam O'Brien excited for his new halves combination
What's Next
The Knights travel to Sky Stadium in Wellington in Round 1 to launch their Telstra Premiership campaign against the Warriors, a team they beat 24-16 in their only meeting last year in round 12.
The Eels launch the 2023 season on March 2 with a blockbuster showdown against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park. Injured trio Waqa Blake (arm), Bryce Cartwright (jaw) and Haze Dunster (knee) are all expected to be available but Shaun Lane could be doubtful after suffering a jaw injury in tonight's game.