Parramatta captain Kennedy Cherrington was sent off as the Knights piled on the points for a comfortable 38-4 victory over the Eels at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
The Knights led 18-4 midway through the second half before Cherrington was given her marching orders by referee Belinda Sharpe for a lifting tackle on Laishon Albert-Jones in the 44th minute.
The second send-off in NRLW history mattered little to the Knights, who had already set up a healthy 14-point lead before extending with a further four tries as the defending premiers took control of the grand final rematch.
Upton and Yasmin Clydsdale crossed early for the visitors with new Knights recruit Georgia Roche making an immediate impact in her first NRLW game - providing a deft kick for Clydsdale to collect and score for an early lead.
Kennedy Cherrington sent off
Clydsdale was in the action again shortly after to link up with Upton for the side's second of the afternoon when she busted through the line before finding her Knights fullback.
A dart from Cherrington out of dummy half after younger sister Rueben went close on the previous play put the Eels on the board but that deficit was soon lifted again when Olivia Higgins crossed for the Knights from close range.
Cherrington's send-off put an end to any hope of an Eels comeback with Tayla Predebon then cruising over the line before Upton sent Abigail Roache over with a short ball on the left edge.
Upton try 8th minute
The Knights were over again in the 59th minute with Sheridan Gallagher crossing on the right side off the field as the defending champions continued to take advantage of the overlap available to them.
Parramatta had their chances to attack in the match but were let down by the last-play options and overall creativity as they missed being without chief playmaker Rachael Pearson (calf) for at least another week.
Opposite halfback Jesse Southwell delivered her first try assist of the match to finish the game when she sent Kayla Romaniuk over the line.
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Match snapshot
- Knights fullback Tamika Upton has now scored three tries in three games against the Eels.
- England recruit Georgia Roche played her first game in the NRLW after arriving to Australia on a five-year contract in July.
- Knights captain Hannah Southwell made a successful return from a knee injury.
- Knights prop Tayla Predebon was placed on report for a high tackle on Talesha O'Neill.
- Eels captain Kennedy Cherrington was sent from the field in the 44th minute for a lifting tackle on Laishon Albert-Jones.
- Knights forward Caitlan Johnston was placed on report and sin-binned for a high tackle on Kelsey Clark.
Play of the game
Sheridan Gallagher has been a star to start her career after making the switch from soccer this season. Her fourth-ever NRLW game was again full of class with a try and over 170 metres with the ball.
Sheridan Gallagher try 57th minute
What they said
"It's a tough one because Kenz (Cherrington) is such a leader for us. It left a big hole in our team out there but it seems like a season that is really testing us as a club and team. We'll have a look this week and see where it goes, hopefully we don't lose her for too long and see what comes of that. They've got enough experience and skill in their team to sense that there was an opportunity to kill us off there." - Eels coach Dean Widders.
Eels: Round 3
"It was great to bounce back like that. I thought our defensive DNA, we saw that come to the fore today, particularly the last five minutes of the game. Our players said it was composed out there and I think that's important. [Lashion] is good, it's unfortuntate incident but at the end of the day it's rugby league and mishaps happen. I have no doubt there was no intent in that [tackle from Cherrington], she's good and has come out of it OK and was able to continue to play." - Knights coach Ron Griffiths.
Knights: Round 3
What's next
It doesn't get any easier for the Eels, who will now hit the road to Brisbane to face the Broncos at Totally Workwear Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Knights return home to McDonald Jones Stadium for a clash against the unbeaten Titans on Sunday.