Parramatta 20
Newcastle 18
A controversial penalty and some Parramatta flair saw the Eels grab an upset win against Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
The Knights led 12-6 at halftime in yesterday's match, but fell victim to a questionable decision and their own complacency as the Eels threw caution to the wind with some entertaining football to claim their fourth win of the year in front of 18,085 fans.
The scores were locked at 12-all when referees Gavin Badger and Brett Suttor awarded the Eels a penalty 15m out directly in front of the posts after ruling support player Kevin Kingston had been taken out by the Knights' Marvin Karawana.
Eels winger Luke Burt converted the penalty to give his side a two-point lead and then second-gamer Daniel Mortimer produced a brilliant chip and chase from the next set to put prop Fuifui Moimoi over the line for a 73rd minute match-winning try.
But Knights playmaker Jarrod Mullen ensured a nail-biting finale by scoring a solo try in the 75th minute to reduce the deficit to just two points with five minutes to play.
Newcastle threw everything they could at the Eels but just couldn't find the winning play when it mattered most. Desperation set in as the clock ran down and the Knights recorded their first home loss of this year.
Newcastle led 12-6 at the break after Mullen set up two tries with some deceptive play.
The New South Wales State of Origin aspirant provided a fine right-foot grubber kick for Keith Lulia to run on to and score the opening try in the ninth minute of the match. Mullen later threw a well-timed pass for Junior Sau to cross on the half hour.
But the Eels hit back quickly when Joel Reddy touched down in the 18th minute, with Kurt Gidley's attempted trysaving tackle creeping high on the Parramatta centre. The New South Wales captain may come under scrutiny by the match review committee later today.
Newcastle were disrupted badly by a severe first-half injury setback with halfback Scott Dureau limping off with a groin strain that could rule him out for four to six weeks.
- AAP