NRL: Newcastle win wrestle in rain

Knights players celebrate Wes Naiqama's try. Photo / Getty Images

Knights: 8

Eels: 6

Newcastle and Parramatta gutsed it out in teeming rain at Ausgrid Stadium but eventually the Knights triumphed in a thrilling final 20 minutes which saw play sweep back and forth to the ends of the field.

Both teams played with the intensity expected when crucial momentum for the season was at stake; keeping in touch with the top eight on the ladder.

It was Newcastle's first win in four games, leaving them in ninth but within striking distance near the halfway point of the regular season.

The Eels battled strongly given they were backing up from thrashing Cronulla on Monday night.

Neither team capitalised to any great degree on the slippery conditions with their kicking games in the first half. Bombs were often too shallow and the kickers could not find enough open spaces to pressure those gathering the ball on defence.

Some of that changed in the second half as a tight game evolved.

The Eels made more errors than the Knights throughout - especially playing into the southerly wind in the first half. They missed tackles and dropped plenty of ball but the Knights could not capitalise as the Eels scrambled strongly in defence.

Newcastle's right side had the most influence in the first half hour. Centre Wes Naiqama and wing Akuila Uate carved up the Eels defence on occasion - producing line breaks, one of which led to Naiqama's 28th minute try. Uate got close again when he stepped his way into space but Jarryd Hayne produced an outstanding cover tackle to stop him five metres short.

Uate also blew a potential attacking situation by giving away a penalty when he passed the ball back infield after the referee called 'held' in the tackle.

Naiqama was pushed back from centre to fullback when Jarrod Mullen tore a pectoral muscle - an injury which could end his season; suffered when hauling down Jeff Robson across the tryline.

The strength of Kurt Gidley's utility play was tested with his move from fullback to halfback after three weeks away with a dislocated left shoulder. He provided solid direction and could well earn a call-up to the New South Wales 17 for the second State of Origin match.

Hayne had a mixed game which may have hindered his ambitions of doing likewise. He dropped a ball just in front of his own line on the return kick-off after the Eels had closed the scoring gap to 8-6.

He also copped a crushing tackle by Joel Edwards as he took a pass without observing the oncoming defence. On the positive side, he made a couple of try-saving tackles which prevented the Knights from extending into a comfort zone and produced some raking punts to earn the Eels territory.

FULL TIME

Knights 8 (W. Naiqama try, K. Gidley 2 goals)
Eels 6 (C. McGuire try, L. Burt goal)

HALFTIME

Knights 6-0.