Eels grind out a victory

IT wasn’t pretty, but Parramatta did what needed to be done yesterday to earn a grinding 10-4 win over Newcastle and remain at the top of the NRL ladder.

The torrid and testing clash in the Hunter had little of the attacking adventure that has characterised the Eels’ rise to the summit in 2020, but coach Brad Arthur would be delighted with his side’s defensive resolve.

Newcastle was willing, but a lack of attacking polish in the attacking 20 proved to be its achilles heel.

Despite a wealth of possession, especially in the second half, the Knights simply could not unlock the gritty Eels.

Parramatta’s attack has received all the plaudits this season, but they are seriously underrated as a defensive unit.

Going into this round they had conceded the fewest points in the competition and they defied early pressure from the Knights before heading up the other end and opening the scoring through Ryan Matterson.

It was a similar story in the second half, with the Eels turning away the Knights time and again.

Then they struck themselves when Clint Gutherson caught Newcastle napping via a quick tap and put Maika Sivo over the score.

That ability to absorb pressure and come back stronger is the difference in the Eels this year. Scoring points has rarely been an issue, but their rise to true premiership contention is on the back of a more committed attitude without the ball.

Kalyn Ponga copped heavy treatment all day from the Eels with Waqa Blake particularly zeroing in on the Knights superstar.

Blake rattled Ponga with a late shot in the closing minutes of the first half, sent him crashing to the ground as they contested a bomb early in the second and was penalised again for a high tackle on the Newcastle fullback.

In the late game yesterday, the Dragons proved too good for the Manly Sea Eagles, winning 34-4.