Gutsy Eels dig deep to shade Newcastle
IT wasn’t pretty but Parramatta did what they needed to earn a grinding 10-4 win over Newcastle and remain at the top of the NRL ladder.
It was a torrid clash in the Hunter, with little of the attacking adventure that has characterised the Eels’ rise in 2020, but coach Brad Arthur would be delighted with his side’s defensive resolve.
Newcastle were willing, but a lack of polish in attack proved to be their achilles heel. Despite a wealth of possession, especially in the second half, they could not unlock the gritty Eels.
Some quick thinking from Clint Gutherson handed Parramatta what proved to be the winning try to Maika Sivo.
The Knights were camped on Parramatta’s line for what felt like an age after halftime, but the Eels held fast and then marched up the other end where Gutherson caught Newcastle napping off a quick tap and found Sivo to score.
Parramatta’s ability to absorb pressure and come back stronger wins them matches like this, and no player sums up their new mentality quite like the irrepressible Gutherson.
“He’s really matured as a captain, and as a leader of the team,” Arthur said.
“Because he’s done a really good job on himself physically, he’s never stressed, he’s never fatigued, he’s got a real clarity about all the decisions he makes.”
Kalyn Ponga copped heavy treatment all day from the Eels, with Waqa Blake particularly zeroing in on the Knights star.
Blake rattled Ponga with a late shot in the closing minutes of the first half, sent him crashing hard to the ground as they contested a bomb early in the second, and was penalised again for a high tackle on the Newcastle fullback.