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Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Tips & Preview - Eels value to cover as NRL underdogs

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 14 May 2025

Jeremy Darke 14 May 2025

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Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels expert predictions for Friday’s Round 11 NRL game
Eels to cover 2.5-point start versus Knights
Knights' Fletcher Sharpe poses a key scoring threat

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Zac Lomax of the Eels (Getty Images)

Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Preview

The return of Zac Lomax could give Parramatta Eels the spark they need. The Newcastle Knights attack has been awful and I’m not expecting the scoreboard to blow up in this match with the Eels to cover with a 2.5 point start the best bet.

Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Preview
Head to Head
Newcastle Knights Form
Newcastle Knights Team News
Newcastle Knights Team List
Parramatta Eels Form
Parramatta Eels Team News
Parramatta Eels Team List

Parramatta have won 6 of their last 7 games against Newcastle.
The Knights attack is the worst in the comp, averaging just 13.6 points per game
14 of 18 matches involving the Eels and Knights in 2024 have hit the Under.
Fletcher Sharpe has 6 tries in his last 5 games for the Knights.

Head to Head

The Knights won the only match against the Eels in 2024, beating Parramatta 34-26 at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The win for Newcastle was the first against the blue and gold in seven matches.

The previous four matches between the Knights and Eels has gone over the game total.

Newcastle Knights Form

The Knights gave up a 20-point lead to the Gold Coast to lose their sixth game in seven matches in a disappointing display that saw them lose their first game to the Titans at home in 8 matches 24-20.

It was a tale of two halves with the knights having 59% possession and 63% of the territory at half time, however that got turned on its head after the break with the Titans completing 21/25 sets with 68% of the ball and 60% of the territory.

After looking sharp in attack over the last three halves of footy, Newcastle fell back into their bad habits and didn’t score against the Titans which has been their biggest crux all season, ranked 17th in the league, averaging just 13.6 points per game.

Newcastle Knights Team News

Fletcher Hunt comes in on the wing due to an injury to Greg Marzhew in the only change for Adam O’Brien this week.

Adam Elliot will move into the starting lock position with Thomas Cant moving to the bench.

Newcastle Knights Team List

1. Kalyn Ponga

2. James Schiller

3. Dane Gagai

4. Bradman Best

5. Fletcher Hunt

6. Fletcher Sharpe

7. Jack Cogger

8. Jacob Saifiti

9. Phoenix Crossland

10. Tyson Frizell

11. Dylan Lucas

12. Kai Pearce-Paul

13. Adam Elliott

Interchange

14. Jayden Brailey

15. Mat Croker

16. Thomas Cant

17. Brodie Jones

Reserves

18. Jack Hetherington

19. Tyson Gamble

20. Matthew Arthur

21. Kyle McCarthy

22. Paul Bryan

Parramatta Eels Form

Parramatta did a lot right against the Dolphins last week in their 20-16 loss at Commbank last Thursday night, however, there is plenty of improvement needed.

The Eels still don’t have enough strike power in attack to be dangerous in their redzone and that is once again what hurt them against the Dolphins.

The Eels looked good when they through the ball around late, playing low percentage plays, however, they do not have the defensive capabilities to make that work long term. With Zac Lomax returning this week, they should see a boost in attack.

Parramatta Eels Team News

Zac Lomax returns just in time to be given one shot to prove his worth for the Blues Squad after an outstanding debut campaign in 2024. Lomax will replace Bailey Simonsson who left the field with a foot injury.

Charlie Guymer has been dropped and Matt Doorey takes his place in the second row with Toni Mataele given the chance to make his NRL debut.

Parramatta Eels Team List

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Zac Lomax

3. Will Penisini

4. Sean Russell

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Dylan Brown

7. Mitch Moses

8. Jack Williams

9. Ryley Smith

10. Junior Paulo

11. Matt Doorey

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. J'maine Hopgood

Interchange

14. Dylan Walker

15. Luca Moretti

16. Jordan Samrani

17. Toni Mataele

Reserves

18. Joash Papalii

19. Ryan Matterson

20. Dean Hawkins

21. Jake Tago

22. Brendan Hands

Verdict

Newcastle Knights v Parramatta Eels

Parramatta will cover as the away underdog in a low-scoring match that goes under the game total. Fletcher Sharpe will score his seventh try in six matches.

Parramatta +2.5

Handicap/Line

@-111.11 - 3 Units

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Under 46.5

Game Total

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Fletcher Sharpe

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