‘Horrible’: Eels slaughter Knights in ‘absolute bloodbath’

Kalyn Ponga was starting in his first match since round two but the Newcastle Knights didn’t seem to get off the bus against the Eels.

The Eels were at their best. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Reports of Parramatta’s demise have been greatly exaggerated as the 2022 grand finalists bounced back to form with a 43-12 trouncing of the Newcastle Knights.

The Eels were back to their best from the outset as Dylan Brown scored in the first minute.

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Newcastle hit back in the sixth minute but the Eels then piled on four more tries to take a 30-6 lead in the second half.

Just weeks after reports the Eels were looking for an “X-factor” player, potentially a fullback which would have pushed Clint Gutherson to the centres, the Parramatta co-captain completed the first hat-trick of his career in the 46th minute.

He almost nabbed a fourth, only for Mitchell Moses to turn the wrong way after a line break.

But the game was as good as over at halftime.

A consolation try to Dominic Young in the 62nd minute, followed by an Eels try to Junior Paulo and a Moses field goal in the 79th minute wrapped up the comprehensive victory.

The win sees the Eels jump up to 10th and just outside the top eight after the horror start to the season.

For the Knights, it’s a loss few saw coming.

This picture says it all. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

After falling short against the Panthers and Cowboys in recent weeks, pundits were tipping a strong performance from the Knights as Kalyn Ponga returned to the starting side.

But the Knights were torn to shreds, conceding 15 line breaks and missing 44 tackles against the rampant Eels.

Before halftime, the commentators were already calling it.

“The defence from the Knights has been horrible,” Steve Roach said on Fox Sports commentary.

Michael Ennis called it an “absolute bloodbath”.

“Newcastle have simply not been in the contest,” he said at half time.

“Adam O’Brien will be livid with their defence, just individuals falling off tackles very, very poorly. Parramatta are making almost 70 metres a set, they’re doing it easy.”

And it didn’t get much better from there.

Clint Gutherson starred for the Eels. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Post-match, Knights coach Adam O’Brien admitted he was blindsided by the result.

“I didn’t see it coming, it was a horrible performance let’s be honest, but they haven’t been horrible,” he said.

“(The Eels) didn’t kick them to death either. It’s been a pretty big month.”

While he said he wasn’t making excuses, O’Brien said it had been a tough run with injuries.

He also pointed to the Cowboys getting crushed 44-6 by the Sharks as a sign the sides were coming off a tough run.

In his second game back from his concussion lay off, Ponga said “I have to earn my performance and this not good enough”.

After making 11 tackles but missing 10 on his own, Ponga said he’d work during the break and focus on defence.

Originally published as ‘Horrible’: Eels slaughter Knights in ‘absolute bloodbath’