Nathan Brown breathes sigh of relief as Knights slay Eels 28-14

Brad Arthur has refused to use Parramatta’s ongoing contract dramas as an excuse after watching his team crash back to reality against the Knights.

The Newcastle Knights proved too strong for the Eels at home. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

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Brad Arthur has refused to use Parramatta’s ongoing contract dramas as an excuse after watching his team crash back to reality.

Just six days after putting the cleaners through Wests Tigers at the grand opening of Bankwest Stadium, Arthur could only watch on in frustration as the Eels let in 20 unanswered points after just 27 minutes - before ultimately going down 28-14 to a brave Newcastle who were cheered on by another great home crowd.

The Knights’ win ended a five-match losing run and will take plenty of pressure off under-fire coach Nathan Brown.

The Newcastle Knights proved too strong for the Eels at home. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

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But with the 14 Parramatta players still not signed for next season as well as the coach, Arthur was adamant the uncertainty wasn’t the reason for his team’s failure.

CONTRACT DRAMAS NO EXCUSE

Clint Gutherson was off his game early and so was Mitchell Moses. The two players who carved the Tigers to shreds were like the rest of their teammates for the majority of the first half on Sunday.

As Arthur said, they just failed to show up with the same energy and commitment to match the Knights.

But don’t use the contract talks as an excuse.

“Definitely not,” he said. “We (didn’t) perform like that last week and there was the same talk last week.

Maika Sivo added to his season tally in Newcastle. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

“We play a professional game and these blokes get paid to be professionals and roll up every week and put their bodies on the line.”

For the Eels none tried harder than Tim Mannah, Manu Ma’u and Oregon Kaufusi off the bench, while winger Maiko Sivo came up with some big plays including a great early try saving shot on Jesse Ramien.

BROWN GETS RELIEF

Mitchell Pearce was outstanding and scored a well-deserved try that clinched the win, while hooker Danny Levi had his best game of the season, running for 104m.

David Klemmer also had a big game, clocking up a game-high 199m, while Kalyn Ponga scored for the second straight week and is really starting to get his mojo back.

But the bloke feeling the most pressure going into the game bar none was Brown. After seven rounds that was the Knights’ first win since they beat Cronulla in round one but what it showed is that it is not too late to turn the season around.

Brown said the nature of the comp this year was that aside from the top three teams most of the rest could beat each other on any given day, which is why it makes it crucial to turn up with the right attitude.

“That is how tight the comp is,” Brown said.

“I don’t think there is a great deal between team five or four and team 11 and 12 and 13.”

PEARCE LEADS WAY

The Knights skipper has copped his share of criticism this year and a lot of it was warranted.

But even after an awful performance from the team last week against Gold Coast, Nathan Brown singled out his skipper for a special mention.

Again on Sunday Pearce had a strong game and his late try was a just reward for his effort.

“The way he competed was what we have seen Mitchell do over a long period of time. His number on attribute has always been his ability to compete,” Brown said.

A pumped up Manu Ma'u scored on return from injury. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

PROUD NOVACASTRIANS

Newcastle fans are simply unbelievable.

That was the Knights’ fifth home game of this season with just one win from the previous four.

But despite the form and the fact their last game against Gold Coast was the Knights’ worst of the season, there were still 19,604 who turned up to McDonald Jones Stadium.

Newcastle now has three straight away games against the Warriors, Bulldogs and Dragons before they return to Newcastle in round 11 to play the Roosters.

NEWCASTLE 28 (L Fitzgibbon J Gavet M Pearce K Ponga tries K Ponga 6 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 14 (M Ma’u M Sivo tries M Moses 3 goals) at McDonald Jones Stadium. Referee: Chris Butler, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 19,604.