Newcastle Knights have secured a 2012 NRL round 17 win against the Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium

WAYNE Bennett summed it up when asked if he felt for Eels coach Stephen Kearney after Parramatta's season hit a new low last night.

Chris Sandow

SUPER coach Wayne Bennett was asked if he felt sorry for beleaguered Eels mentor Stephen Kearney last night after his season hit a new low with their 12th loss of the season.

"Of course you do. It's tough," Bennett deadpanned.

Poor communication, forward passes, missed tackles - you name the error and the Eels committed it as the Knights made it back-to-back victories for the first time in the Bennett era.

Trailing 20-6 with nine minutes left, Parramatta threatened a late comeback when winger Ken Sio scored.

But Newcastle captain Danny Buderus came up with a match-saving play, diving on a Luke Kelly chip kick to halt the Eels revival.

If new Parramatta coaching director Chris Anderson was looking for an indication of where the Eels are situated, he got it - and it's a long way from the top.

After showing signs of life in the opening half, the Eels fans were quickly reminded of what a miserable season they have had when Newcastle piled on three tries in a 17-minute period to effectively close out the game.

Gallery: Eels v Knights

"We're starting to do things the good teams are doing two weeks in a row. We wouldn't have won that game a month ago," Bennett said.

"We would have lost it just after halftime there when the pressure was really on."

After a grinding arm-wrestle, the scores were locked at 6-all at the break.

The Knights scored the opening try through winger James McManus.

But just when it appeared set to turn into another long evening for the Eels, hooker Matt Keating crossed on the back of some Chris Sandow magic and it was game on - for 25 minutes at least.

However, halftime was basically the end of proceedings for Parramatta.

When play resumed, Newcastle blew them away with tries to Jarrod Mullen, a 95m solo effort by Kevin Naiqama and a brilliant piece of finishing from axed NSW Origin winger Akuila Uate.

Match Centre: Game details and stats plus vote for man of the match

Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh found it impossible to sugar coat his disappointment at another loss.

"It was a game we probably should have won," Hindmarsh said.

"Newcastle will probably tell you different, but I thought we had a few more chances than they did and we left the field a more energised side than what they did.

"But the second half, first set forward pass, then just missed tackles. A couple of tries on us and then we just went away from what we were really supposed to be doing."

Eels coach Kearney conceded star halfback Sandow probably left his run a little bit too late to try to win the game for his team after producing some quality touches in the opening 40 minutes.

"In the second half, we probably needed him to get on the footy a bit more instead of waiting," Kearney said.

"Once we get in a situation where we're chasing, you see him come back into the game.

"That's something we'll keep working with him."

The Knights lost prop Kade Snowden with a grade two medial ligament strain in his knee in the 55th minute.

They are are expected to be without the former NSW front-rower for between two to four weeks.

NEWCASTLE 20 (J McManus, J Mullen, K Naiqama, A Uate tries T Roberts 2 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 12 (M Keating, K Sio tries L Burt 2 goals) at Parramatta Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Phil Haines. Crowd: 12,022.