The Jersey Flegg Newcastle Knights have gone down to Parramatta 28-24 at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.
It was a strong start from the Knights with Grant Anderson muscling his way past Eels halfback Bailey Biondi-Odo to score the opening try.
Having lost Mat Croker to a leg injury early in the match, the Eels hit back through backrower Charbel Tasipale who beat Cameron Davies one-on-one.
The Eels extended their run when Solomone Naiduki raced down the sideline and ran over the top of Anderson to score.
Down 12-6, the Knights hit back through a dummy half run from Liam Wilkinson.
With seven and a half minutes left in the first half, a penalty goal from the boot of Davies put the visitors by two.
But on the stroke of halftime, Tasipale barged over for his second of the day to put the Eels up 18-14.
The Knights wasted no time hitting back in the second half with Anderson securing his second off a scrum play following an Eels mistake at their 20.
The conversion put the Knights up by two.
The Eels lost winger Turaganivalu Nabetelevu for throwing a punch but being short a man made no difference.
The Eels scored when a Biondi-Odo grubber ricocheted off the legs of a Knights and back into his hands.
He was unable to convert his try and the score remained 22-20 in favour of the Eels.
Eels hooker Vea Tapa'atoutai then extended the lead with a solo try of his own.
Justin Worley struck out wide with six minutes left on the clock to get the Knights within four points.
Sadly for the Knights, the clock was their enemy and the score remained 28-24.
