Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL

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Two struggling teams collide when the Newcastle Knights host the Parramatta Eels on Friday Night Football.

Start date/time: Friday 16th May, 2025: UK – 9:00am / Local – 6:00pm / US ET – 4:00am / US PT – 1:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms

Newcastle Knights team news

Greg Marzhew is out due to a knee injury; Coach Adam O’Brien has named Fletcher Hunt to make his NRL debut on the wing. Tyson Frizell takes over in the front row in the absence of Leo Thompson (concussion), with Adam Elliott starting at lock. Thomas Cant has returned to the bench after spending time in NSW Cup.

Squad: 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 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Brodie Jones 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Paul Bryan

Parramatta Eels team news

Zac Lomax has been named for his first game since Round 5, having battled with a foot injury in a timely boost for his Origin selection chances. Head Coach Jason Ryles made it clear Lomax will only take the field if he is fully fit to play. Bailey Simonsson misses out with a foot injury of his own. Charlie Guymer is omitted, while Matt Doorey takes his spot in the back row. Toni Mataele will potentially make his NRL debut off the bench.

Squad: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Matt Doorey 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Jordan Samrani 17. Toni Mataele 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Ryan Matterson 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Jake Tago 22. Brendan Hands

Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels prediction

The Parramatta Eels led the Dolphins last week 12-6 with just 20 minutes remaining but succumbed 20-16 after some late Dolphin heroics. Head coach Jason Ryles is quickly learning that success is fleeting and disappointment can rear its head regularly.

The Eels now sit on the bottom of the ladder with just two wins from their nine matches so far. With the origin period looming and the likelihood of them losing Mitchell Moses to the New South Wales squad the task does not get any easier in the coming weeks.

The Newcastle Knights did lots of things right against the Gold Coast Titans, particularly in the first half when they raced out to a 20-nil lead after half an hour. The second half however was a different story, and their normally stingy defence conceded three second half tries as the Titans overpowered them 24-20.

On the season, the Knights have been quite sturdy defensively and Parramatta have struggled to score enough points to win their matches. In fact, the Eels and the Knights are two of the three lowest scoring teams in terms of points per match.

Parramatta have won six of their past seven matches against Newcastle however the Knights did win their latest matchup in June last year, 34-26 in front of the largest crowd the two sides have played in front of since their famous 2001 grand final matchup.

We think that Newcastle, with the benefit of a home crowd, can get the points in this one.

Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels tip: Newcastle Knight to win