LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Newcastle Knights have roared back to form against the Eels, delivering a dominant performance with seven tries to secure a 36-16 victory at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
Despite the absence of star halfback Jesse Southwell, debutante Evie Jones proved her worth in the No.7 jersey as captain Tamika Upton led by example with a personal double and two try assists.
After a shaky start that saw the Eels claw back with two quick tries, the Knights showed resilience to secure their first win since Round 3 after a disappointing couple of weeks.
It was a welcome return to winning ways for the Knights, who had suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2022.
The delayed kick-off seemed to rattle the Eels, as the Knights wasted no time asserting their dominance with three early tries.
Upton's thrilling run and touchdown near the dead-ball line set the tone, followed by Georgia Roche's aerial skills and Olivia Higgins' finishing touch.
Parramatta struggled to keep up with the Knights' pace and discipline, leaving them vulnerable to more strikes down the left edge.
In rugby league terms, the Knights put on a clinic in attacking prowess and defensive steel to outclass the Eels and reignite their season with a much-needed victory.