• Parramatta have won just 1 of their past 8 games this season.
• Will Pryce has had 4 try assists and 7 tackle bust in his past 4 games in NSW Cup.
• Parramatta allow a league-worst 6.8 linebreaks per game.
• Dylan Lucas has scored 3 tries in the past 2 games for Newcastle.

Head to Head

Parramatta have won the past six games against Newcastle, bringing the Eels head-to-head record against the Knights to 21 wins with Newcastle just one victory ahead with 22, since 1988.

The Knights and Eels played just once last season with Parramatta blasting past Newcastle 43-12 with King Gutho scoring a triple.

Newcastle Knights Form

The Knights got their season on track with 4 consecutive wins but a tough run in the schedule playing Canterbury, Melbourne and Penrith has them derailed again after three straight losses.

Newcastle are down in 12th after their second bye of the season with just 6 wins on the year. They have struggled to control the territory in their matches and have not had enough attacking ball, unable to slow their opponents down and stop them getting down field.

Newcastle allow the most opposing run metres than any team in the NRL, averaging 1521.1 run metres against per game.

Missing star fullback Kalyn Ponga has hurt them every week as they find it difficult to break their opponents line, averaging just 3.8 linebreaks per game, the least of any team in the NRL.

Newcastle Knights Team News

Exciting British talent Will Pryce will make his NRL debut at the No.6 pairing up with Jackson Hastings in the halves as Jack Cogger gets dropped.

Fletcher Sharpe will remain at fullback with David Armstrong still in the reserves. Jayden Brailey will start on the bench with Phoenix Crossland in at hooker.

Newcastle Knights Team List

1. Fletcher Sharpe

2. Enari Tuala

3. Dane Gagai

4. Bradman Best

5. Greg Marzhew

6. Will Pryce

7. Jackson Hastings

8. Jacob Saifiti

 9. Phoenix Crossland

10. Leo Thompson

11. Tyson Frizell

12. Dylan Lucas

13. Adam Elliott

14. Jayden Brailey

15. Daniel Saifiti

16. Kai Pearce-Paul

17. Brodie Jones

18. Mat Croker

19. Jack Hetherington

20. Jack Cogger

21. Krystian Mapapalangi

​​​​​​​22. David Armstrong

Parramatta Eels Form

The return of Mitch Moses in round 13 aided in the Eels getting their first win in 6 matches, however, the euphoria lasted just one week with Parramatta going on to lose their next two and have now won just 4 games all season and sit at the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Since round 7 and their 44-16 loss to the Dolphins, the Eels have averaged 33.5 points against per game over their past 8 matches. They have accrued three 40+ point losses and two 30+ point losses during that span.

The Eels are also allowing more line breaks than any team in the NRL with their opposition breaking their line 6.8 times per game, which is over a whole linebreak more than any other team in the NRL.

Parramatta Eels Team News

Mitch Moses has been named to back up after his Origin duties for NSW on Wednesday.

Maiko Sivo has been named to make his return after missing the past two games wth injury. Daejarn Asi will drop out to 18th man.

Kelma Tuilagi has been suspended for 5 weeks for a dangerous throw with Bryce Cartwright moving into the backrow.

Mathew Arthur and Matt Doorey will make their NRL debuts, both coming in as interchange players.

Parramatta Eels Team List

1. Clint Gutherson

2. Maika Sivo

3. Will Penisini

4. Sean Russell

5. Blaize Talagi

6. Dylan Brown

7. Mitch Moses

8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard

9. Brendan Hands

10. Junior Paulo

11. Shaun Lane

12. Bryce Cartwright

13. Joe Ofahengaue

14. Matthew Arthur

15. Makahesi Makatoa

16. Matt Doorey

17. Ryan Matterson

18. Daejarn Asi

19. Joey Lussick

20. Wiremu Greig

21. Jake Tago

​​​​​​​22. Charlie Guymer