Wounded Eels squeak past Knights in MNF thriller

v BYE

The Eels have kept their season alive with an important 20-18 victory over the Knights in front of 12,856 fans at Hunter Stadium. 

If the Eels were a boxer this season, you would've thrown the towel in several rounds ago but they fight on with a tough, well earned two points against a Newcastle team that had them on the ropes. 

The visitors threw the first jabs of the contest though - as they touched down twice in the first twenty minutes. First through Beau Scott fired up from his origin snub waltz across then who else but Semi Radradra made it 10-nil. 

Newcastle has been on the end of several huge scorelines thus far this season, and tonight look to add to it after the first twenty minutes. Trent Hodkinson fired the Knights back into the contest with some trick plays to give them a surprising 14-10 halftime lead. 

Sione Mata'utia crossed first in the 25th minute but went right into the trick bag to stun the Eels. From the Mata'utia try kick-off, the Knights found their own Fijian flyer in Akuila Uate to set up the Pauli Pauli score then from a defensive scrum, speedsters Cory Denniss and Nathan Ross combined for the latter to streak away. 

When Trent Hodkinson added a pair of penalty goals to stretch the advantage out to eight, the Eels required the smelling salts. They got a huge whiff from debutant Bevan French who out-paced Jake Mamo to squeeze his effort inside the touchline and cut the deficit to two. 

The knockout blow was throw just after the hour mark when Manu Ma'u poked his arm through the line and started the movement for Michael Gordon to step to the tryline. Eels were down on troops after injuries to Kieran Foran and Brad Takairangi but kept repelling the Knights. 

Ross thought he had his second of the night after he blitzed through the line and slid into the in-goal area, but tres manufique defense from the debutant French denied the winger and gave the Eels the TKO victory. 

The victory might come at a cost with the possible injuries to Foran and Takairangi although in a month filled with negative news, the Eels had a moment of joy.

Next week the Eels will enjoy a week off after their month of turmoil - while the Knights have it tough with a trip to Townsville to face the premiers North Queensland on Saturday.