NRL trials LIVE: Dylan Brown strikes early against Newcastle
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View from the sideline
By Robert Dillon
TRY โ Marzhew touches down for Knights
Newcastle strike with a classic backline shift from right to left, two long passes unleashing Greg Marzhew who darts over in the left corner.
The sideline conversion attempt from Will Pryce sails wide.
Eels lead 6-4 after 24 minutes
Spark from Sharpe but Jack spills it
A bit of spark from Newcastle here with Fletcher Sharpe making a canny run close to the Eelsโ line and popping a pass to Jack Hetherington, but a crunching tackle from Parramattaโs Kelma Tuilagi pops the ball out of Hetheringtonโs grasp. The Eels have been the stronger team early on, despite a few decent chances for Newcastle.
And the Knights get another one now, with hooker Brendan Hands attempting a 40-20 kick but drilling the ball out on the full.
We have a challenge!
Parramatta donโt waste any time in getting in their first captainโs challenge of the year โ Kitione Kautoga is ruled to have lost the ball in a tackle but the Eels say there was a strip. But the bunker says there wasnโt, so Parramatta donโt have any more challenges tonight.
There have been a few errors in humid conditions tonight, as can be expected from the first trial game of the year, and itโs no surprise the captainโs callenge calls might be a bit rusty too. Five errors and six penalties in the first 20 minutes of this one so far.
Hetherington shot sets up Newcastle chance
Jack Hetherington makes up for his early penalty with a big hit in defence that forces an error from the Eels, and the Knights get a full set within striking distance. But Parramattaโs defence is again up to the task and Sharpe coughs up possession.
Eels lead 6-0 after 15 minutes
Knights go close
Newcastle get their first chance in attack on the back of a penalty but the last pass, a looping effort from Jack Cogger to winger James Schiller, goes to Schillerโs feet rather than his hands and clatters off an Eels defender and over the dead-ball line.
The Knights get a repeat set from a goal-line dropout, but the next set peters out with Fletcher Sharpe held up just short of the tryline.
Eels keep up the pressure
Parramatta are on the attack again with Newcastle forward Jack Hetherington penalised โ not the first or the last time that has happened โ and within a few tackles the Eels are inside Newcastleโs 10 metres again. A dangerous chip kick is spilled but Fletcher Sharpe is able to scoop up the loose ball for Newcastle.
The Eels celebrate their first try of the year.Credit: Getty Images
TRY: Brown scores as Eels make dream start
The Knights end a solid first set with fullback Will Pryce getting away a kick on the last tackle. Pryce is standing in for fullback Kalyn Ponga, who may do plenty of general play kicking himself this season as the Knights try out yet another new halves combination.
Parramatta look more threatening in their first set, a Dylan Brown bomb forcing an error from Newcastle.
And from the resulting scrum โ TRY! And of course itโs that man Brown. The star five-eighth gets the ball on the left of a midfield scrum and has enough space to barge his way through the defence from 10 metres out. Parramatta halfback Ronald Volkman converts.
Eels lead 6-0 after five minutes
All eyes on battle of the No.6s as the game gets underway
The Eels take the field in their almost all-yellow jerseys, led by stand-in captain Joe Ofahengaue, then the Knights are greeted by a pretty strong pre-season crowd. The battle of the five-eighths will be intriguing here, with Brown the star in the headlines and Sharpe seemingly getting a new role this season.
Parramatta kicks off and weโre underway.
The young All Star who saved his dadโs life
Itโs not related to tonightโs game but a cracker of a story today on young Roosters and Indigenous All Stars forward Blake Steep, who swam 1.6 kilometres back and forth through sharky seas after his father suffered a heart attack underwater.
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โI was seeing a few sharks, nothing too big, but definitely more than we saw on our way out the first time,โ Steep said.
โThereโs blood in the water, I didnโt bring the gun … โfar out, this could be badโ.โ
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