The nib Newcastle Knights have gone down 36-14 to the Parramatta Eels in their second and final trial game of the Pre-Season Challenge at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford.
Members and supporters got a glimpse at the Knights new-look spine with Kalyn Ponga and Jackson Hastings forming the halves combination while Lachlan Miller brought plenty of energy from the back.
The team ran in three tries as attention turns to the all-important opening fixture against the Warriors in Round 1 on 3 March.
At the same kick-off and in almost identical hot conditions from last Friday on the Central Coast, the second trial got underway.
In his first game back from World Cup duties, Dom Young crossed the stripe on the fifth minute mark to have the Knights out to an early lead.
Quick hands down the right edge had the flying Englishman diving over.
Young gets the Knights under way
Parramatta responded through Matt Doorey six minutes later before a mad scramble in and around the in-goal saw Clint Gutherson ground the ball to extend the Eels lead.
Sean Russell posted Parramatta's third to extend the Eels out to 12 points after 25 minutes in.
The Knights regained some ascendancy and hit Parramatta with a counter-attack.
A big run from Greg Marzhew set up a quick play the ball for Kalyn Ponga, and the new five-eighth found a try-line bound Bradman Best for our second of the trial.
Best and Ponga combine
Both teams were completing high in a back and forth battle in Gosford with the Knights completing at 84% in the first half.
On the stroke of half-time, the Eels notched their fourth as Mitch Moses broke into the back field and found Dylan Brown in support.
As the half-time hooter sounded, the Knights tried a trick play from deep in their own half with Hastings booting the ball down field for a flying Dom Young.
Young was first to the ball in the in-goal but couldn't plant the ball down as the Eels took a 12-point lead into the break.
In the second half, Ponga and Young were taken off to rest up for Round 1 while youngsters Krystian Mapapalangi and Dylan Lucas were given opportunities in the centres.
Parra would cross for their fifth and sixth tries to jump out to a 22-point lead.
New signing Greg Marzhew posted his first try in Knights colours with 11 minutes to play.
No one is stopping Marzhew
Marzhew impressed with a strong running game and set starters from within our own end.
The Eels scored a late consolation try with the scores finishing 36-14.
The Knights will have a week to freshen up before the new season kicks off on March 3 against the Warriors in New Zealand.
