Knights survive late comeback scare from Eels as Sandon Smith goes down with calf injury

Sandon Smith will be hopeful that he is not sidelined for an extended period of time after he was forced to the sheds with a calf concern during Newcastle's 28-22 win over the Eels.

The Knights playmaker appeared to be suffering with a lower leg concern for most of the first half, although he did not let that get in the way of his team's gameplan to win.

With two try and line break assists to his name after 40 minutes, Smith began to struggle to hide his pain, wincing each time he moved into Newcastle's defensive line.

READ MORE: 'I could never do that': Spanish star denies shoving ball girl

READ MORE: Johns' left-field option to replace injured Brailey in Origin II

READ MORE: 'Weird': De Minaur ponders break after French demise

"Sandon Smith is struggling with that ankle," Luke Keary said on Fox League.

Smith lasted six minutes on the field in the final 40 before the pain became too much, leaving the field alongside trainers to undergo further assessment.

It was later confirmed he had suffered a calf injury and would not return to play.

"He is OK," Knights coach Justin Holbrook told reporters of Smith post-match.

"His calf just kept getting tighter and tighter. Half time didn't help him either."

"It looks like he battled through that for most of the game," Steve 'Blocker' Roach said.

"I think he was trying to battle through it at half time and it has cooled down when he came back to the field. Its an early change for Newcastle."

The error-filled start to the second half continued on after Smith's departure, with neither team able to keep hold of their momentum without making a simple mistake.

But it was Parramatta's ill-discipline that was the most costly on the field, with Harrison Graham slicing between three defenders before outpacing another four to score.

Dylan Lucas crossed for his second try in the 58th minute before the Eels responded via Jordan Samrani. Fletcher Hunt added another for Newcastle minutes later.

It was then that eyes turned to Kalyn Ponga as he escaped any punishment for a try-saving act on Isaiah Iongi, who darted over to keep the Eels within shot of victory.

Newcastle had few players onside when the ball was sent out wide to Iongi, with Ponga failing to get onside before tackling the young fullback over the tryline.

"This is going to be a try or a sin bin here," Fox League caller Jake Duke said.

Steve 'Blocker' Roach added: "Ponga hadn't got back in time."

The referee then signalled that the ball had been grounded by Iongi, meaning Ponga would not be pinged for a professional foul and would stay in the action.

Parramatta were unable to get in front on the board before the full time siren but Jason Ryles was still impressed with his team's efforts.

"It is a very young side ... they are trying their hearts out and getting some lessons from the big boys," Ryles told reporters post-match.

"We had a mini bus bring up our injured blokes today, that is where we are at. So to produce the effort and fight that they did today, I am really proud of them."

As for Holbrook, he was "just happy to get the win".

"Full credit to Parramatta, they had some dangerous players and stayed in the whole way. But in the end ... it was another exciting finish at home."

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Earlier, a flat pass by Sandon Smith into Dylan Lucas set up the first try of the match, with the second-rower firing past three defenders then powering 30 metres to score.

Brian Kelly, in his milestone 200th match, was the next to find the tryline, burrowing between two Newcastle defenders in attempt to level the scores in the ninth minute. Joash Papalii, however, was unable to successfully convert Kelly's try-scoring efforts.

"He shouldn't have been able to score there," Steve Roach, critical of Newcastle's defence, said in commentary on Fox League.

Newcastle looked to hit back quickly but could not find the open space to break away, that was until Dom Young fired away down the sideline before being caught 20m out.

A quick play of the ball and shift to the other side of the field found Smith who drew defenders in close before throwing a long ball to the edge, which bounced perfectly into the hands of winger Greg Marzhew to extend Newcastle's lead.

Parramatta then let two close chances go to waste, but eventually struck via Dylan Walker, who got his hands on a perfect Tallyn da Silva grubber into the in-goal.

Jason Ryles' men had a strong chance to punch ahead on the stroke of half time, but a clear forward pass by Papalii to Sean Russell put a straight end to that runaway try.