NEWCASTLE'S NRL season is spiralling from from bad to worse after Parramatta handed the Knights their fifth consecutive defeat of the season on Sunday, a 39-2 thrashing at McDonald Jones Stadium.
After losses to Penrith, Cronulla, Manly and St George Illawarra in their previous four games, memories of the Knights' wins against Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers in their first two outings are fading fast.
As if they didn't have enough to worry about, Newcastle's next challenge is a home game next Sunday against Melbourne Storm - who have won their past 10 games against the Knights.
In front of a bumper crowd of 25,169, Newcastle drew first blood with a Jake Clifford penalty goal in the seventh minute, but Parramatta had apparently gained the ascendancy by half-time to lead 14-2.
The Knights' right edge were having real trouble containing towering Eels back-rower Shaun Lane close to their line.
Running one off the ruck, Lane crashed through some flimsy defence to score in the 12th minute.
Nineteen minutes later, he charged from similar range and offloaded a pass for winger Hayze Perham to score in the corner.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses kicked both conversions and added a 37th-minute penalty goal to give the visitors a handy 12-point lead at the break.
A Dylan Brown try in the 46th minute, followed soon after by another Moses penalty, left the Knights facing a 22-2 deficit.
Then Isaiah Papali'i crashed over for a double in the 57th and 68th minutes and the scoreline started to look embarrassing.
A Will Penisini try made it 38-2 to the visitors, then Moses iced it with a last-minute field goal.
There was a sense of deja vu, after the Eels gave the Knights a 40-4 drubbing in Newcastle on June 6 last season.
