Newcastle lost the match - and may have lost halfback Andrew Johns for the season with a serious knee injury suffered in their dramatic 38-34 loss to the Eels in their NRL clash at Parramatta Stadium.

The Eels snatched the lead with only four minutes left on the clock when video referee Mick Stone gave the green light to a Junior Langi try.

Johns twisted his right knee in the 21st minute when the Knights were trailing 6-14 and will undergo scans.

Club doctor Peter McGeoch feared the Test skipper had torn anterior cruciate ligaments, which is usually a season-ending injury.

In a horror night for Newcastle, rookie fullback David Seage appeared to suffer the same injury as his skipper, both players leaving the field on a medi-cab, and winger Timana Tahu (hamstring) limped into the tunnel in the 67th minute.

Seage clutched at his left knee in the 51st minute, falling to the ground untouched and in obvious pain.

The likely loss of Johns is a massive blow for Newcastle, NSW and Australia.

If the injury is an ACL tear he'll miss the trans-Tasman Test in Newcastle on April 23, the State of Origin series starting May 26 and the Tri-Nations series later this year also involving Great Britain and the New Zealand.

Depending on the Knights record, he could also miss the NRL finals for the third consecutive year after breaking his back in 2002 and then suffering a serious neck injury last year.

The Eels shocked Newcastle when they led 14-0 after as many minutes following converted tries to former Knight John Morris and fullback Luke Burt, who added a 14th minute penalty.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP