Newcastle Knights take on Penrith Panthers at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, April 26 (2:00pm AEST). Here’s everything you need to know before you bet.
Overachieving Newcastle received a mild reality check over the past two weeks and now face up to the NRL benchmark team.
FORM: The 4-3 Knights are coming off jarring back-to-back losses to the Tigers (42-22) and Roosters (38-24). The latter was a particular missed opportunity after racing to a 24-12 halftime lead via a Fletcher Hunt hat-trick.
Striving to atone for a convincing loss to the Bulldogs, the Panthers went 6-1 courtesy of a golden point escape against the Dolphins, getting up 23-22 thanks to a Nathan Cleary field goal.
INS AND OUTS: James Schiller comes onto the wing for Greg Marzhew (concussion), the Knights’ only starting line-up change. Casey McLean returns for the Panthers, pushing Izack Tago to the bench. Freddy Lussick is injured Mitch Kenny’s replacement at hooker.
KEY MATCH-UP: Dylan Brown went missing against the Roosters – he needs to be the Knights’ main man with Nathan Cleary in the corresponding jersey.
HISTORY: The Knights have won just one of their last 12 against the Panthers. Last season the Knights beat an Origin-depleted Panthers 25-6 in Bathurst, but the Panthers responded with a 48-12 win in Newcastle in Round 23.
KEY STAT: Brian To’o has six tries in his last six games against the Knights. Tom Jenkins has scored at least two tries in all seven games this season.
Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers Match Prediction
VERDICT: Justin Holbrook’s Knights are miles ahead of where most thought they’d be after seven rounds, but conceding 80 points in the past two rounds should have alarm bells ringing ahead of a home clash with the competition-leading Panthers.
The Panthers have come back to the pack in the past fortnight and should get the W, but the Knights have covered 13 of their last 18 at home in daytime matches.
Tip: Back the Knights to Cover the Line (+12.5) @ $1.90
SGM: PANTHERS WIN / BRIAN TO’O ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TOM JENKINS TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / DOM YOUNG ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $64.60
Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers Odds & Popular Betting Markets
Here’s a quick look at the current odds and popular betting markets for the Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers matchup.
*odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change
Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers Match Betting Odds
| Penrith Panthers | 1.25 |
| Newcastle Knights | 4.00 |
Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers Line Betting Odds
| Penrith Panthers (-13.5) | 1.90 |
| Newcastle Knights (13.5) | 1.90 |
Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers First Try Scorer Odds
| Thomas Jenkins (Penrith Panthers) | 6.20 |
| Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers) | 7.75 |
| Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers) | 10.50 |
| Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers) | 10.50 |
| Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights) | 12.00 |