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Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins Preview & Tips - Knights to keep Dolphins at bay in NRL Round 2

Ryan Tucker

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Last updated: 12 Mar 2025

Ryan Tucker 12 Mar 2025

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Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins expert predictions for Thursday’s Round 2 NRL game
Knights to extend winning streak against Dolphins
Expect a 1-12 margin as in last 3 games

Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins Preview
Head to Head
Newcastle Knights Form
Newcastle Knights Team News
Newcastle Knights Team List
Dolphins Form
Dolphins Team News
Dolphins Team List

Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins Preview

The Knights have won the last three meetings and can extend that run on Thursday. Newcastle have won 17 of their last 25 games played at McDonald Jones Stadium and one of the strongest defences in the league can stand tall again.

63% of games for both of these teams last season finished with 1-12 winning margins.
The Dolphins scored just 14 and 6 pts in their two games last season against the Knights.
Newcastle average just 18.8 pts to opponents at home over the past 2 seasons.
The Dolphins allowed 40% of opposition tries down their right side last season as well as 2 of 3 last weekend against Souths.

Head to Head

These two teams have played four times in the two seasons the Dolphins have been in the NRL with Newcastle owning their opponents with a 3-1 record.

Both games last season were won by Newcastle in low scoring efforts going under the Game total on both occasions. Three of the last four games have been decided by eight points or less.

Newcastle Knights Form

Newcastle got away with a scrappy win over the Wests Tigers last weekend 10-8 away from home. Things did not start well for the visiting team, allowing their opponent to score a try in the 8th minute.

But it was the only time during the match that their tryline was penetrated with the Tigers not getting another 4 pointer despite 23 tackles inside 20m in the game.

The Knights amassed an incredible number of tackle busts in the game at 68 off just 166 runs. They also had 7 linebreaks and 29 tackles in their opposition 20m zone but came away with just the 10 points themselves. Once again their creativity and attack being stunted close to the line.

Eight players from the Knights made over 100 metres running including the back 5 and Fletcher Sharpe at five-eighth.

Newcastle Knights Team News

The only change for the Knights this week is the addition of Adam Elliott to the bench in place of Brodie Jones who moves to 18th man.

Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger keep their spots in the halves despite a below average game in round 1.

Newcastle Knights Team List

1. Kalyn Ponga

2. James Schiller

3. Dane Gagai

4. Bradman Best

5. Greg Marzhew

6. Fletcher Sharpe

7. Jack Cogger

8. Jacob Saifiti

9. Phoenix Crossland

10. Leo Thompson

11. Dylan Lucas

12. Kai Pearce-Paul

13. Tyson Frizell

Interchange

14. Jayden Brailey

15. Jack Hetherington

16. Adam Elliott

17. Mathew Croker

Reserves

18. Brodie Jones

19. Will Pryce

20. Logan Aoake

21. Matthew Arthur

22. Thomas Cant

Dolphins Form

There wasn’t much that separated the Dolphins from their opponent South Sydney last weekend in their 16-14 loss.

Despite a disrupted preparation the Dolphins racked up a whopping 1774 run metres including four linebreaks and 36 tacklebusts in the game.

The Dolphins owned 67% of the territory in the matchup but earned just 24 tackles inside the Bunnies 20m zone during play. Daniel Saifiti had 143 run metres and 18 tackles while Jeremy Marshall King topped the tackle count with 52.

Dolphins Team News

Jack Bostock has been unable to recover from injury in time to take his spot in the side with Junior Tupou once again named on the wing.

Kodi Nikorima returns at five-eighth after sitting out the away trip last weekend, Mark Nicholls and Kenny Bromwich likewise but Bromwich has been named in the reserves.

Oryn Keeley has been promoted to the starting side with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki out with HIA and Connelly Lemuelu fracturing his eye socket last weekend.

Dolphins Team List

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

2. Jamayne Isaako

3. Jake Averillo

4. Herbie Farnworth

5. Junior Tupou

6. Kodi Nikorima

7. Isaiya Katoa

8. Daniel Saifiti

9. Jeremy Marshall-King

10. Felise Kaufusi

11. Oryn Keeley

12. Max Plath

13. Tom Gilbert

Interchange

14. Kurt Donoghoe

15. Josh Kerr

16. Mark Nicholls

17. Ray Stone

Reserves

18. Sean O'Sullivan

19. Max Feagai

20. Kenny Bromwich

21. Harrison Graham

22. Aublix Tawha

Verdict

Newcastle Knights v Dolphins

Take the Knights to win with a 1-12 margin as has been the case in the last three games between these two teams. If you are looking at totals the Dolphins team total Under is the best bet while Greg Marzhew is the top tryscorer pick.

Knights 1-12

Winning Margin

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Dolphins Under 19.5

Team Total

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G Marzhew

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G Marzhew

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