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Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers Preview & Tips - Tigers to upset the odds against Knights in NRL

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 11 Apr 2025

Jeremy Darke 11 Apr 2025

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Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers expert predictions for Sunday’s Round 6 NRL game
Knights face injuries with 5 key players out
Tigers favored despite recent losses; Sunia Turuva in great form

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Wests Tigers (Getty Images)

Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers Preview
Head to Head
Newcastle Knights Form
Newcastle Knights Team News
Newcastle Knights Team List
Wests Tigers Form
Wests Tigers Team News
Wests Tigers Team List

Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers Preview

Wests have had a couple of tough defeats and lost 10-8 to the Knights in Round 1, but Newcastle are hit by injuries this time around. I'm backing the Tigers to win as underdogs.

Newcastle will be missing 5 of their starting 17 from last week.
The Knights have scored just 1 try in their last two matches.
All 4 Newcastle games have gone under the game total and 3 of 5 Tigers games have also stayed under.
Sunia Turuva has 6 tries in his last 4 matches for the Tigers

Head to Head

The Newcastle Knights got a slim 10-8 victory over the Tigers in Round 1 of the 2025 which was their seventh consecutive victory over the merger club.

Four of the last six wins have been by a margin of 1-12 to the Knights.

Newcastle Knights Form

The Knights attack was literally non-existent against Canterbury last week, going down to the undefeated Doggies 20-0 in an embarrassing performance, while their team has been slashed with an injury crisis in the aftermath of their second loss of the season.

Besides their victory over the Dolphins, the Knights have scored just 3 tries in their other three matches this season as they fail to find the combination in their spine that shows any shape or signs of creativity.

The Knights rank 6th in linebreaks with 5.5 per game and are seventh with an average of 29 tackles inside their opposition 20m, but with no flare near the line they are really suffering.

With injuries crippling the Knights it is hard to see where the points are going to come from this week.

Newcastle Knights Team News

A third of the Newcastle starting 17 are casualties this week with 5 players ruled out for their clash against the Tigers. James Shiller, Jacob Saifiti, Jack Hetherington, Adam Elliot and Jack Cogger will all miss the clash.

Phoenix Crossland moves into the halves with Kyle McCarthy taking a place on the wing. Jayden Brailey will start at hooker with Brodie Jones in at prop. Tyson Frizell moves to lock with Kai Pearce-Paul back from suspension in the back row.

Matt Arthur and Tyrone Thompson come onto the bench.

Newcastle Knights Team List

1. Kalyn Ponga

2. Kyle McCarthy

3. Dane Gagai

4. Bradman Best

5. Greg Marzhew

6. Fletcher Sharpe

7. Phoenix Crossland

8. Brodie Jones

9. Jayden Brailey

10. Leo Thompson

11. Thomas Cant

12. Kai Pearce-Paul

13. Tyson Frizell

Interchange

14. Matthew Arthur

15. Tyrone Thompson

16. Jermaine McEwen

17. Mat Croker

Reserves

18. Paul Bryan

19. Jackson Hastings

20. Riley Jones

21. Francis Manuleleua

Wests Tigers Form

A 2-1 start to the year has quickly turned into a negative 2-3 record for the Wests Tigers who have had the same defensive prowess that they entered the season with where they had allowed the fewest points against over the opening 3 rounds of the season.

Wests were right in their match against Brisbane at halftime going into the break 14-12 down and were the better side for the majority of the half, however, they didn’t come out of the sheds and the Broncos put on 5 second half tries.

The leadership of Jarome Luai was clearly missed during his suspension and his ability to organise the troops will be welcomed back this week.

The Tigers have suffered from a lack of territory in their last two losses giving up 67% to the Warriors two weeks ago and 58% to the Broncos last weekend.

Wests Tigers Team News

Jarome Luai comes back after suspension and takes the No. 7 jersey.

Jerel Skelton has recovered from a hamstring strain and bumps out Luke Laulilii out of the side.

Samuela Fainu starts in the second row with Jack Bird moving to the bench.

Wests Tigers Team List

1. Jahream Bula

2. Sunia Turuva

3. Adam Doueihi

4. Starford To'a

5. Jeral Skelton

6. Lachlan Galvin

7. Jarome Luai

8. Terrell May

9. Api Koroisau

10. Fonua Pole

11. Samuela Fainu

12. Alex Seyfarth

13. Alex Twal

Interchange

14. Tallyn Da Silva

15. Royce Hunt

16. Jack Bird

17. Sione Fainu

Reserves

18. Tony Sukkar

19. Heath Mason

20. Luke Laulilii

21. Brent Naden

22. Kit Laulilii

Verdict

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers

The Tigers are backed to win as the underdog in a match that stays under 44.5 points. Sunia Turuva to cross for the Tigers.

Wests Tigers

Money Line

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Under 44.5

Game Total

@10/11 - 2 Units

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