New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights, Round 8 2025 - Expert Prediction
A low scoring battle is expected in the second ANZAC clash with the Warriors hosting Newcastle in a new look slate of games. New Zealand will win with a short margin of victory.
- New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights, Round 8 2025 - Expert Prediction
- Head to Head
- New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis & Betting Trends
- Recent Form
- 2025 Betting Trends
- New Zealand Warriors Team News
- New Zealand Warriors Team List
- Newcastle Knights Form Analysis & Betting Trends
- Recent Form
- 2025 Betting Trends
- Newcastle Knights Team News
- Newcastle Knights Team List
- New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights NRL 2025 Round 8 FAQ’s
The NRL has broken with tradition by adding a third game to its ANZAC lineup with the Warriors vs Storm game being dropped in favour of those teams facing different opponents. New Zealand haven’t had much luck in their historic matchup losing 9 straight games on the big day, their last win coming in 2014. They will be hoping to change that in this new tradition starting Friday.
Newcastle have struggled to put points on the board so far this season averaging just 10 pts per game across their 6 matches. They are also below average in Run Metres, Tackles in Opposition 20m and rank 17th in Possession, averaging just 46% over the first quarter of the season.
The Warriors will likely look to engage their hard running back rowers and outside backs to churn up metres getting into the Knights territory. They rank 1st in Territory this season and average the most tackles of any team in the opposition Red Zone. After a slow start they are converting at a high rate and even the tough Knights goal line defence won’t be able to withstand the onslaught.
Take New Zealand 1-12 with the trends between these two teams being close games. Until the Knights start producing points we will continue to pound the Team Total Under and the best value tryscorer is Jackson Ford who has scored 2 tries in his last 4 games vs Knights.
- 7 straight regular season games between these clubs have finished with 1-12 margin.
- Newcastle are averaging just 10 pts per game this season and have scored over 14 pts just once (Rd2 vs Dolphins).
- The Knights have allowed 8 tries to forwards across their last 5 games.
- Jackson Ford has scored 2 tries in his last 4 games vs Newcastle.
Head to Head
Newcastle own a 7-4 regular season record against New Zealand dating back to the start of the 2019 with the Warriors winning their only finals matchup during the span in 2023 with a 40-10 demolition.
The teams split the difference last year with each club winning on home soil in low scoring affairs. The Game Total has overwhelmingly gone Under with 9 of 11 results staying low.
7 straight games have finished with winning margins of 1-12.
New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
Last 5 W/L | Last 5 ATS | Last 5 O/U |
---|
4-1 | 4-1 | 3-2 |
The Warriors had another win at home last weekend, beating the Brisbane Broncos 20-18 with a penalty goal in Golden Point at Go Media Stadium where they are 3-0 to start the year.
It wasn’t a convincing win though for New Zealand who now sit 4th on the ladder with 4 wins, 2 losses and 1 bye. Two of their tries were due to lucky bounces with the opposition having a length of the field break called back and a length of the field try disallowed for a forward pass.
What the Warriors did well in the game was attack from broken play, allowing their larger backrowers and speed men to get through gaps in the staggered defensive line. NZ had 57 tackles inside the Broncos 20m zone, the 3rd highest number in a game from any team in the NRL this season.
2025 Betting Trends
ATS | Over/Under | 1-12 | 13+ |
---|
4-2 | 3-3 | 3-0 | 1-2 |
New Zealand Warriors Team News
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has passed concussion protocol and returns to the starting side pushing Taine Tuaupiki to the wing and Ed Kosi to the reserves. Kurt Capwell also moves out of the backline, reverting to his usual second row spot with Rocco Berry returning from suspension.
Leka Halasima drops back to the bench to allow the reshuffle. The Warriors are still missing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Fisher-Harris who are all out injured.
New Zealand Warriors Team List
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Taine Tuaupiki
3. Rocco Berry
4. Ali Leiataua
5. Adam Pompey
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita
7. Luke Metcalf
8. Jackson Ford
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitch Barnett
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Marata Niukore
13. Erin Clark
Interchange
14. Leka Halasima
15. Bunty Afoa
16. Demitric Vaimauga
17. Jacob Laban
Reserves
18. Te Maire Martin
20. Tanah Boyd
21. Tanner Stowers-Smith
22. Samuel Healey
23. Edward Kosi
Newcastle Knights Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
Last 5 W/L | Last 5 ATS | Last 5 O/U |
---|
1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 |
The attacking woes of the Knights continued last weekend against the Sharks posting just 14 points in their 34-14 loss. It is laughable that the 14 points is their second highest total of the year so far but it underlines the 4 game losing streak the team is on where they have a points differential of -76 points (24-100).
You can also argue the Knights were lucky to reach that total with their final try coming in the 79th minute, their third of the season in garbage time with the result already decided (75th minute or later).
Newcastle still rank 11th for Run Metres and 11th for Tackles inside opposition 20m but it is what is happening, or rather not happening, with their attack on the line which is the difference. They are dead last in average points scored which also makes them the most inefficient team in their attacking 20m zone.
2025 Betting Trends
ATS | Over/Under | 1-12 | 13+ |
---|
1-5 | 1-5 | 1-0 | 1-4 |
Newcastle Knights Team News
Adam O’Brien has resisted the urge to shake up the roster following a 4th straight loss with the only change seeing Dylan Lucas return from injury, shifting Thomas Cant back to the bench and Jermaine McEwen out of the team.
James Schiller has avoided suspension despite being sent to the bin for a head high tackle last weekend. Phoenix Crossland and Tyson Frizell have both been named but are under injury clouds.
Newcastle Knights Team List
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. James Schiller
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Fletcher Sharpe
7. Tyson Gamble
8. Tyson Frizell
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Leo Thompson
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Mat Croker
Interchange
14. Jayden Brailey
15. Tyrone Thompson
16. Thomas Cant
17. Brodie Jones
Reserves
18. Kyle McCarthy
19. Paul Bryan
20. Jack Cogger
21. Matthew Arthur
22. Logan Aoake