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Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Tips - Low scoring, defensive battle

Ryan Tucker

Editor

Last updated: Thu 17 Apr 2025 13:32

Ryan Tucker 17 Apr 2025

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Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks expert predictions for Sunday’s Round 7 NRL game
Kick off is at 4:05 PM (AEST) at McDonald Jones Stadium
Defensive-focused battle expected between Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks.
Cronulla's superior halves pairing favored to clinch a low-scoring victory.
Historical data suggests a low total game score, with Cronulla covering the line.

Ryan is backing the Sharks to win on Sunday!

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks, Round 7 2025 - Expert Prediction

Two very defensive minded teams clash in this Easter Sunday matchup with Cronulla expected to take the victory with a better halves pairing that are able to convert chances at a higher rate.

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks, Round 7 2025 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
Newcastle Knights Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
Newcastle Knights Team News
Newcastle Knights Team List
Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
Cronulla Sharks Team News
Cronulla Sharks Team List
Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2025 Round 7 FAQ’s

Newcastle have been woeful in attack so far this season and historically are bad at scoring - especially in games that they lose, averaging just 12.8 pts per game in losses dating back to the start of 2019. There is no creativity when they are attacking the try line and a good portion of tries they have scored have come from crash plays by barnstorming runners.

The Sharks aren’t much better, they rank 8th in scoring this season but average just 16.6 points over their past 3 games. They too have had troubles converting when they reach the red zone but when we put both of these teams on the same park there is definitely one that is better than the other.

My expectation is in line with the predictive modelling, a low scoring clash with Cronulla getting the chocolates and covering the line. Defence will be paramount for both teams especially knowing how easily they will be able to disrupt eachothers attack close to the line.

Take Cronulla to cover as favourites, Game Total Under and with tries likely at a minimum we could either take a winger or Briton Nikora who has crossed for the 2nd highest number of tries for the Sharks this year.

Newcastle have scored just 10 points total in their last 3 games and 46 total so far this season.
10 of 11 games these two teams have participated in this season, have gone Under the Game Total.
Briton Nikora has scored 5 tries in 6 games so far this year.
6 of the 13 tries the Knights have conceded this year are from forwards.

Head to Head

Newcastle own a 5-4 head to head record against Cronulla dating back to the start of the 2019 season. The Sharkies have though won 4 of the last 5 meetings including the lone matchup last year which went to Golden Point and finished 19-18 to their favour.

6 of 9 games have gone Under the Game Total while 4 of the last 5 and 5 of 9 games all finishing with Winning Margins of 13+ points.

Newcastle Knights Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
2-3	1-4	0-5

The Knights are in an even deeper hole this year than what they were in last year. Their defence is still elite, averaging just 17.8 to opponents over their 5 games played so far this year, but they just cannot score points.

Newcastle have managed just 2 tries in their last 3 games of footy for a combined total of 10 points. They are doing ok in getting up to the other end of the park, averaging 28.8 tackles per game in their opponents 20m zone but the conversion rate is the worst in the entire competition.

What it essentially comes down to is lack of creativity from the playmakers and too much of a reliance on Kalyn Ponga to deliver spectacular plays to get them over the line. Adam O’Brien will likely be under pressure in the next few weeks if they can’t turn this scoring slump around.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
1-4	0-5	1-0	1-3

Newcastle Knights Team News

James Schiller is back on the wing after missing last week with concussion. Kyle McCarthy is the man to drop out. Tyson Gamble is the halfback with Jack Cogger nursing a finger injury.

Phoenix Crossland reverts to his normal dummyhalf role with Jayden Brailey moving to the bench and Matt Arthur dropping to the reserves. Tyson Frizell has been named at prop in place of the injured Jacob Saifiti with Brodie Jones moving back to the interchange and Mat Croker starting at lock.

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. Thomas Cant

12. Kai Pearce-Paul

13. Mat Croker

Interchange

14. Jayden Brailey

15. Tyrone Thompson

16. Jermaine McEwen

17. Brodie Jones

Reserves

18. Kyle McCarthy

19. Paul Bryan

20. Jack Cogger

21. Matthew Arthur

22. Jackson Hastings

Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
3-2	2-3	0-5

The Sharks returned to the winners circle last weekend in Perth against the Sea Eagles, taking a 24-18 victory at Optus Stadium and breaking a two game losing streak.

Cronulla won the game despite having 31 missed tackles, 12 errors and conceding 2 dropouts in the encounter. They were though able to refine their attack, which had been lacking in their previous two losses in rounds 4 and 5.

On the season the Sharks rank 14th in Run Metres but are top 10 in Linebreaks and Tackles in Opposition 20m. Defensively they rank 6th (Run Metres), 4th (linebreaks) and 5th (Tackles in 20m) in the same statistical measures pointing to a defensive minded gameplan constructed by coach Fitzgibbon.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
2-4	1-5	1-2	2-1

Cronulla Sharks Team News

Still no sign of Kayal Iro who has missed a few weeks with a hamstring injury. Addin Fonua-Blake is named to start despite carrying a groin problem. Keep an eye on late mail.

Cronulla Sharks Team List

1. Will Kennedy

2. Samuel Stonestreet

3. Jesse Ramien

4. Mawene Hiroti

5. Ronaldo Mulitalo

6. Braydon Trindall

7. Nicho Hynes

8. Addin Fonua-Blake

9. Blayke Brailey

10. Oregon Kaufusi

11. Briton Nikora

12. Teig Wilton

13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange

14. Daniel Atkinson

15. Sifa Talakai

16. Toby Rudolf

17. Tom Hazelton

Reserves

18. Tuku Hau Tapuha

19. Jayden Berrell

20. Hohepa Puru

21. Billy Burns

22. Chris Vea'ila

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2025 Round 7 FAQ’s

How to watch Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2025 Round 7?

You can watch the Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2025 Round 7 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2025 Round 7?

To buy tickets to the Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2025 Round 7 game check the NRL website or the official Newcastle Knights site.

Verdict

Newcastle Knights v Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla -8.5

Line

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