NRL
  • Home
  • NRL

Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights NRL Tips - KNIGHTmare season to continue for Newcastle

andrew-hendrie
Editor
Last updated: 22 May 2025
Andrew Hendrie 22 May 2025
Share this article
Or copy link
  • Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights expert predictions for Saturday's NRL Round 12 game
  • Kick off is at 5.30pm AEST at Carrington Park in Bathurst
  • Back another low-scoring game involving the Knights' poor attack
  • Understrength Panthers can cover against lowly Newcastle
  • Preview, expert analysis, stats, team news & best bets
Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights NRL Tips


Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights, NRL Round 12 - Expert Prediction


A heavily depleted Panthers outfit can pile more misery on the embattled Knights as Bathurst's Carrington Park plays host to the first of two games on Saturday.

  • Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights, NRL Round 12 - Expert Prediction
  • Head To Head
  • Penrith Panthers Form Analysis & Betting Trends
  • Recent Form
  • 2025 Betting Trends
  • Penrith Panthers Team News
  • Penrith Panthers Team List
  • Newcastle Knights Form Analysis & Betting Trends
  • Recent Form
  • 2025 Betting Trends
  • Newcastle Knights Team News
  • Newcastle Knights Team List
Honestly, this could be an absolute bludger of a game. Penrith, unsurprisingly, have been hit hard by Origin, while the Knights have been in atrocious form all season and now must compete without their most dangerous player in Kalyn Ponga, who was selected for Queensland.

I just can't back the Knights - their attack is basically non-existent and they refuse to throw Jackson Hastings into the halves, instead opting for a new pairing of Tyson Gamble and Jack Cogger, with Fletcher Sharpe reverting to fullback. Newcastle have seen Under 44.5 total points in all but one of their games this season, so another low-scoring affair looks on the cards here.

Penrith have always done a solid job of navigating the Origin period, and although they've obviously been struggling throughout 2025, they couldn't have asked for a better opponent for this round. Will back the Panthers to cover a -4.5 line, while Thomas Jenkins is a country boy and will be determined to celebrate a rare game out West with a four-pointer.

  • Knights have lost seven of their last eight games
  • Knights have lost six of those games by 5+ points
  • Panthers are unbeaten in three of their last four games
  • Under 44.5 points has landed in nine of Knights' 10 games this season
  • Under 44.5 points has landed in the last four meetings between the teams
  • Thomas Jenkins has scored three tries in his last two games, while the Panthers' left winger has scored a try in seven of their last eight home outings

Head To Head


The Panthers have won the last seven meetings between the teams, including 26-18 and 22-14 victories last season. Newcastle's last win over Penrith came back in 2018.

Penrith Panthers Form Analysis & Betting Trends


Recent Form


Last 5 W/LLast 5 ATSLast 5 O/U
2-32-32-3

It's obviously been a tough season to date for the Panthers, who are understandably showing the effects of winning four premierships on the trot.

After toppling the Sharks in Vegas to start the season, the Panthers went on a five-game losing streak and were anchored to the bottom of the ladder for a period.

However, Penrith have started to show signs of life over the last month - they've crushed the Roosters 40-12 and the Broncos 32-8, but Ivan Cleary would have been disappointed on how they failed to finish the job against the Cowboys a fortnight ago, letting slip of a comfortable 30-18 lead in the last 10 minutes to ultimately end with a draw.

Fresh from a bye last week, the Panthers know this is a valuable two points during the Origin period against the most out-of-form team in the competition.

2025 Betting Trends


ATSOver/Under1-1213+
4-65-51-42-2

Penrith Panthers Team News


The Panthers will be forced to field a weakened line-up here, with Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Isaiah Papali’i and Luke Garner all unavailable due to Origin or injury.

Daine Laurie, Casey McLean, Matt Eisenhuth, Luke Sommerton, Preston Riki and Jack Cole all come into the squad.

Penrith Panthers Team List


1. Daine Laurie
2. Paul Alamoti
3. Izack Tago
4. Casey McLean
5. Thomas Jenkins
6. Blaize Talagi
7. Brad Schneider
8. Moses Leota
9. Mitch Kenny
10. Matt Eisenhuth
11. TBA
12. Liam Henry
13. Lindsay Smith

Interchange
14. Luke Sommerton
15. Preston Riki
16. Luron Patea
17. Jack Cole

Reserves
18. Trent Toelau
19. Austin Dias
20. Jesse McLean
21. Harrison Hassett
22. Billy Phillips

Newcastle Knights Form Analysis & Betting Trends


Recent Form


Last 5 W/LLast 5 ATSLast 5 O/U
1-41-41-4

It's been a horror season for the Knights and it's tough to see how they turn things around, with the club likely to be battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

Newcastle have lost seven of their last eight games and their struggles in attack are well-documented, despite possessing some lethal spine members in Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe.

The Knights have been restricted to 10 points or less in half of their 10 games this season, while they've also lost their last four home matches.

Last week was another tough watch, with the Knights only managing one late try in a 28-6 shellacking at the hands of fellow battlers Parramatta.

2025 Betting Trends


ATSOver/Under1-1213+
2-81-91-12-6

Newcastle Knights Team News


It's a new halves combination of Tyson Gamble and Jack Cogger for the Knights here, with Fletcher Sharpe reverting to fullback to cover Maroons representative Kalyn Ponga.

Kyle McCarthy comes into the centres for his second NRL game, while Leo Thompson returns and Jack Hetherington drops out.

Newcastle Knights Team List


1. Fletcher Sharpe
2. James Schiller
3. Dane Gagai
4. Kyle McCarthy
5. Fletcher Hunt
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Jack Cogger
8. Tyson Frizell
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Leo Thompson
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Adam Elliott

Interchange
14. Jayden Brailey
15. Mathew Croker
16. Brodie Jones
17. Thomas Cant

Reserves
18. Jack Hetherington
19. Paul Bryan
20. Matthew Arthur
21. Connor Votano
22. Jackson Hastings

Verdict

The Knights are in shambles - back the Panthers to cover a small -4.5 line and Under 44.5 total points, with Tom Jenkins crossing for a meat pie.

Best Bet1: Under 44.5 Total Points $1.80 at dabble - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Panthers -4.5 Line $1.90 at dabble - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Thomas Jenkins Anytime Tryscorer $2.05 at Ladbrokes Australia - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Thomas Jenkins First Tryscorer $10.00 at betr - 1 Unit
Under 44.5
Total Points
$1.80 - 3 Units
Download the dabble app
with referral code BETSAU

Download the dabble app, enter referral code BETSAU to enjoy Dabble, the betting app with a difference! Bet as normal with & also be part of Australia's betting community where you can follow punters and sports stars, copy their bets, have banter with your mates & watch Sky Racing channels. 18+. T&Cs apply. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

Bet at dabble
Panthers -4.5
Line
$1.90 - 2 Units
Download the dabble app
with referral code BETSAU

Download the dabble app, enter referral code BETSAU to enjoy Dabble, the betting app with a difference! Bet as normal with & also be part of Australia's betting community where you can follow punters and sports stars, copy their bets, have banter with your mates & watch Sky Racing channels. 18+. T&Cs apply. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

Bet at dabble
Thomas Jenkins
Anytime Tryscorer
$2.05 - 1 Unit
Australia's #1 bookmaker
Use the code "BLACKBOOK"

The Ladbrokes.com.au code is BLACKBOOK. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Chances are you're about to lose. Set a deposit limit.

Bet at Ladbrokes Australia
Thomas Jenkins
First Tryscorer
$10.00 - 1 Unit
Fastest Betting App
For Racing Fans

Join Australia's newest online bookmaker with code BETSAU and enjoy exciting new ways to bet. The app is among the fastest in the market. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

Bet at betr

Top Betting Sites

special-offer-1Betting offers

Upcoming Events

Load More
Betting Slip | 24 May 2025

Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights