NRL: Knights have to go for it against Titans

Newcastle Knights must beat the Gold Coast Titans to keep alive their hopes of forcing their way into the NRL top eight and playing finals.

The Knights sit in 11th spot on the ladder and need to beat the Titans and Dolphins in their last two games of the regular season to have a chance.

Whether that will be enough remains to be seen, but at least they have to do what they can, and hope other results go their way.

The Titans are out of contention for the eight, but will want to finish the season strongly.

They let themselves down with a heavy loss against the Sydney Roosters last weekend and coach Des Hasler will be expecting a response from his players.

Two wins to end the season will give them some momentum before they turn their attention to further improvement in 2025.

So there is plenty on the line for both sides as they head into the McDonald Jones Stadium clash.

. What: Newcastle Knights v Gold Coast Titans
. Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
. When: 16:05 (AEST), Sunday 1st September
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: Newcastle Knights 1.31, Gold Coast Titans 3.50

Knights bounce back against bunnies

The Knights put the one-point loss against Cronulla Sharks behind them as they smashed South Sydney Rabbitohs on their last outing.

Adam O’Brien’s side ran out 36-16 winners over the bunnies and need to back it up with another win over the Titans.

They will be back on home soil, a venue that has not been a happy hunting ground for the Titans, so they should get the job done.

Newcastle can be backed at 2.00 to win by 13+ points or, if it is to be a much tighter game, 3.40 to win by 1-12 points.

Kalyn Ponga was at the top of his game against the Rabbitohs and he also has a good record against the Titans.

The Knights skipper has scored six tries in eight games against them and can be backed at 2.25 to score another at anytime.

Fletcher Sharpe is also going well with five tries in three games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The winger can be backed at 6.50 to score the first try of the game, or 1.60 to score at anytime.

Titans look to bounce back

The Titans players were on the end of a Hasler spray following the 48-22 defeat against the Roosters and they should come out firing.

Titans star winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira was one of the few players to come out of that defeat with any credit, scoring a hat-trick of tries.

That took his tally for the season to 23 and he will be looking to add more to that during the final two games.

Khan-Pereira is 8.00 to score the first try of the game or 1.80 to score at anytime and will be a big threat to the Knights.

The Titans have a poor record at McDonald Jones Stadium and have not won at the venue since 2016.

They will be keen to break that drought and can be backed at 5.00 to win by 1-12 points.