NRL Profile: Newcastle Knights

Newcastle Knights have played finals in four of the last five seasons and making the top eight will again be the aim for the 2025 NRL campaign.

The Knights squeezed into the top eight in 2024, but fell at the first hurdle in finals, losing to the North Queensland Cowboys.

Adam O’Brien’s side will be looking to move to the next level and would love to get into the top four and earn a double chance in finals.

They have the players to get them there, but like most teams in the NRL their season will hinge on keeping their star players fit and on the pitch.

While the top teams have the strength in depth to cover the absence of star players, Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best are irreplaceable for the Knights.

Let’s take a look how the Knights are shaping up heading into the 2025 NRL campaign.

O'Brien under pressure to deliver

O’Brien has been in charge of the Knights since the start of the 2020 NRL season and has guided them to finals in four out of five seasons.

After missing out in 2022, the Knights bounced back in 2023 to finish fifth before losing a semi-final against New Zealand Warriors.

O’Brien found himself under pressure in 2024 as it looked as though the Knights may miss out on the top eight.

There was constant speculation suggesting he would be axed, but the Knights battled on and made the eight by the skin of their teeth.

Making finals is not something to be sniffed at, however the Knights want to go further and you get the feeling that O’Brien needs to deliver soon.

If they get off to a poor start to the new season, then the pressure will be on once again.

Newcastle have the players to push for top four, hence why expectations are high heading into 2024.

Bradman one of the Best

The Knights have a number of X-factor players, one of them being powerful centre Bradman Best, who is key to their chances of climbing the ladder.

Best shone for the Knights in 2024 and also starred for New South Wales in State of Origin, making him one of the most feared centres in the game.

Kalyn Ponga is also a game-changer and, after experimenting with him in the halves, the Knights looks set to keep him at fullback.

Ponga has had his injury issues and the Knights will be keeping their fingers crossed in the season ahead.

Newcastle also have a strong looking forward pack and there are high hopes for Kai Pearce-Paul, who impressed in 2024 after arriving from the English Super League.

Tyson Frizell and Adam Elliott will add extra muscle and the Knights should be strong in that area of the field.

One area of concern for the Knights is the halves and whether there is enough creativity in there to open up the opposition.

Phoenix Crossland and Jack Cogger look set to start the season in the halfbacks, but will need to up their performance levels to stay in place.

Newcastle Knights odds

The Knights can be backed at 3.75 to make the top eight and 1.28 to miss out on finals altogether.

When it comes to forcing their way into the top four the Knights are a big price at 11.00, while they are way out at 51.00 to win the grand final.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.