Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 12 clash between the Penrith Panthers and the Newcastle Knights.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Penrith Panthers Vs Newcastle Knights
Venue: Carrington Park, Bathurst
Date: Saturday 24 May, 5:30pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Panthers: 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. Preston Riki 12. Liam Henry 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Luke Sommerton 15. Austin Dias 16. Luron Patea 17. Jack Cole 18. Trent Toelau 19. Zac Lipowicz 20. Jesse McLean 21. Harrison Hassett 22. Billy Phillips
Knights: 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 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Paul Bryan 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Connor Votano 22. Jackson Hastings
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Bunker: Ashley Klein
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Round 12 travels to Bathurst on Saturday night as the Panthers host the Knights at Carrington Park. The Panthers will be fresh off the bye last week, while the Knights suffered a heavy 28-6 loss to the Eels at home.
For the Panthers, major changes with their Origin contingent of Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, and Isaah Yeo all out. In the backline, Daine Laurie starts at fullback, Casey McLean returns at centre, Thomas Jenkins starts on the wing, and Brad Schneider replaces Cleary at halfback. In the forward pack, Preston Riki and Liam Henry start in the second row, with Lindsay Smith moving to lock, and Matt Eisenhuth starting at prop. Luke Sommerton, Austin Dias, and Jack Cole are the new faces on the bench. Luke Garner and Isaiah Papali’i are out with injury.
With so many of the Origin stars out, the Panthers find themselves in a situation they haven’t faced in the past five years. They currently sit 13th on the ladder heading into Origin, needing to win every game they can to claw their way back towards the top eight. All eyes will be on their young and inexperienced core of players coming through to keep the momentum rolling against the Knights. They’ve named both Sommerton and Cole on the bench, so it will be interesting to see how Ivan Cleary utilises his bench rotation come game day. The good news for the Panthers – they’ve won their past 10 games against the Knights.
For the Knights, Kalyn Ponga is out on Origin commitments, which moves Fletcher Sharpe to fullback. Yet another unique pairing with Tyson Gamble and Jack Cogger starting together in the halves. Jacob Saifiti is out with a calf injury, replaced at prop by Leo Thompson, who returns after missing last week with concussion. Kyle McCarthy starts at centre, pushing Dylan Lucas back to the second row, and Thomas Cant to the bench.
After a dismal showing last week at home, the Knights need to find something this week against a heavily depleted Panthers side. With their key attacking player in Ponga missing, the burden of the attack falls on the halves combination of Gamble and Cogger, who have struggled to create opportunities this year. Their aim will be to get Sharpe involved and utilise the more experienced right side of Kai Pearce-Paul, Dane Gagai, and James Schiller. Whether they’ll be able to set the forward platform to allow that remains their biggest challenge on the road. They’ve only won three of their past 10 games away from Newcastle.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 20 points.
Check out our round 12 predictions here.
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