Matchday Details
Sunday, 26 April 2026 – 2:00pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Gerard Sutton | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Newcastle Knights: 1. Fletcher Sharpe, 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagi, 4. Fletcher Hunt, 5. James Schiller, 6. Sandon Smith, 7. Dylan Brown, 8. Jacob Saifiti (c), 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Trey Mooney, 11. Francis Manuleleua, 12. Jermaine McEwen, 13. Mat Croker, 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Pasami Saulo, 16. Cody Hopwood, 17. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, 18. Asu Kepaoa, 19. Kyle McCarthy, 20. Peter Hola, 21. Lachlan Crouch, 22. Wilson De Courcey
Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Paul Alamoti, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary (c), 8. Moses Leota, 9. Freddy Lussick, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Luke Garner, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Kalani Going, 17. Billy Phillips, 18. Izack Tago, 19. Jack Cole, 20. Luron Patea, 21. Billy Scott, 22. Sione Fonua
Match Preview
The Panthers will be looking to return to their best form as they travel to Newcastle to take on a Knights side that comes into this match on the back of two heavy defeats.
Casey McLean returns from suspension in a big boost for the Panthers, which pushes Izack Tago back to the extended bench. However, Mitch Kenny will be out for at least two months after suffering a fractured leg last week, with Freddy Lussick taking his place at hooker. Jack Cole is the new face on the bench.
There is just the one change for the Knights, with James Schiller replacing Greg Marzhew on the wing, who is out with a concussion.
After looking untouchable through the first five rounds, the Panthers have looked much more average across the past fortnight. In brutal conditions in Darwin last week, Penrith managed a one-point Golden Point victory, despite giving up an 18-0 halftime lead and letting in four tries in 15 minutes. It was Nathan Cleary’s heroics that got them over the line, but there is plenty of room for improvement, despite still sitting on top of the ladder.
After a hot start to the year, the Knights have dropped their last two games, most recently a 38-24 loss to the Roosters where they conceded five tries in 25 minutes. They have now conceded 80 points across the past two weeks and will be hoping for a much-improved effort on the defensive front this weekend.
The Knights’ edge defence, in particular, needs to be switched on as it comes up against try-scoring machine Thomas Jenkins. The Panthers winger has scored a remarkable 16 tries through the first seven games, while the return of McLean will only strengthen that left edge.
The Panthers’ defence has also been leaky over the past two weeks, however, and the Knights will look to target Blaize Talagi, who has struggled in that regard after a strong start to the season.
The absence of Mitch Kenny is a major loss that the Panthers will need to navigate. Freddy Lussick was strong in Kenny’s absence against the Storm a couple of weeks ago, but it’s essential that he provides elite service out of dummy half to allow the likes of Cleary and Talagi the opportunity to create attacking opportunities.
The Panthers hold a dominant recent record against the Knights, having won eight of the past nine games between the two sides, while the Knights have also only won one of their last eight games at McDonald Jones Stadium. Dominic Young will play his 100th NRL game.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 8
Bold call: Thomas Jenkins continues his try-scoring form with another hat-trick.
Related
- NRL Round 8 Predictions
- NRL Round 8 Team Lists
- NRL Round 8 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
