McDonald Jones Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 20 NRL game between Newcastle Knights and Brisbane Broncos. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Brisbane Broncos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Newcastle Knights vs. Brisbane Broncos game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday July 20, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Where: McDonald Jones Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos Odds
Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos Preview
Brisbane is desperate to snap a six-match losing streak and join 10th-placed Newcastle on 20 competition points, with a significant Origin load for both sides clouding this pivotal showdown at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Broncos slumped to 13th on the ladder with a 30-26 home loss to St George Illawarra last Saturday, leaking four unanswered tries in a horror 20-minute period before staging a late rally.
Its a long road to the finals for the Broncos if they lose their seventh match in a row a fate that has befallen the club just three times in its history.
Their chances this weekend hinge on who gets elevated to the 17 from the reserves contingent named on Tuesday: Origin quartet Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan, and long-term injured linchpin Adam Reynolds.
The Knights revived their campaign with back-to-back wins over Parramatta and Canberra, but they were consistently horrendous in defence in a 44-6 road loss to Manly last Sunday.
Backline trumps Kalyn Ponga, who played his first match in 11 weeks in the win over the Raiders, Bradman Best and Dane Gagai have all been named to back up from the Origin decider.
But its a pack that was steamrolled by the Sea Eagles that needs to step up and provide a platform for the fledgling combination of Will Pryce and Jackson Hastings.
The Broncos have won their last four against the Knights, who boast just two wins from their last nine at home in this rivalry, last years sole clash was a 24-20 thriller at Suncorp Stadium.
The Knights arguably shape as the better head-to-head value at $2.10, with the out-of-sorts Broncos under immense pressure and shouldering a heavier representative burden.
But in a coin-flip encounter, consider backing these clubs to produce a match total of 48 or less for the eighth time in nine meetings.
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Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos Tip
We're tipping Brisbane Broncos to win at $1.58 odds.
Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos Teams
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Krystian Mapapalangi 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Tyson Gamble 19. Mathew Croker 20. Thomas Cant 21. Fletcher Sharpe 22. Thomas Jenkins
Broncos team: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Joshua Rogers 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Blake Mozer 15. Tyson Smoothy 16. Josiah Karapani 17. Martin Taupau 18. Vaa Semu 19. Cory Paix 20. Reece Walsh 21. Selwyn Cobbo 22. Patrick Carrigan 23. Payne Haas 24. Adam Reynolds