Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights Tips, Odds, Teams & Predictions – NRL 2023 Round 17

BlueBet Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 17 NRL game between Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Penrith Panthers vs. Newcastle Knights game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 24, 2023 at 5:30 pm

Where: BlueBet Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights Odds

Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights Preview

Penrith is navigating the Origin period fairly well in light of Nathan Cleary’s hamstring injury – but they will have up to five NSW players backing up from Wednesday’s interstate showdown for this home clash with desperate Newcastle.

The Knights have managed just one win and one draw from their last 13 matches against the Panthers – though they couldn’t have gone much closer to a victory at home in Round 7.

Newcastle led for the majority of the match at inched in front via a Tyson Gamble field goal but Cleary levelled up to send it into golden point, where he slotted another one-pointer for a 16-15 escape.

That loss was the start of a 2-6 run for the Knights, who were gallant in a 24-20 road loss to Brisbane a fortnight ago but dropped the ball big time in an 18-16 home defeat to the Roosters last Saturday.

After flubbing a slew of early chances they clawed back in the second half but couldn’t get it done.

The 14th-placed Knights’ finals hopes are fading fast and pressure is again mounting on coach Adam O’Brien.

Tyson Frizell is expected to back up from Origin, while Greg Marzhew returns from a one-week standdown and Daniel Saifiti is back from injury, but Lachlan Fitzgibbon (head knock) is out.

The Panthers made it five straight with a 30-6 demolition of the Roosters in Round 15, but a Blues-less side was pipped in golden point by a similarly-depleted Cowboys outfit in Townsville last Friday.

The 27 points the Panthers conceded was comfortably a season-high, though reflective of patched-up nature of their line-up.

Jack Cogger has done a sound job deputising for Cleary but he will be hoping to have Luai back this week to take some playmaking pressure off.

Five of Penrith’s nine wins this season have come by 1-12 margins. Despite the uncertainty created by the defending champs’ heavy Origin load, but they nevertheless look likely to cover a 10.5-point line here as they search for their 32nd win in 35 matches at home.

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