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Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season

by Andrew Tetley · July 24 2025, 12:45
Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season

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The ladder-leading Canberra Raiders will be aiming to continue their stunning season when they host a Newcastle Knights side that has struggled to find consistency in 2025.

Start date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms

Canberra Raiders team news

With Seb Kris to miss this game, Simi Sasagi has been promoted to the starting side in the centres, while Noah Martin comes onto the interchange. The key to the Raiders success has been a settled lineup and minimal changes again this week for Ricky Stuart see’s a familiar line-up.

Squad: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Simi Sasagi 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Manaia Waitere 19. Trey Mooney 20. Joseph Roddy 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders

Newcastle Knights team news

Jack Hetherington is back in the 17 on the bench, following four games in NSW Cup, while Thomas Cant goes back to 18th man. Brodie Jones has been named in the reserves and may be a late inclusion, having been absent from the Warriors game because of illness.

Squad: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Dominic Young 3. Fletcher Hunt 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Tyson Frizell 17. Jack Hetherington 18. Thomas Cant 19. James Schiller 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Brodie Jones 22. Kyle McCarthy

Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights prediction

The Canberra Raiders (1st) are the hottest team in the NRL. Their 40-16 victory over the Parramatta Eels in Round 20 was their eighth consecutive win, a run that has catapulted them to the top of the ladder.

The Knights (14th) are coming off a devastating 20-15 loss to the New Zealand Warriors, conceding a try on the final play of the game. It was a result that typified their season and has left them with an insurmountable task to make the top eight.

Raiders outside back Xavier Savage has been unstoppable at home, crossing for 10 tries in his last 11 games at GIO Stadium.

The Knights have a surprisingly strong recent away record, having won three of their past four games on the road.

The overall head-to-head record is incredibly tight, with the Knights holding a slender 24-23 advantage. The Knights have also won four of their past five games. The Raiders did win their earlier encounter this season, a hard-fought 22-18 victory in Newcastle in Round 17.

The GIO Stadium has become a fortress for the Raiders, and it's difficult to see a struggling Knights outfit troubling the red-hot ladder leaders.

Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights tip: Canberra Raiders to win & Xavier Savage to score a try

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