Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins Prediction, Tips & Odds

Newcastle Knights host Dolphins in Round 18 of the 2026 NRL season at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. Read on for our full match preview, betting tips, and best odds.

Riding an eight-match winning streak, the Dolphins confront arguably the biggest challenge in their run to date following the loss of their linchpin on top of a hefty Origin load.  

FORM: The Knights have won six of their last seven games, including a gritty 12-6 defeat of the Tigers at home last Sunday.  

After winning seven in a row by 14-plus margins, the Dolphins dug deep to beat the Warriors at the death – despite Isaiya Katoa going down with injury inside 15 minutes.  

INS AND OUTS: Fletcher Sharpe shifts to fullback for Queensland star Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Hunt replaces NSW centre Bradman Best, while Sandon Smith comes into the halves for the Knights.  

With Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Tom Flegler in the Maroons’ squad, Trai Fuller, Tevita Naufahu and Felise Kaufusi come into the Dolphins’ starting line-up, and Jake Averillo returns at centre with Jack Bostock selected for the Blues. Max Plath is also in the Queensland team.  

Brad Schneider lines up at halfback with Isaiya Katoa sidelined and Tom Gilbert returns from injury.   

KEY MATCH-UP: Fill-in No.1s Sharpe and Fuller rank among the NRL’s most exciting game-breakers.  

HISTORY: The Knights are 5-1 against the Dolphins, winning all five clashes after dropping the first. Last year the battling outfit won 26-12 in Newcastle and 26-20 in Perth – accounting for a third of their 2026 victories.  

KEY STAT: The Dolphins are searching for three straight interstate wins for the first time in their history.  

VERDICT: Both sides boast handy depth to cover their Origin absentees, but it’s a very heavy toll for the Dolphins on top of the Katoa injury. Both teams are in a rich vein of form, too, though the Knights needed a bit of luck to get over the Dragons and Tigers.  

The Dolphins are shaping as grand final material and still look capable of getting the job done despite their changes, have coped very well through the Origin period so far.  

Tip: Back the Dolphins to Win @ $1.87 

SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / OVER 51.5 TOTAL POINTS / DOMINIC YOUNG ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HERBIE FARNWORTH ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KODI NIKORIMA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $33.07