NRL R5: Knights v Dragons betting preview, top picks & best odds

Newcastle Knights v SGI Dragons best bets

Round 5: Knights v Dragons match preview

Friday night football wraps up in Newcastle with the Knights hosting the St George Illawarra Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium in round five of the NRL season.

The Dragons won their second match of the season last weekend against the Sea Eagles, while the Knights suffered their third loss in four matches against the Warriors in New Zealand.

St George coach Shane Flanagan has named an unchanged line-up following their round three win.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien will welcome back Dane Gagai to start in the centres. Jackson Hastings returns at halfback, shifting Jack Cogger to five-eighth and Tyson Gamble back to the reserves, while Jayden Brailey starts at hooker in place of Phoenix Crossland.

Newcastle Knights v St George Dragons predictions

The Newcastle Knights have won seven of their last eight home matches and three of their last five matches against the Dragons by 13 points or more. The addition of Hastings to the halves with Cogger should bring better attacking opportunities and more points to the home side. Expect the Knights to beat the Dragons by 13 or more points at +160 odds.

Captain Kalyn Ponga was a standout for the Knights in New Zealand with 169 run metres, two line breaks, and seven tackle breaks. The reigning Dally M Medal winner has scored at least one try in each of his last three performances against the Dragons. Should the Knights secure a dominant win, it will surely come with Ponga scoring a try at some stage as a +145 chance with top NRL betting sites.

Mikaele Ravalawa has been the tip of the Dragons’ attacking spear for many years on the wing. Last week against the Sea Eagles he ran for 117 metres with two line breaks and four tackle breaks. He has scored at least one try in seven of his last 11 away matches, and if the Dragons are to find the in-goal area on Friday night, Ravalawa will be an anytime tryscorer at +135 with Bovada.

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