NRL round 21: Knights v Roosters betting tips
Newcastle Knights host the Roosters in the early Friday night NRL game and this is a clear match of the round that will answer many questions about both teams with the finals looming.
The Roosters are being talked up as potential champions and even as a chance to snatch the minor premiership from the Panthers. The Knights, meanwhile, are much improved this season and could even challenge for a top-four position and the double chance in the finals. If they win this game.
The Knights have become the NRL’s heart-attack kids, with their past seven matches decided by six points or less. They are on the right side of the ledger too, with four wins in that time and three losses. The wins were by a total of 15 points, while their losses were all by two points, against the Storm, Rabbitohs and Sharks, the latter two coming in their past two matches.
We suspect this is another match that will go down to the wire, despite the Knights’ horrific record against the Roosters. There is just too much at stake for Newcastle to roll over meekly.
The Knights have a miserable record against the Roosters, even in Newcastle. Newcastle have won just one of their past 10 matches against the tri-colours, 20-6 in the opening round of the 2022 season, while if you want to go back further they have won just two of their past 17 meetings.
And the bookies have not missed this form line, with Australian betting sites making the Roosters firm favourites around the $1.75 mark to notch up a road win and shore up their place in the top four.
Knights v Roosters team news
Knights: Veteran Maroons star Dane Gagai has been ruled out with calf tightness, with Fletcher Hunt replacing him at centre, and that is the only change from the team that lost to the Sharks last weekend. Cody Hopwood is added to the bench.
Roosters: The visitors regain inspirational captain James Tedesco, who suffered concussion during the Origin decider, while Queensland centre Rob Toia is also back following a post-Origin week off. They replace Cody Ramsey and Hugo Savala, who are named on the pine.
Roosters move to second favourites for NRL title
The biggest movers in NRL title betting after round 20 have been the defending premiers Brisbane, who went from completely hopeless at $251 to the slightest of hopes at $101 after their stirring win over top side Penrith.
And while we can’t claim to have tipped them outright, we did warn the Broncos were getting back to full strength last week, and it’s clear now that they will have a big say in shaping the top eight, even if they are too far back to reach the finals.
Elsewhere, the Roosters moved back to second favourites ($8.50 to $7), with a dominant display against the Melbourne Storm, and they are only two points behind the Panthers in the race for the minor premiership. They are also only four points ahead of fifth-placed Dolphins and sixth-placed Knights; it’s getting tight at the top.
Elsewhere, the Bulldogs moved from $101 to $67, while the Storm where $26 out to $41 and their finals hopes look grim, with a few major upsets needed to get in the mix. The Sharks continued their good form to move to fourth place and also moved in further, from $12 to $11, in title betting.
Read on for our Knights v Roosters tips and winner prediction for their round-21 NRL clash.
Knights v Roosters match information
- Kick-off: 6pm AEDT, Friday, July 24
- Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Head to head odds: Knights $2.10, Roosters $1.75
- Line betting: Knights (+2.5 points) $1.90, Roosters (-2.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 45.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$2.65 Penrith Panthers
$7 Sydney Roosters
$8 New Zealand Warriors
$11 Redcliffe Dolphins, Cronulla Sharks
$19 South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights
$21 Manly Sea Eagles
$23 North Queensland Cowboys
$41 Melbourne Storm
$67 Canterbury Bulldogs
$101 Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos
$501 Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels
$1001 Gold Coast Titans
$5001 St George Illawarra Dragons
Knights v Roosters betting tips
The key for Newcastle will be keeping a handle on Roosters halves Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans, who have quickly developed real attacking chemistry to go with their outstanding kicking games.
The Knights have had a tendency to concede points in quick bursts and they cannot afford to do that against the star-studded visitors. Given this match should have a finals-like intensity we expect the Knights to be swtiched on from the word go.
The odds are against them but a likely massive home crowd will hopefully lift their heroes to one of the best displays of their NRL season.
Knights by 2 points.
- Newcastle Knights +2.5 points/ match total under 45.5 at $3.50 with Australian betting sites.
- Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights) anytime try-scorer at $2.20. The giant winger has scored 17 tries this season in 17 games. Mere mortals would not want to get between him and the try-line.
NRL round 21, 2026
- Thursday, July 23: Eels v Panthers, CommBank Stadium, Sydney | 7.50pm
- Friday, July 24: Knights v Roosters, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 6pm
Rabbitohs v Storm, Accor Stadium, Sydney | 8pm - Saturday, July 25: Raiders v Wests Tigers, GIO Stadium, Canberra | 3pm
Bulldogs v Warriors, Accor Stadium, Sydney | 5.30pm
Cowboys v Broncos, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville | 7.35pm - Sunday, July 26: Dragons v Titans, St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah | 2pm
Sea Eagles v Sharks, 4 Pines Park, Sydney | 4.05pm
* Dolphins have the bye
