NRL Sunday: Knights v Wests Tigers betting tips, prediction & odds, round 3, 2021

Read on for our Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers match preview, prediction and odds update for their NRL clash at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, on Sunday, March 28.

At face value this looms as an easy win for the Newcastle Knights, who have some extra motivation with veteran halfback Mitchell Pearce playing his 300th NRL match.

Adam O’Brien’s Newcastle are undefeated heading into round 3, though their first two matches against Canterbury and New Zealand Warriors were both matches they were heavily favoured to win. The Warriors pushed them all the way last week in a 20-16 win for the Knights.

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The exciting thing for the Novocastrians is that they have made a bold start to the season with their trump card Kalyn Ponga sitting on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. Ponga could be back as soon as round four.

Meanwhile, alarms bells are ringing for the winless Wests Tigers, who have conceded 70 points in their opening two matches, though against strong opposition in the Raiders and Roosters.

Also alarming is that in the two meetings between these teams last year, the Knights won 42-24 and 44-4, having little difficulty scything through the Wests Tigers defence.

The second match on Sunday is a Queensland derby between the North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans from Townsville, a match for which the Titans are hot favourites.

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Knights v Wests Tigers team news for round 3

Wests Tigers firebrand Joey Leilua has worn much of the blame for the lame defensive effort last week and has been dropped, with injury prone centre James Roberts (shoulder) returning to the starting side.

Prop Zane Musgrove is back after a ban and he starts, with Broncos recruit Joe Ofahengaue back to the pine.

Meanwhile, Newcastle regain experienced five-eighth Kurt Mann to play alongside Pearce. He was a late withdrawal with a minor knee problem last round. His stand-in Phoenix Crossland was handed a suspension for a crusher tackle against the Warriors, so it’s a neat swap.

Read on for our Knights v Wests Tigers tips and winner prediction for their NRL clash on Sunday, March 28.

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Knights v Wests Tigers

Kick-off: 4.05pm local time
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Head to head odds: Newcastle $1.33, Wests Tigers $3.35
Line betting: Newcastle (-9.5 points) $1.90, Westst Tigers (+9.5 points) $1.91
Match total: 44.5 points: over $1.98, under $1.82

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Knights v Wests Tigers free betting tips

Below our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free Knights v Wests Tigers betting tips for Sunday’s game.

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Knights v Wests Tigers prediction 28-3-2021

Pearce has not been everyone’s cup of tea over his rugby league journey. He is seen as something of a State of Origin flop for NSW but he did play for the Blues in an era where Queensland were so dominant and stacked with future Hall of Fame-type players. But Pearce has been a super NRL player for well over a decade and is still a star at this level. We expect him to lead the Knights to a convincing win in this one. Our Knights v Wests Tigers prediction: Knights by 14 points.

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