NRL Sunday: Knights v Sea Eagles betting tips, prediction & odds, round 12, 2021

Welcome to our Newcastle v Manly-Warringah match preview, prediction and odds update for their NRL clash at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, on Sunday, May 30.

The Sea Eagles have won six of their past seven matches with their only loss coming against the unbeaten Penrith, and even then the 28-16 loss was one of the best workouts the Panthers have been given of late.

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The Knights won both meetings between these teams in 2020 but they were both cliffhangers. They won the first meeting in round eight at Lottoland 14-12, then they prevailed 26-24 in round 14 at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Newcastle have had a largely disappointing season and are languishing in 13th place on the table. They need a win in a match like this to start some sort of revival in the second half of the season.

Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles are Turbo-charged as the return of attacking dynamo Tom Trbojevic has helped them turned around a slow start to the season. A victory here would keep them hot on the heels of the fifth-placed Roosters and not too far off a spot in the top four.

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Knights v Sea Eagles team news for round 12

The Knights named superstar Kalyn Ponga earlier in the week but he has been ruled out because of the groin injury that has troubled him this season, with Tex Hoy in the frame to replace him at fullback. Ponga is also under an injury cloud for the first Origin match.

Veteran Knights playmaker Blake Green announced his retirement midweek, with Kurt Mann and Phoenix Crossland to take over the halves duties.

There is one positive with boom centre Bradman Best returning after a hamstring problem.

Manly regain Curtis Sironen, who has recovered from a knee problem, but also have lost second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu to a hand injury.

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Knights v Sea Eagles

Kick-off: 4.05pm local time
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Head to head odds: Newcastle $5, Manly $1.19
Line: Newcastle (+13.5 points) $1.90, Manly (-13.5 points) $1.90
Match total: 51.5 points: over $1.85, under $1.95

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Knights v Sea Eagles free betting tips

Our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free tips for Sunday’s game.

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Newcastle Knights v Manly Sea Eagles prediction 30-5-2021

We expect this match to be a little closer than the betting sites believe, with the Knights circling the wagons after a poor first half of the season. Confidence is a powerful force in this game and at the moment the Sea Eagles players have plenty but we are not yet sold on them being a serious contender this season. We expect the Knights to put up plenty of resistance under a good coach in Adam O’Brien. Still, the Knights are missing some of their greatest attacking weapons so might not have the firepower to cause an upset here. Our Knights v Sea Eagles prediction: Sea Eagles to win by 4 points.

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