Dragons vs Knights Prediction: Knights to cut Dragons down to size

Newcastle Knights stunned NRL champions Penrith Panthers last week and are looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening two rounds of the campaign, but they face a tough test on Friday (11:00, Watch NRL) from a St George Illawarra Dragons outfit who slayed the Brisbane Broncos prior to last week's bye.

Below are my Dragons vs Knights predictions, as well as the essential team news and match odds for this clash at the Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.

Team News

Dragons backrower Dylan Egan is out for the season with an ACL tear, which will see Luciano Leilua move into the starting side while Toby Couchman rejoins the bench. Christian Tuipulotu returns from a hamstring injury at the expense of Corey Allan.

Rugby League Odds

As for the Knights, Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga has been named but may be rested given the short turnaround from Wednesday's State of Origin opener.

Fletcher Sharpe has moved back to five-eighth for the time being and Tyson Gamble goes to halfback for Jack Cogger, who drops out.

Leo Thompson returns from illness, which sees Brodie Jones move back to the bench. Adam Elliott is out, Mat Croker starts at lock and Jack Hetherington comes back on to the bench.

Dragons vs Knights Odds

Both sides come into this fixture on the back of impressive wins, and a competitive contest looks likely. The Dragons are warm 8/15 favourites to get the win, but the Knights won 30-10 when these two last met, and they are 8/5, or a 38.5% chance, to land back-to-back victories.

The handicap is set at six points and the home side are 21/20 to cover.

Knights +6 handicap @ 20/21

Tenth hosts 14th when St George Illawarra Dragons take on Newcastle Knights at the Jubilee Stadium in Sydney on Friday, but a competitive contest looks likely between two sides looking to move up the ladder.

The Dragons should be fresh for this contest following their bye week, but prior to that, they beat Brisbane Broncos in round 11, and they are warm favourites to back that up on home soil.

However, they face a Newcastle side who took down reigning NRL champs Penrith Panthers last week, so confidence should be bubbling in both camps.

The Knights are looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds one and two of this campaign, and they will be buoyed by the fact they slayed the Dragons 30-10 when the two teams most recently met in round five last season.

The Dragons have won six of the last 10 dust-ups between these two at this venue, but this clash could swing either way, and the visitors look the value with that start.

Under 44.5 total match points @ 10/11

The Knights have won four of their past six games against the Dragons, and they could have the edge in an encounter that features 44 points or fewer.

The last four meetings between the pair have gone under the 44.5 points mark, and scoring has proved difficult for both sides this term.

St George are averaging just 22 points per match, while the Knights are scoring at a rate of just 13 per game, so it is hard to see the floodgates opening in this contest in which both sides will fancy their chances of winning.

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights