NRL Round 7 preview: Knights vs Sharks betting tips

Best bets for Knights v Sharks

NRL Round 7: Knights v Sharks betting preview

The Cronulla Sharks head to McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday full of confidence after snapping a mini skid, while the Knights are stuck in a scoring drought and reshuffling the deck in hopes of a spark for the 2025 NRL season.

Newcastle have managed just 10 points in their last three matches and now face a top-six defence that just shut down Manly in Perth.

Cronulla have won four of the past five against the Knights and will be out to prove their attacking groove is back with Nicho Hynes at the helm, with the top online bookmakers pricing them as a $1.33 hope.

The Sharks have a strong recent record over Newcastle and despite the Knights boasting the second-best defence in the league, their attack has been non-existent in 2025.

Cronulla are well equipped to pile on pressure with their superior forward rotation and an in-form spine led by Hynes and Brailey.

This is a prime opportunity for them to flex away from home, especially with Newcastle struggling to produce anything in good-ball sets.

Despite Newcastle’s offensive woes, this shapes as a game that could push past the total. The Knights have little to lose and are throwing a few positional gambles to shake things up, while the Sharks’ right edge has consistently put up points.

Knights v Sharks Rd 7 team news

Newcastle Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. James Schiller
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Fletcher Sharpe
7. Tyson Gamble
8. Tyson Frizell
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Leo Thompson
11. Thomas Cant
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Mat Croker
14. Jayden Brailey
15. Tyrone Thompson
16. Jermaine McEwen
17. Brodie Jones

Tyson Gamble returns at halfback with Phoenix Crossland shifting to hooker. James Schiller comes in on the wing and Tyson Frizell moves to prop. Mat Croker starts at lock.

Cronulla Sharks

1. William Kennedy
2. Samuel Stonestreet
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Mawene Hiroti
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Braydon Trindall
7. Nicholas Hynes
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Cameron McInnes
14. Daniel Atkinson
15. Siosifa Talakai
16. Toby Rudolf
17. Thomas Hazelton

Addin Fonua-Blake has been named despite a groin issue. The rest of the team remains unchanged.

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Knights v Sharks Rd 7 betting predictions

The Knights have scored just 46 points in six rounds and now face a side that’s beaten them in four of the last five. The Sharks won this fixture by a point last season but enter this clash with far better form. If Cronulla get rolling early, a double-digit win is well within reach at $2.30 odds with BetOnline to win by 13 points.

Mawene Hiroti’s line-running and positioning have quietly made him a reliable scorer when filling in. He’s scored in three of his last five NRL appearances and faces a Knights edge that’s allowed multiple linebreaks in recent weeks. With Hynes pulling strings, expect Hiroti to find the stripe at $2.85 odds with BetOnline.

Even with the Knights’ scoring drought, there’s still potential for this one to go over. Cronulla’s attack has clicked again and Newcastle will need to take risks to keep up. If both teams nab a couple of tries, this could turn into a higher-scoring affair than expected with over 42 points looking great at $1.90 with BetOnline.

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