<p>The Canberra Raiders will be aiming to maintain pace in the race for the minor premiership when they face the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.</p> <p>They raced out of the blocks to a 16-0 lead over the Tigers last week, before hanging on for a 16-12 victory, marking five wins on the trot.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Knights returned from Perth with an impressive win, as they came from behind inside the final 20 minutes to beat the high-flying Dolphins 26-20 and keep their finals chances alive, just.</p> <p>The gutsy win was soured by a Fletcher Sharpe injury, which sees Jackson Hastings replace the young gun at five-eighth, while Jacob Saifiti will play his first game for nearly two months, moving Mat Croker to the bench.</p> <p>There is minimal disruption to the Green Machine once again, with Hudson Young getting his rest after playing two days on from Origin last week, meaning Simi Sasagi starts in his place.</p> <p>Let’s check out how both of these sides will line up for this clash, as well as some betting tips for the H2H, first try scorer, and over/under markets. This is our Knights vs Raiders prediction.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Knights vs Raiders Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Newcastle Knights Team List</h3> <p>1. Kalyn Ponga</p> <p>2. Dominic Young</p> <p>3. Dane Gagai</p> <p>4. Bradman Best</p> <p>5. James Schiller</p> <p>6. Jackson Hastings</p> <p>7. Jack Cogger</p> <p>8. Jacob Saifiti</p> <p>9. Jayden Brailey</p> <p>10. Tyson Frizell</p> <p>11. Dylan Lucas</p> <p>12. Kai Pearce-Paul</p> <p>13. Phoenix Crossland</p> <p>14. Brodie Jones</p> <p>15. Thomas Cant</p> <p>16. Jermaine McEwen</p> <p>17. Mathew Croker</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Canberra Raiders Team List</h3> <p>1. Kaeo Weekes</p> <p>2. Jed Stuart</p> <p>3. Matthew Timoko</p> <p>4. Sebastian Kris</p> <p>5. Xavier Savage</p> <p>6. Ethan Strange</p> <p>7. Jamal Fogarty</p> <p>8. Josh Papali'i</p> <p>9. Tom Starling</p> <p>10. Joseph Tapine</p> <p>11. Simi Sasagi</p> <p>12. Zac Hosking</p> <p>13. Corey Horsburgh</p> <p>14. Owen Pattie</p> <p>15. Noah Martin</p> <p>16. Morgan Smithies</p> <p>17. Ata Mariota</p>

<h2>Knights vs Raiders Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The feel-good moments just keep coming for Canberra this season. After Josh Papali’i’s two-try heroics in his milestone match, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart got to watch his son Jed score a try on debut against the Tigers last week.</p> <p>Not only that, but he also got to see his side pick up yet another win, which now has them up to second in the standings.</p> <p>Against the Knights in NRL round 17, we reckon he’ll get to watch both happen again.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Canberra Raiders.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Try Scorer Prediction</h3> <p>As mentioned above, we fancy young Jed Stuart to run it back for his old man and get on the scoresheet once again.</p> <p>Obviously, as he’s only played one game in first grade, there aren't any consistent statistics to go off here.</p> <p>Still, one try from one game, technically equally a 100% strike rate, a strike rate we’re tipping him to maintain here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jed Stuart.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>You know the drill. Whenever the Knights have been involved this season, we can’t help but think points will be at a premium, well from their end anyway.</p> <p>As rampant as the Raiders have been in 2025, it usually takes two to tango when it comes to breaching the total match points line.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Under total match points.</p>

<h2>Knights vs Raiders Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Friday, June 27, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 8:00pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.</p>