Knights vs Dolphins
Round 18 2026, Sunday 5 July 2026
Verdict: Dolphins by 5
KnightsDolphins
Result: Knights 13 defeated Dolphins 12 ✗ Tip wrong
Match facts
- Kick-off
- Sun 5 Jul, 4:05pm AEST
- Venue
- McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Ladder going in
- Knights 5th, Dolphins 3rd
- Referee
- Wyatt Raymond
- Crowd
- 16,896
- Weather
- Showers, good ground
How the experts tipped
| Expert | Tip | Tip correct |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Baker | Knights | ✓ |
| Chris Barrett | Knights | ✓ |
| Zoe Samios | Knights | ✓ |
| Zac Bailey | Knights | ✓ |
| Frances Howe | Knights | ✓ |
| Christian Nicolussi | Dolphins | ✗ |
| Billie Eder | Dolphins | ✗ |
| Adrian Proszenko | Dolphins | ✗ |
| Dan Walsh | Knights | ✓ |
| Andrew Johns | Dolphins | ✗ |
| Emma Kemp | Dolphins | ✗ |
| Neil Breen | Knights | ✓ |
Going in
| Club | Ladder going in | Last five, oldest first | Model rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knights | 5th | WWLWW | -2.4 |
| Dolphins | 3rd | WWWWW | +7.4 |
Last five games
Knights
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 17 | v Wests Tigers | W 12–6 |
| Round 16 | v Dragons | W 22–20 |
| Round 14 | at Storm | L 30–32 |
| Round 13 | v Eels | W 28–22 |
| Round 11 | at Titans | W 36–12 |
Dolphins
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 17 | v Warriors | W 26–24 |
| Round 16 | at Wests Tigers | W 36–22 |
| Round 15 | v Roosters | W 48–10 |
| Round 14 | at Cowboys | W 40–14 |
| Round 12 | at Raiders | W 30–22 |
Head to head since 2024
| Season | Round | Game | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Round 16 | Dolphins v Knights | 20–26 | HBF Park |
| 2025 | Round 2 | Knights v Dolphins | 26–12 | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 27 | Knights v Dolphins | 14–6 | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 8 | Dolphins v Knights | 14–18 | Suncorp Stadium |
Team lists
Knights
- 1 Fletcher Sharpe Fullback
- 2 Dominic Young Winger
- 3 Dane Gagai Centre
- 4 Fletcher Hunt Centre
- 5 Greg Marzhew Winger
- 6 Sandon Smith Five-Eighth
- 7 Dylan Brown Halfback
- 8 Jacob Saifiti (c) Prop
- 9 Phoenix Crossland Hooker
- 11 Dylan Lucas 2nd Row
- 12 Jermaine McEwen 2nd Row
- 13 Mat Croker Lock
- 14 Harrison Graham Interchange
- 15 Tyson Frizell (c) Interchange
- 16 Cody Hopwood Prop
- 17 Thomas Cant Interchange
- 18 Lachlan Crouch Interchange
- 19 Francis Manuleleua Reserve
- 20 Kyle McCarthy Reserve
Coach: Justin Holbrook
In Fletcher Hunt, Harrison Graham
Out Bradman Best, Kalyn Ponga, Trey Mooney
Dolphins
- 1 Trai Fuller Fullback
- 2 Jamayne Isaako Winger
- 3 Jake Averillo Centre
- 4 Herbie Farnworth Centre
- 5 Tevita Naufahu Winger
- 6 Kodi Nikorima Five-Eighth
- 7 Bradley Schneider Halfback
- 8 Felise Kaufusi (c) Prop
- 9 Jeremy Marshall-King Hooker
- 10 Francis Molo Prop
- 11 Connelly Lemuelu 2nd Row
- 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2nd Row
- 13 Morgan Knowles Lock
- 14 Kurt Donoghoe Interchange
- 15 Tom Gilbert (c) Interchange
- 17 Brian Pouniu Reserve
- 18 Sebastian Su'a Interchange
- 19 John Fineanganofo Interchange
- 20 Sam Elliott Reserve
Coach: Kristian Woolf
In Bradley Schneider, Brian Pouniu, Jake Averillo, Tevita Naufahu, Tom Gilbert, Trai Fuller
Out Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Isaiya Katoa, Jack Bostock, Max Plath, Ray Stone, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler
Numbers as named by each club on nrl.com. Changes are measured against the club's previous game.
Why the model leaned this way
Going in, Knights rated -2.4 and Dolphins +7.4 on our scale, a gap of 9.8 points, plus 4.5 points for playing at their own ground.
Scoring
- Knights
- Tries Dylan Lucas 15', Fletcher Hunt 36'
- Goals 2/2
- Field goals Dylan Brown 75'
- Half-time 12
- Dolphins
- Tries Jamayne Isaako 50', Kurt Donoghoe 58'
- Goals 1/2, pen Jamayne Isaako 68'
- Half-time 0
Draw, teams and scoring: nrl.com match centre. Expert tips: The Sydney Morning Herald panel.