TK's simple guide to the Newcastle Knights fantasy prospects for 2025.
At full strength they have a good team that one their day can beat any one and to be fair to Adam O'Brien they have made the finals in four out of five seasons, but its just that it feels they are just making the numbers up for the finals. The team just relies too much on the form and health of Kayln Ponga to be a top four threat and given they have barely recruited unless there is a young super star they are hiding I can't see an improvement particularly with the merry go round they have on the weekly in their halves combinations.
Prediction - If Ponga plays close to 20 games they will make the finals.
Knights 2025 Player Movements
2025 Gains |
Taj Annan (2027), Matt Arthur (Parramatta Eels, 2027), Francis Manuleleua (Penrith Panthers, 2027), James Schiller (Canberra Raiders, 2027), Siteni Taukamo (Cronulla Sharks, 2025) |
2025 Loses |
David Armstrong (Leigh Leopards), Jed Cartwright (Hull FC), Myles Martin (Canberra Raiders), Fletcher Myers (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Daniel Saifiti (The Dolphins), Enari Tuala (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) |
Pretty settled line up that didn't go to market for new recruits. 1 wing spot up for grabs which is neck and neck with Sharpe and Schiller. The halves combo was a major dilema which may continue. A log jam of good back rowers will see one of them miss the starting team.
The Draw and Game Day Squad
Byes - round 4,18, 22
Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. I would be looking to load up on the Ponga, Best and Marzhew in the following match ups:
NRL Fantasy perspective
Play 16 of the first 17 rounds after copping an early bye in round 4, so there is scope to front run some Knights. Will also play the first two major bye rounds in round 12 and 15.
Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - Kalyn Ponga, Greg Marzhew, Dylan Licas
2025 NRL Fantasy Fortunes (scroll across to view full notes)
Player | Price | NRL Fantasy Av | GameDay Squad Av | Notes |
Kalyn Ponga | $730K | 54 | 64 | Can see the temptation given a pretty handy opening draw. Only played 15 games in 2024 but finished with scores of 72,76,81. Always a fun choice, looks fit and focused. BUY |
Dane Gagai | $691K | 51.8 | 55.2 | Fully priced and no need to be spending this much money for round 1. Avoid |
Dylan Lucas | $672K | 50.3 | 50.7 | A fantasy stud who is just stuck in the log jam of backrowers. If they do move Friz to the middle for round 1 I can see this lad taking an edge for a season. Given the dual I think you can pay up for him as I can see him being the no 1 centre and a top 10 edge. |
Jackson Hastings | $642K | 48.1 | 49.7 | No certainty to start 2024 and would be fully priced any way. Avoid |
Kyle McCarthy | TBA | 48 | 38.1 | Young centre who made his NRL debut with a strong showing. Would be well behind on the depth cart at the positon. Avoid |
Adam Elliott | $617K | 46.2 | 44.6 | When he plays over 60 mins (8 games, 56.3 av in 64.3 mins) he becomes super relevant. Issue is a log jam in the backrow. Keep a watch on. |
Kai Pearce-Paul | $595K | 44.6 | 42.6 | Has a relevant fantasy game but similar to Lucas he is stuck in the log jam of backrowers which places week to week risk. Avoid |
Tyson Frizell | $589K | 44.1 | 41.3 | At his best would be underpriced. Another stuck in this log jam in the back row and the back end of his career may see more middle mins. Avoid |
Bradman Best | $582K | 43.6 | 45.9 | Had some big scores in 2024. Similar to Gagai being fully priced and no need to chase this for round 1. |
Leo Thompson | $554K | 41.5 | 39.5 | Final season at the Knights. Looks fully priced with limited upside if he continues at the 50 minute role. |
Fletcher Sharpe | $550K | 41.2 | 46.6 | Jumped up to a 47 average when he switched to the wing for the final 6 games. Was inflated by games where he scored 4 and 3 tries. Rumours of a switch to the halves is bizare. Not for me, avoid. |
James Schiller | $500K | 40.8 | 45.6 | Head to Head with Sharpe for a starting wing role. Even if he gets it, is way too expensive. Avoid |
Jacob Saifiti | $537K | 40.2 | 39.8 | Priced at potential. Even with his brothers exit will likely have a similar role. Avoid. |
Jayden Brailey | $512K | 38.3 | 36.5 | Underpriced to begin the season, his starting hooker average being 44.7 in 2024. The biggest question mark is health with so many serious injuries over the past few years. Hard to take round 1, stick him on a watchlist |
Tyson Gamble | $502K | 37.6 | 35.6 | Another under pressure to retain a starting spot. Would be fully priced any way. Avoid |
Greg Marzhew | $481K | 36 | 41.5 | Just didn't score tries in 2024 (av 0.3T) vs 2023 (av 1T). Has all the attributes. If you believe the Knights will come out of the blocks hard, not the worst choice. I'm giving serious consideration |
Thomas Cant | $458K | 34.3 | 31.8 | A couple of games off the bench for a decent PPM. 15 games in NSW Cup for 48.1 average. But another stuck behind the depth cart in a very deep roster. Watchlist |
Jack Cogger | $453K | 33.9 | 34.4 | Strange averages playing half back (2 games - 34 av) vs five-eighth (9 games - 43.6 av). Even if he starts would be way to risky. |
Will Pryce | $350K | 30.2 | 29.5 | 48 av when starting 3 games at five-eighth. Would be relevant if he could jag the start but would also have uncertain job security. NSW Cup 16 games for 44.9 av. Keep an eye on him. |
Matt Croker | $384K | 28.8 | 28.5 | Bench player at best. Avoid |
Phoenix Crossland | $382K | 28.6 | 25.5 | 6 games at halfback for a 29 average so limited upside. Avoid |
Brodie Jones | $343K | 25.7 | 25.3 | Another stuck in the log jam of the back row. |
Jack Hetherington | $328K | 24.6 | 22.8 | Bench player at best. Avoid |
Krystian Mapapalangi | TBA | 15.5 | 13.4 | Injury plagued season. 10 games in NSW cup for 17.1 average. Avoid. |
Matt Arthur | $250K | 13.3 | 13 | New recruit who would be third in line at hooker. 19 games in NSW cup for 36 fantasy av. Just won't get the start. Avoid |
Sebastian Su'a | $250K | 1 | -1.9 | Young prop from NZ. 20 games in NSW Cup for a 36 av. Would be unlikely |
Taj Annan | $230K | 0 | 0 | 21 year old centre yet to make his NRL debut and would be well behind on the depth cart. |
Tyrone Thompson | TBA | 0 | 0 | New recruit from rugby. Probably a low minute bench role at best. Avoid |
Riley Jones | $250K | 0 | 0 | Young hooker who would push even further down the depth cart with Arthurs arrival. 18 games NSW Cup for 39.8 average. Avoid |
Paul Bryan | $230K | 0 | 0 | Another middle coming through the ranks. 18 games for 28.1 average. Avoid |
Jermaine McEwen | $230K | 0 | 0 | 19 year old edge with limited experience. Only 5 NSW Cup games for a 20.6 av. Would be a long way from NRL. Avoid |
Francis Manuleleua | $230K | 0 | 0 | Signed from the Panthers with very limited experience. Avoid |
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