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Newcastle icon Andrew Johns has expressed his regrets to the Knights faithful for predicting a defeat for his team in an unexpected NRL showdown during round six.
The Hunters are currently third on the leaderboard after five matches, boasting four victories while playing without their marquee talents Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown for nearly all but one and a half games.
Now, the soaring Knights are set to face another intriguing opponent in the form of Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers.
The Tigers impressively sit second on the ladder, having secured three wins from four matches, aided by a bye in the schedule.
Newcastle’s injury troubles have deepened this week with the news that star centre Bradman Best will be absent for several games due to a groin strain.
Best, Ponga, and Brown collectively account for over $3 million on the club’s salary cap, nearly a third of it.
Bradman Best from the Knights is sidelined due to injury. Getty
While Johns remains hopeful for Newcastle’s continued success, he believes the Tigers will prove too formidable at Campbelltown Stadium this Sunday.
“The Tigers are flying high,” Johns remarked during an interview with Wide World of Sports’ NRL Tips.
“Samuela Fainu is an outstanding player. Their bench strength is impressive as well; Royce Hunt enters the field and really gets those powerful legs moving.”
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“I think the Tigers will come out on top down at Campbelltown. The Knights have never played particularly well there, for whatever reason.”
“I’m sorry to say it, but I have to back the Tigers.”
Former league great Brad Fittler also predicts the Tigers will improve their record to 4-1 at the start of the season.
“You see, they are letting in an average of only 17 points (per match), which is the second-best in the NRL,” Fittler explained.
“It certainly makes things easier when you can limit tries, and they’re doing an excellent job at that.”
Scroll down for the current leaderboard and round six predictions from all of Nine’s expert tipsters!
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