South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights meet at Allianz Stadium in Finals Week 1 of the 2026 NRL season this Friday. Check out our preview and tips below.
The 2026 finals series kicks off at Allianz Stadium on Friday night with the Bunnies and Knights squaring off. Souths return to the finals for the first time since 2022 while Newcastle are surprising participants after claiming the wooden spoon last season. Given the lengthy injury toll to the Knights and the emotion the Rabbitohs are playing with, they are deserved favourites. Newcastle have lost both starting props to go with the long-term injuries to stars Dylan Lucas and Dylan Brown. Souths are riding the emotion of Jai Arrow. The betting though does seem over the top. Souths have two comfortable wins the last two weeks but probably put neither away as they should have. Newcastle have won four of the last five against Souths while they have covered seven of 10. The Knights have been a good team to be with at night, covering seven of nine matches under lights. Souths have covered just four of 15 away from Accor and four of 14 against Top 8 opposition. The plus is the bet. Fletcher Sharpe is an elite tryscorer for a playmaker with 34 tries in 48 games. He has crossed four tries in four matches against South Sydney. David Fifita is back to his rampaging best with three tries in four weeks.
Tips
Best: Newcastle +7.5 ($1.90)
Next: Newcastle Win ($3.00)
Tryscorer: Fletcher Sharpe ($13 First, $2.90 Anytime)
SGM: Fletcher Sharpe Try/David Fifita Try ($7.25)
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights Odds & Popular Betting Markets
Here’s a quick look at the current odds and popular betting markets for the South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights matchup.
*odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change