Act of Squad: Knights predicted team and 2025 overview
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The Knights have played finals in four of the past five seasons but the last time they made it all the way to the big dance was 2001, when favourite sons Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus delivered the club its second premiership.
After finishing the regular season in eighth spot in 2024 the Knights travelled to Townsville without star centre Bradman Best and were eliminated by the Cowboys after surrendering a 12-4 lead.
If the Knights are to climb a few rungs on the ladder in 2025 and earn themselves a double chance in September then the powerhouse Best is one man they need firing on all cylinders.
Best averaged 163 running metres per game in 2024 and came up with 49 tackle breaks and 10 line breaks to enhance his reputation as one of the NRL's most damaging centres.
The Knights' backline also boasts the mercurial Kalyn Ponga, the menacing Greg Marzhew and the ageless Dane Gagai, but the biggest question marks surround their halves - who wears the six and seven jerseys and do they have the class and composure to match the likes of Melbourne and Penrith?
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James Graham dissects the Knights 2025 NRL Draw
The ever-reliable Phoenix Crossland called the shots from halfback in the final seven games of 2024, with Panthers premiership winner Jack Cogger and Tyson Gamble both spending time at five-eighth.
Between them they came up with a total of just 17 try assists for the season as the Knights could manage only 470 points for the season to rank 16th ahead of only Wests Tigers (463).
The forward pack again looks to be rock solid with Tyson Frizell, Adam Elliott and Kai Pearce-Paul forming a dynamic back-row combination and Jacob Saifiti ready to fill the void left by brother Daniel's move to the Dolphins.
Predicted Round 1 team
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Greg Marzhew
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Fletcher Sharpe
6. Jack Cogger
7. Phoenix Crossland
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Leo Thompson
11. Kai Pearce-Paul
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Adam Elliott
14. Dylan Lucas
15. Mat Croker
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Brodie Jones
