NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

The 'Newcastle Knights' are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership.
Playing in red and blue, the Knights joined the top tier competition in 1988, 79 years after the previous Newcastle based team, the Newcastle Rebels had departed with the formation of a league competition based in the Newcastle region.

Contents

Club history

1988-1996

1997-2003

2004-present

Season 2007

Current Squad

Coaches

First Grade Captains

Representative players (NSW & QLD)

Knights Team of the Era

Famous Supporters

Controversy

See also

Source

Notes

External links

Club history

1988-1996

The Newcastle Knights entered the NSW Rugby League competition in 1988 with Allan McMahon as coach.^[1] The team was a success from the start, becoming one of the most popular clubs in its first season. By 1990, the team was strong enough to enter a play-off for fifth spot.
The club won their first competition, the Nissan Sevens, in 1991 and made the playoffs in 1992, where they were beaten by the St. George Dragons. The Knights made the semi-finals again in 1995 when the competition became the Australian Rugby League, and won the reserve grade premiership the same year.
The club stayed loyal to the Australian Rugby League when Rupert Murdoch started Super League in an attempt to win pay television rights to rugby league -- this decision was very popular in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley areas. News Limited formed the Hunter Mariners to compete with the Knights in the one and only season of Super League in Australia, but the Mariners failed to win much support in the area.

1997-2003

From 1997-2003, the Knights made seven finals series in a row. The Knights won the 1997 Australian Rugby League premiership, defeating the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-16 in the Grand Final, with Robbie O'Davis winning the Clive Churchill Medal. The match is best remembered for its classic finish - Darren Albert breaking a 16 all deadlock with his try 7 seconds from fulltime. This win was a huge morale boost to the district following the closure of the area's biggest employer, the BHP Steelworks, being announced the same year. Seventy per cent of the winning squad were Newcastle juniors.
The following season, Knights players Robbie O'Davis, Wayne Richards and Adam MacDougall tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs; however, all three maintained they started use after the Knights 1997 victory. The three were suspended, despite O'Davis' claims the club was not notified his drug was banned until after his positive test, and MacDougall's medical reason for taking the steroids (his usage continued after he completed his suspension, now approved by the NRL). In addition, the Knights terminated Wayne Richards' contract.

In 1998, the Knights finished equal on competition points with the Brisbane Broncos, but finished second on points differential. The Knights came third in 2000, followed by a National Rugby League Premiership victory over the Parramatta Eels in 2001, with Andrew Johns winning the Clive Churchill Medal. Newcastle were handed heavy underdog status, but shocked the Eels with a 24-0 halftime lead, and eventual 30-24 win. In 2002, the club finished equal with the New Zealand Warriors on competition points but, once again, finished second in the minor premiership due to inferior points differential.
Andrew Johns won the Dally M Medal for best player in the National Rugby League twice in a row in 1998 and 1999, and won an unprecedented third Dally M Medal in 2002. In addition, Joey Johns also won the Provan-Summons Medal (the people's choice award for player of the year) four years in a row from 1998 to 2001 -- the best performance by any player in the history of the award.

2004-present

In 2004, injuries plagued the club, with Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy out for extended periods of time. The club missed the finals, finishing 10th despite strong performances from Matthew Gidley, Kurt Gidley and NSW State of Origin captain, Danny Buderus.
Following further injuries and a lack of experienced players, the club failed to win a single match in the first half of the 2005 premiership, losing 13 consecutive matches -- the worst start to a season by any club since the 1960s. That losing streak finally came to an end with a win away from home over the Penrith Panthers in late June. In a tribute to the club's followers, crowds remained high throughout the losing streak, and while the Knights were unable to avoid finishing last, fans were rewarded for their stoicism as the team managed to win eight of their last eleven games, including a six game winning streak brought to an end in round 26 by the St George Illawarra Dragons.
2006 boded well for the Novocastrians, with the side recruiting Great Britain and Irish winger Brian Carney and former Raider Luke Davico, as well as re-signing 2005 recruit Milton Thaiday and managing to retain the many promising young juniors (led by the likes of Brad Tighe, Jarrod Mullen, and Reegan Tanner) that have come through in the club's worst ever season. Newcastle ultimately finished the season in fourth position, a stunning reversal in form, but were eliminated from the finals after losing to the Brisbane Broncos.
Prior to the 2006 season kick-off it was announced that the club's longest serving coach, Michael Hagan would depart the club following the 2006 season to begin a three year contract with the Parramatta Eels. Ironically, during the week of the 2006 season-opening game against Parramatta, the Knights confirmed Parramatta coach Brian Smith would take over coaching duties in 2007.
The Knights opened their 2007 campaign in their 20th year in the NRL against the Bulldogs at EnergyAustralia Stadium. A badge on the Knights jersey commemorates this milestone. So far in this season, they have won 8 and lost 12 after 21 rounds. On April 10th 2007 Knights Captain Andrew Johns retirement from Rugby League due to a neck injury during Knights training. This has shocked the Newcastle Knights as well as the whole Rugby League World.

Season 2007

Season 2007 - Draw and Results
Round	Date & Time	Knights vs	Venue	Result	Scorers	Crowd
1	Sun, 18th March 2pm	Bulldogs	Energy Australia Stadium	Win	Knights(25): Terrence Seu Seu, Josh Perry, Todd Polglase, James McManus tries; Kurt Gidley (4/5) goals; Kurt Gidley field goal. Bulldogs(24): Andrew Ryan, Luke Patten, Reni Maitua, Trent Cutler tries; Hazem El Masri (4/4) goals.	18,791
2	Fri, 23rd March 7:30pm	Dragons	Oki Jubilee Stadium	Win	Dragons(12): Chase Stanley, Keith Lulia tries; Wes Naiqama (2/3) goals Knights(16): Clint Newton, James McManus, Brad Tighe, George Carmont tries; Kurt Gidley (0/3), Daniel Abraham (0/1) goals	12,326
3	Mon, 2nd April 7pm	Raiders	Canberra Stadium	Loss	Canberra(48): William Zillman(3), Marshall Chalk, Lincoln Withers, Scott Logan, Colin Best, Phil Graham tries; Michael Dobson (8/10) goals. Knights(18): Adam MacDougall, Milton Thaiday, Cory Paterson tries; Andrew Johns (3/3) goals.	13,109
4	Sat, 7th April 5:30pm	Storm	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Knights(12): Steve Simpson, Daniel Abraham tries, Kurt Gidley (2/2) goals. Storm(22): Israel Folau(2), Matt King, Anthony Quinn tries, Cameron Smith (3/4) goals.	20,051
5	Sun, 15th April 2pm	Rabbitohs	Bluetongue Stadium	Win	Rabbitohs(22): David Faalogo, Dean Widders, Nigel Vagana, John Sutton tries, Joe Williams (3/4) goals. Knights(23): Kurt Gidley(2), James McManus, Brad Tighe tries, Kurt Gidley (3/4) goals, Kurt Gidley field goal.	18,321
6	Sun, 22nd April 7pm	Broncos	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Knights(16): Todd Polglase(2), Adam MacDougall tries, Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals. Broncos(20): Darren Lockyer (1/1), Michael Ennis (1/3) goals.	25,524
7	Mon, 30th April 7pm	Sharks	Energy Australia Stadium	Win	Knights(20): Kirk Reynoldson(2), Kurt Gidley tries, Kurt Gidley (4/4) goals. Sharks(16): David Simmons(2), Ben Pomeroy tries, Luke Covell (2/3) goals.	15,453
8	Sun, 6th May 3pm	Bulldogs	Telstra Stadium	Loss	Bulldogs(30): Luke Patten(2), Reni Maitua, Matthew Utai, Hazem El Masri tries, Hazem El Masri (5/5) goals. Knights(16): Cory Paterson, Danny Buderus, James McManus tries, Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals.	12,654
9	Sat, 12th May 5:30pm	Warriors	Energy Australia Stadium	Win	Knights(24): Kurt Gidley(2), Steve Simpson, Adam MacDougall tries, Kurt Gidley (4/4) goals. Warriors(18): Ruben Wiki, Nathan Fien, Jerome Ropati tries, Lance Hohaia (3/3) goals.	15,107
10	BYE	-	-	-		-
11	Sun, 27th May 2pm	Broncos	Suncorp Stadium	Loss	Broncos(71): Tonie Carroll(2), Brent Tate(2), Justin Hodges(2), Joel Moon, Greg Eastwood, Ben Hannant, Petero Civoniceva, Darius Boyd, Karmichael Hunt tries, Corey Parker (4/5), Michael Ennis (4/4), Darren Lockyer (3/3), Darren Lockyer field goal. Knights(6): Jarrod Mullen try, Cory Paterson (1/1) goal.	27,433
12	Sat, 2nd June 5:30pm	Roosters	Bluetongue Stadium	Win	Roosters(18): Mitchell Pierce, Braith Anasta, Anthony Minichiello tries, Craig Fitzgibbon (3/4) goals. Knights(22): Brad Tighe, James McManus, Nathan Hinton, Cory Paterson tries, Cory Paterson (3/4) goals.	11,263
13	Sun, 10th June 3pm	Tigers	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Knights(14): Brad Tighe(2), Cory Paterson tries, Cory Paterson (1/3). Tigers(33): Liam Fulton, Chris Heighington, Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Robbie Farah tries, Dean Collis (6/6) goals, Robbie Farah field goal.	13,609
14	Mon, 18th Jun 7pm	Raiders	Energy Australia Stadium	Win	Knights(22): Adam MacDougall(2), Chris Bailey, Brad Tighe tries, Kurt Gidley (3/5) goals. Raiders(18): Brad Cross, Lincoln Withers, Colin Best tries, Michael Dobson (3/3) goals.	11,349
15	Sat, 23rd June 7:30pm	Titans	Carrara Stadium	Loss	Titans(28): Matthew Peterson(3), Brett Delaney, Mat Rogers tries, Mat Rogers (4/5) goals. Knights(22): Daniel Tolar, Luke Walsh, Adam MacDougall, James McManus tries, Kurt Gidley (3/4) goals.	15,306
16	Fri, 29th June 7:30pm	Rabbitohs	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Knights(25): Adam MacDougall, George Carmont, Cooper Vuna, Cory Paterson, James McManus tries, Cory Paterson (2/5) goals, Luke Walsh field goal. Rabbitohs(28): Roy Asotasi(2), Nigel Vagana, Jeremy Smith, Ben Rogers tries, Reece Simmonds (2/2), Isaac Luke (2/3) goals.	16,320
17	Mon, 9th July 7pm	Eels	Parramatta Stadium	Win	Eels(10): Krisnan Inu, Feleti Mateo tries, Krisnan Inu (1/1), Mark Riddell (0/1) goals. Knights(34): George Carmont(2), Steve Simpson, Mitchell Sargent, Adam MacDougall, James McManus tries, Kurt Gidley (5/7) goals.	10,363
18	Mon, 16th July 7pm	Storm	Olympic Park	Loss	Storm(44): Steve Turner(2), Anthony Quinn(2), Billy Slater(2), Ryan Hoffman, Matt King, Clint Newton tries, Cameron Smith (3/6), Steve Turner (1/3) goals. Knights(0)	10,223
19	Sat, 21st July 7:30pm	Roosters	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Knights(17): Cooper Vuna(2), Adam MacDougall tries, Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals, Luke Walsh field goal. Roosters(20): David Shillington, Joel Monaghan, Lopini Paea, Mitchell Aubusson tries, Craig Fitzgibbon (2/4) goals.	15,171
20	Sat, 28th July 7:30pm	Warriors	Mt Smart Stadium	Loss	Warriors(52): Wade McKinnon(2), Grant Rovelli(2), Jerome Ropati(2), Steve Price, Wairangi Koopu, Manu Vatuvei tries, Michael Witt (8/9) goals. Knights(10): James McManus, Kirk Reynoldson tries, Kurt Gidley (1/2) goals.	11,301
21	Fri, 3rd August 7:30pm	Dragons	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Knights(4): Kurt Gidley try, Kurt Gidley (0/1) goal. Dragons(20): Jamie Soward(2), Dan Hunt, Chase Stanley tries, Jamie Soward (2/4) goals.	12,573
22	Fri, 10th August 7:30pm	Sea Eagles	Bluetongue Stadium	Loss	Sea Eagles(50): Brett Stewart(2), Jamie Lyon(2), Jack Afamasaga, Glenn Stewart, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford, Adam Cuthbertson tries, Matt Orford (2/4), Jamie Lyon (4/4), Steve Menzies (1/1) goals. Knights(16): Brad Tighe, Steve Simpson, James McManus tries, Scott Dureau (2/3) goals.	17,122
23	Sun, 19th August 3pm	Panthers	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Penrith(46): Frank Pritchard(3), Michael Jennings(3), Michael Gordon tries, Michael Gordon (9/9) goals. Knights(12): 2 tries, Kurt Gidley (2/2) goals.
24	Fri, 24th August 7:30pm	Cowboys	Energy Australia Stadium	Loss	Cowboys(34): Ashley Graham(2), Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Bowen, Ty Williams, Neil Sweeney tries, Thurston (5/6) goals. Knights(18): Cooper Vuna, Chris Bailey, Cory Paterson tries, Kurt Gidley (3/3) goals.	12000
25	Fri, 31st August 7:30pm	Tigers	Telstra Stadium

Current Squad

Newcastle Knights 2007 Fulltime Squad
Player		Position	DOB (Age)	Height	Weight	Previous Club
Daniel Abraham		Lock/Utility	11/03/1981 (26)	188cm	106kg	Macquarie United
Chris Bailey		Lock/Utility	05/07/1982 (24)	186cm	94kg	Inverell Hawks
Riley Brown		Utility	15/10/1984 (22)	181cm	92kg	Singleton
Danny Buderus		Hooker	06/02/1978 (29)	178cm	91kg	Taree
George Carmont		Centre/Wing	30/06/1978 (28)	180cm	91kg	Otahuhu
Scott Dureau		Five Eighth/Halfback	29/07/1986 (20)	174cm	83kg	Port Macquarie
Paul Franze		Centre	03/05/1982 (25)	185cm	97kg	Castleford Tigers
Kurt Gidley		Fullback/Utility	07/06/1982 (24)	182cm	87kg	Western Suburbs (Newcastle)
Nathan Hinton		Fullback	13/10/1985 (21)	178cm	84kg	Western Suburbs (Newcastle)
Marvin Karawana		Five Eighth	30/07/1986 (20)	180cm	94kg	Canterbury Bulldogs
Adam MacDougall		Centre	08/05/1975 (31)	183cm	95kg	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Luke MacDougall		Wing/Centre	05/02/1983 (24)	183cm	95kg	St George Illawarra Dragons
James McManus		Wing/Centre	15/01/1986 (21)	185cm	89kg	-
Jarrod Mullen		Five Eighth/Halfback	09/04/1987 (20)	179cm	86kg	Western Suburbs (Newcastle)
Cory Paterson		Second Row	14/07/1987 (19)	194cm	105kg	-
Josh Perry		Prop	04/02/1981 (26)	187cm	119kg	Valentine-Eleebana
Todd Polglase		Fullback/Wing/Centre	21/03/1981 (26)	178cm	85kg	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Kirk Reynoldson		Second Row/Lock	11/03/1979 (28)	186cm	102kg	Melbourne Storm
Jesse Royal		Prop/Second Row	20/05/1980 (26)	190cm	107kg	Penrith Panthers
Mitchell Sargent		Prop	02/07/1979 (27)	187cm	107kg	North Queensland Cowboys
David Seage		Fullback	29/11/1979 (27)	183cm	90kg	-
Terrence Seu Seu		Hooker	20/11/1987 (19)	180cm	89kg	-
Steve Simpson		Second Row	27/09/1979 (27)	187cm	104kg	Singleton
Kade Snowden		Prop/Second Row	31/12/1986 (20)	188cm	113kg	-
Zeb Taia		Second Row	11/10/1984 (22)	186cm	104kg	Parramatta Eels
Reegan Tanner		Second Row/Lock	27/09/1982 (24)	183cm	99kg	Kurri Kurri
Mark Taufua		Prop/Second Row	24/10/81 (25)	188cm	103kg	Waratahs (Newcastle)
Milton Thaiday		Fullback	15/02/1980 (27)	175cm	83kg	-
Brad Tighe		Centre/Wing	05/04/1984 (23)	183cm	89kg	West Tamworth
Daniel Tolar		Prop	04/11/1982 (25)	188cm	100kg	Central Charlestown
Willie Tupou		Second Row	26/10/1985 (21)	191cm	105kg	St George Illawarra Dragons
Akuila Uate		Wing	06/10/1987 (19)	185cm	94kg	-
Cooper Vuna		Wing	05/07/1987 (19)	182cm	97kg	New Zealand Warriors
Luke Walsh		Halfback	12/05/1987 (19)	-	-	-
Matthew White		Prop	17/05/1984 (22)	190cm	110kg	-
Adam Woolnough		Prop	24/05/1982 (24)	187cm	109kg	Wingham Tigers
Michael Young		Lock/Utility	11/02/1984 (23)	181cm	90kg	-

Coaches

★ Allan McMahon (1988-1991)

★ David Waite (1991-1994)

★ Malcolm Reilly (1995-1998)

★ Warren Ryan (1999-2000)

★ Michael Hagan (2001- 2006)

★ Brian Smith (2007-)

First Grade Captains

★ Sam Stewart (1988-1991)

★ Michael Hagan (1992-1993)

★ Mark Sargent (1994-1995)

★ Paul Harragon (1995-1999)

★ Tony Butterfield (2000)

★ Andrew Johns "Joey" (2001-2007)

★ Danny Buderus (2007-)

Representative players (NSW & QLD)

Including representative players first selected and other notable players and the years they first achieved the honours if known.
'Australia'

★ Jamie Ainscough (1995)

★ David Boyd

★ Adrian Brunker (QLD 1991)

★ Danny Buderus (2001)(NSW)

★ Tony Butterfield (NSW 1998)

★ Matthew Gidley (NSW 1999)

★ Marc Glanville

★ Michael Hagan (QLD 1989)

★ Paul Harragon (NSW 1992)

★ Mark Hughes (NSW 2002)

★ Andrew Johns (NSW)

★ Matthew Johns (NSW)

★ Kurt Gidley (NSW 2007)

★ Ben Kennedy (NSW)

★ Adam MacDougall (NSW)

★ Adam Muir (NSW 1995)

★ Robbie McCormack (NSW 1992)

★ Mike McLean (QLD 1991)

★ Jarrod Mullen (NSW 2007)

★ Josh Perry (NSW 2002)

★ Robbie O'Davis (QLD 1995)

★ Matthew Rodwell (Rookie OFT 1992)

★ Mark Sargent (NSW)

★ Steve Simpson (NSW)

★ Craig Smith (QLD)

★ Timana Tahu (NSW)
'New Zealand'

★ Tony Kemp

★ Adrian Shelford

★ Craig Smith

★ Sam Stewart
'Great Britain'

★ Brian Carney (Great Britain 2003)

★ Lee Jackson
'Ireland'

★ Brian Carney (Ireland 2000)
'Samoa'

★ George Carmont (Samoa Captain 2006)

Knights Team of the Era

In August of 2007,the Knights their team of the last twenty years,at a gala dinner.The team was:
1. Robbie O'Davis
2. Timana Tahu
3. Matthew Gidley
4. Mark Hughes
5. Adam MacDougall
6. Matthew Johns
7. Andrew Johns (c)
8. Mark Sargent
9. Danny Buderus
10. Paul Harragon
11. Steve Simpson
12. Ben Kennedy
13. Marc Glanville
Interchange:
14. Michael Hagan
15. Kurt Gidley
16. Tony Butterfield
17. Adam Muir
Coach: Malcolm Reilly.

Famous Supporters

★ Jennifer Hawkins - 2004 Miss Universe, was a cheerleader for the club at one stage

★ Kim Beazley - Former club patron, Former Federal Opposition Leader (Australia)

★ Michael Costa - Current Club patron, NSW Treasurer and Minister for the Hunter (Australia)

★ Jessica Mauboy - 2006 Australian Idol runner up

Controversy

Dane Tilse and some other Newcastle Knights players were involved in a drunken incident in Bathurst, New South Wales in 2005 in which a 19-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted.
The Newcastle NRL club sacked Dane Tilse and issued fines totalling $50,000 against 12 players over the rampage at Charles Sturt University.^[2]

See also

★ National Rugby League

★ Hunter Mariners

Source

★ ''ABC Australian Sports Almanac 2002''

Notes

1. Newcastle had previously been invited to field a team in the NSWRL competition for the 1982 season, but declined, worried it would weaken the area's local league competition. The Canberra Raiders were admitted to the 1982 competition in their place.
2. http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Student-alleges-Knights-assault/2005/02/22/1109046907729.html

External links

★ Newcastle Knights official website

★ Newcastle Knights Archive

★ Daily Telegraph - Newcastle Knights 2007 season feature