2018 Newcastle Knights season

2018 Newcastle Knights season
NRL Rank 11th
2018 record Wins: 9; Draws: 0; Losses: 15
Points scored For: 414; Against: 607
Team information
CEO Phil Gardner
Coach Nathan Brown
Captain
Stadium McDonald Jones Stadium
Avg. Attend. 18,974
High. Attend. 24,662 (vs. Dragons, round 25)
Top scorers
Tries Ken Sio (12)
Goals Kalyn Ponga (27)
Points Ken Sio (98)
< 2017 2019 >

The 2018 Newcastle Knights season was the 31st in the club's history. Coached by Nathan Brown and co-captained by Jamie Buhrer and Mitchell Pearce, they competed in the NRL's 2018 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 11th place (out of 16).

Milestones

Squad

Newcastle Knights
2018 NRL premiership squad Coaching staff
  • 000 Brodie Jones - SR
  • 000 Brayden Musgrove - WG
  • 000 Brent Naden - CE

Extended squad players

  • Thomas Cronan - WG

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)

Updated: 2 September 2018
Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles,
Rugby League Project

Transfers and Re-signings

Gains

PlayerPrevious ClubLength
Matt CooperNewcastle Knights NYCPromoted
Herman Ese'eseBrisbane Broncos2020
JJ FeliseWests Tigers2018
Slade GriffinMelbourne Storm2019
Aidan GuerraSydney Roosters2020
Christian HazardRedcliffe Dolphins2018
Chris HeighingtonCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2018
Zac HoskingNewcastle Knights NYCPromoted
Jack JohnsNewcastle Knights NYCPromoted
Rory Kostjasyn (ISP NSW coach)Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup2018
Jacob LillymanNew Zealand Warriors2018
Tautau MogaBrisbane Broncos2020
Brayden MusgroveNewcastle Knights NYCPromoted
Brent NadenCanberra Raiders2018
Mitchell PearceSydney Roosters2021
Kalyn PongaNorth Queensland Cowboys2021
James Shepherd (assistant coach)Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks2018
Connor WatsonSydney Roosters2020

Losses

PlayerClub
David BhanaReleased
Brendan ElliotGold Coast Titans
Jaelen FeeneyTownsville Blackhawks
Dane GagaiSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Jacob GaganSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Rory KostjasynRetirement
Jake MamoHuddersfield Giants
Sam MataoraRetirement
Peter Mata'utiaLeigh Centurions
Joe MorrisNewcastle Knights second-tier squad
Jarrod MullenContract terminated
Mickey PaeaHull F.C.
Pauli PauliWakefield Trinity
Will PearsallRetirement
Tyler RandellWakefield Trinity
Braden RobsonWests Tigers
Korbin SimsBrisbane Broncos
Bradie SmithWyong Roos
Josh StarlingRetirement
Jack StockwellGold Coast Titans
Anthony TupouRetirement
Joe WardleCastleford Tigers
Kurt Wrigley (assistant coach)Released

Re-signings

PlayerRe-signed to
Tyrone Amey2018
Nathan Brownongoing contract
Jamie Buhrer2019
Matt Cooper2018
Zac Hosking2018
Jack Johns2018
Josh King2020
Sione Mata'utia2021
Brayden Musgrove2019
Pasami Saulo2020
Sam Stone2020

Player contract situations

2018 (left)2018201920202021
Jack Cogger[1]Tyrone Amey[2]Jamie Buhrer[3]Mitchell Barnett[4]Sione Mata'utia[5]
Thomas Cronan[6]Matt Cooper[7]Lachlan Fitzgibbon[8]Herman Ese'ese[9]Mitchell Pearce[10]
JJ Felise[11]Cory Denniss[12]Slade Griffin[13]Aidan Guerra[14]Kalyn Ponga[15]
Chris Heighington[16]Christian Hazard[2]Shaun Kenny-Dowall[17]Josh King[18]
Trent Hodkinson[19]Zac Hosking[2]Brayden Musgrove[7]Danny Levi[20]
Tom Hughes[11]Brodie Jones[21]Tautau Moga[22]
Jack Johns[11]Ken Sio[23]Nathan Ross[24]
Brock Lamb[25]Tom Starling[26]Daniel Saifiti[27]
Jacob Lillyman[28]Luke Yates[26]Jacob Saifiti[27]
Chanel Mata'utia[29]Pasami Saulo[7]
Pat Mata'utia[25]Sam Stone[2]
Nick Meaney[30]Connor Watson[31]
Brent Naden[11]
Dylan Phythian[32]

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Sydney Roosters 2416081542361+18134
2 Melbourne Storm 2416081536363+17334
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2416081582437+14534
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2416081519423+9634
5 Penrith Panthers 2415091517461+5632
6 Brisbane Broncos 2415091556500+5632
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2415091519472+4732
8 New Zealand Warriors 2415091472447+2532
9 Wests Tigers 24120121377460−8326
10 Canberra Raiders 24100141563540+2322
11 Newcastle Knights 2490151414607−19320
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2480161428474−4618
13 North Queensland Cowboys 2480161449521−7218
14 Gold Coast Titans 2480161472582−11018
15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2470171500622−12216
16 Parramatta Eels 2460181374550−17614

Jerseys and sponsors

In 2018, the Knights' jerseys are made by ISC and their major sponsor is nib Health Funds.

2018 Home Jersey2018 Away Jersey2018 Heritage Jersey2018 Indigenous Jersey2018 MHF Beanie For Brain Cancer Jersey2018 NSW Mining Jersey2018 Women In League Jersey

Fixtures

Pre-season trials

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Wednesday, 7 FebruaryTrial 1 Melbourne StormAAMI Park26 – 22L.Fitzgibbon, K.Ponga, K.Sio, J.Buhrer, T.CronanK.Ponga (2/3), B.Lamb (1/2)closed to public[33]
Saturday, 24 FebruaryTrial 2 Parramatta EelsMaitland No.1 Sportsground6 – 26S.Kenny-DowallK.Ponga (1/1)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw

Regular Season


DateRoundOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendance
9 March 1 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 19-18[34] K. Ponga, S. Griffin, L. Fitzgibbon K. Ponga (3/3), M. Pearce (FG) 23,516[35]
18 March 2 Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium, Canberra 30-28[36] L. Fitzgibbon, A. Guerra, S. Mata'utia, T. Moga, C. Watson K. Ponga (5/6) 12,626[36]
25 March 3 Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium, Sydney 8-38[37] A. Guerra K. Ponga (2/3) 15,153[38]
1 April 4 St. George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, Wollongong 12-30[39] T. Moga, C. Heighington K. Ponga (2/2) 18,589[39]
7 April 5 Brisbane Broncos McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 15-10[40] L. Fitzgibbon, D. Saifiti K. Ponga (3/3), M. Pearce (FG) 21,969[40]
13 April 6 Melbourne Storm AAMI Park, Melbourne 14-40[41] K. Sio (2), L. Fitzgibbon K. Ponga (1/3) 12,386[41]
21 April 7 Wests Tigers Scully Park, Tamworth 22-20[42] K. Sio (3), S. Kenny-Dowall, M. Pearce K. Ponga (1/5)[43] 10,082
27 April 8 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Lottoland, Manly 18-12[44] S. Griffin, N. Ross, C. Watson K. Sio (3/4) 5,715
4 May 9 South Sydney Rabbitohs McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 18-36[45] S. Kenny-Dowall (2), S. Mata'utai, L. Fitzgibbon K. Sio (1/4) 22,718 [45]
11 May 10 Penrith Panthers McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 18-29[46] K. Ponga, N. Ross, C. Watson B. Lamb (2/2), K. Sio (1/1) 14,801
19 May 11 Gold Coast Titans Cbus Super Stadium, Robina 26-33[47] H. Ese'ese, S. Mata'utia, K. Ponga, K. Sio B. Lamb (5/5) 11,008
27 May 12 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 10-48[48] L. Fitzgibbon, S. Mata'utia K. Sio (1/1), K. Ponga (0/1) 20,913
2 June 13 Parramatta Eels ANZ Stadium, Sydney 30-4[49] J. Cogger, S. Mata'utia, D. Saifiti, K. Sio, C. Watson K. Ponga (5/6) 7,719
9 June 14 Sydney Roosters McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 16-18[50] S. Mata'utia, K. Ponga K. Ponga (4/4) 18,029
17 June 15 Melbourne Storm McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 10-28[51] K. Ponga, K. Sio K. Ponga (1/2) 14,803
30 June 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 16-36[52] C. Watson (2), H. Ese'ese K. Sio (2/3) 17,755
17Bye
13 July 18 Parramatta Eels McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 18-16[53] C. Watson, S. Kenny-Dowall, M. Pearce K. Sio (3/4) 15,860
21 July 19 Gold Coast Titans McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 30-24[54] M. Barnett (2), N. Meaney, L. Fitzgibbon, S. Kenny-Dowall K. Sio (5/6) 14,095
27 July 20 North Queensland Cowboys 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville 18-20[55] L. Fitzgibbon (2), A. Guerra K. Sio (3/4) 11,709
3 August 21 Wests Tigers McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 16-25[56] A. Guerra, S. Mata'utia, K. Ponga K. Sio (2/3) 18,561
10 August 22 New Zealand Warriors Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland 4-20[57] K. Sio K. Sio (0/1) 14,395
18 August 23 Penrith Panthers Panthers Stadium, Penrith
26 August 24 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Southern Cross Group Stadium, Cronulla
1 September 25 St George Illawarra Dragons McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw

Statistics

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField GoalsPointsCaptainAge
Mitchell Barnett232008024
Jamie Buhrer2000002029
Jack Cogger121004021
Cory Denniss111004021
Herman Ese'ese232008024
JJ Felise20000022
Lachlan Fitzgibbon2190036024
Slade Griffin162008027
Aidan Guerra2450020930
Chris Heighington211004036
Shaun Kenny-Dowall2460024030
Josh King130000023
Brock Lamb807014021
Danny Levi170000023
Jacob Lillyman150000034
Sione Mata'utia2380032022
Nick Meaney521010021
Tautau Moga42008025
Mitchell Pearce15202101529
Kalyn Ponga20627078020
Nathan Ross152008030
Daniel Saifiti2130012022
Jacob Saifiti80000022
Pasami Saulo30000020
Ken Sio201225098028
Tom Starling10000020
Sam Stone20000021
Connor Watson1570028022
Luke Yates60000023
Totals2473602414-Average: 25

29 players used.

Source:[58]

Representative honours

The following players appeared in a representative match in 2018.

Australian Schoolboys

  • Timanu Alexander (squad member)
  • Bradman Best
  • Harry Croker
  • Jock Madden
  • Star Toa

Fiji

Junior Kiwis

New South Wales under-20s

  • Bradman Best
  • Phoenix Crossland
  • Jock Madden
  • Jaron Purcell

New Zealand

Queensland

Queensland under-20s

  • Beau Fermor

Individual honours

Newcastle Knights awards

Player of the Year

  • National Rugby League (NRL) Player of the Year: Kalyn Ponga
  • Intrust Super Premiership NSW Player of the Year: Luke Yates
  • Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year: Beau Fermor

Players' Player

  • National Rugby League (NRL) Players' Player: Kalyn Ponga
  • Intrust Super Premiership NSW Players' Player: Luke Yates
  • Jersey Flegg Cup Players' Player: Matt Croker

Coach's Award

  • National Rugby League (NRL) Coach's Award: Aidan Guerra
  • Intrust Super Premiership NSW Coach's Award: Zac Hosking
  • Jersey Flegg Cup Coach's Award: Kurtis Dark

References

  1. ↑ "Jack Cogger signs with Canterbury - Zero Tackle". 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sam Stone re-signs with Knights - Zero Tackle". 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. ↑ TOOHEY, BARRY (29 September 2018). "COLUMN - Toohey's News – Who is on the Knights' recruitment hit-list?". Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  4. ↑ NewcastleKnights.com.au (2017-03-05). "Mitch Barnett re-signs with Knights". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  5. ↑ "Knights re-sign Sione Mata'utia - Zero Tackle". 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Brown announces Melbourne trial squad". 2 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Media, NRL Digital. "Knights re-sign Pasami Saulo". Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "Lachlan Fitzgibbon re-signs with Knights - Zero Tackle". 6 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Knights sign Herman Ese'ese - Zero Tackle". 27 July 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Newcastle Knights sign Mitchell Pearce - Zero Tackle". 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 TOOHEY, BARRY (6 October 2018). "COLUMN - Toohey's News – Eels veteran Jennings in Knights sights". Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  12. ↑ NRL Digital Media. "Cory Denniss re-signs - Knights". Newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  13. ↑ "Slade Griffin joins Knights - Zero Tackle". 3 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Newcastle Knights sign Aidan Guerra - Zero Tackle". 15 June 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Kalyn Ponga signs with Knights". Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Heighington to hang up the boots at seasons end - Zero Tackle". 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "Newcastle Knights sign Shaun Kenny-Dowall". Zero Tackle. 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
  18. ↑ "King secures contract extension". 30 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Trent Hodkinson agrees to terms with Cronulla Sharks - Zero Tackle". 5 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  20. ↑ NewcastleKnights.com.au (2017-04-05). "Newcastle Knights re-sign Danny Levi". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  21. ↑ Media, NRL Digital. "Gallery: 2018 pre-season kicks off". Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Newcastle sign Tautau Moga - Zero Tackle". 18 July 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  23. ↑ NRL Digital Media. "Knights sign Ken Sio - Knights". Newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  24. ↑ "Nathan Ross extends Newcastle contract". Zero Tackle. 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  25. 1 2 TOOHEY, BARRY (1 September 2018). "COLUMN - Toohey's News – Eighth Immortal urges Knights to bring star forward home". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Luke Yates re-signs with Knights - Zero Tackle". 27 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  27. 1 2 Media, NRL Digital. "Saifitis extend until 2020". Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  28. ↑ "Lillyman calls time on career - Zero Tackle". 7 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  29. ↑ "Knights release Chanel Mata'utia - Zero Tackle". 23 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "Dogs sign Nick Meaney - Zero Tackle". 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "Connor Watson to join Knights - Zero Tackle". 24 July 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  32. ↑ "Newcastle Knights release Dylan Phythian - Zero Tackle". 27 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  33. ↑ "NRL 2018 trials: Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights, Mitchell Pearce debut behind closed doors". 7 February 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  34. ↑ Paul Crawley (10 March 2018). "A Knight to remember". The Courier-Mail. p. 85.
  35. ↑ "NRL: Knights v Sea Eagles". Austadiums. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  36. 1 2 Scott Hazlewood (18 March 2018). "Knights outlast Raiders in thriller". Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  37. ↑ Chris Kennedy (25 March 2018). "Roosters bring Knights back down to earth". NRL.com. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  38. ↑ "NRL: Roosters v Knights". Austadiums. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  39. 1 2 Brad Arthur (1 April 2018). "Dynamic Dragons stay unbeaten by nullifying Knights". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  40. 1 2 Peter Jolly (7 April 2018). "Knights show steel for rare win over Broncos". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  41. 1 2 Andrew Marmont (13 April 2018). "Storm experience pays off in win over Knights". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  42. ↑ Alicia Newton (21 April 2018). "Knights steal thrilling win over Tigers in Tamworth". Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  43. ↑ Alicia Newton (23 April 2018). "Ponga laughs off horror goal-kicking night". Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  44. ↑ Margie McDonald (27 April 2018). "Knights pile more pain on under-siege Sea Eagles". Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  45. 1 2 Jolly, Peter (4 May 2018). "Rabbitohs hand Knights first home defeat". National Rugby League. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  46. ↑ Peter Jolly (11 May 2018). "Panthers make Watson pay for horror night". Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  47. ↑ Neil Cadigan (19 May 2018). "Titans break drought with late win over Knights". Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  48. ↑ Peter Jolly (27 May 2018). "Moylan masterclass leads Sharks to huge win over Knights". Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  49. ↑ Chris Kennedy (2 June 2018). "Knights cruise to win over injury-wrecked Eels". Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  50. ↑ Peter Jolly (9 June 2018). "Ferguson bags a double as Roosters outlast brave Knights". Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  51. ↑ Peter Jolly (17 June 2018). "Ponga passes Origin audition but Storm outclass Knights". Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  52. ↑ Peter Jolly (30 June 2018). "Bulldogs display plenty of bite as Ponga injured for Knights". Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  53. ↑ Peter Jolly (13 July 2018). "Returning Pearce guides Knights to narrow win over Eels". Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  54. ↑ "Knights pull of comeback win over Titans in Newcastle". 21 July 2018.
  55. ↑ Dylan Morris (27 July 2018). "Late try seals Cowboys' comeback win over Knights".
  56. ↑ Peter Jolly (3 August 2018). "Wests Tigers conquer Knights to stay in finals race". Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  57. ↑ Kent Gray (10 August 2018). "Warriors rise to sixth with emphatic win over Knights". Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  58. ↑ "2018 player stats".
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