2018 Newcastle Knights season

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).

2018 Newcastle Knights season
NRL Rank11th
2018 recordWins: 9; Draws: 0; Losses: 15
Points scoredFor: 414; Against: 607
Team information
CEOPhil Gardner
CoachNathan Brown
Captain
StadiumMcDonald Jones Stadium
Avg. Attend.18,974
High. Attend.24,662 (vs. Dragons, round 25)
Top scorers
TriesKen Sio (12)
GoalsKalyn Ponga (27)
PointsKen Sio (98)
< 2017 2019 >

Milestones

Squad
For the complete list of Newcastle Knights players, see List of Newcastle Knights players.
Newcastle Knights
2018 NRL premiership squad Coaching staff

Extended squad players

  • Thomas Cronan - WG

Head coach

  • Nathan Brown

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
Player/CoachPrevious ClubLength
Herman Ese'eseBrisbane Broncos2020
JJ FeliseWests Tigers2018
Slade GriffinMelbourne Storm2019
Aidan GuerraSydney Roosters2020
Christian HazardRedcliffe Dolphins2018
Chris HeighingtonCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2018
Jacob LillymanNew Zealand Warriors2018
Tautau MogaBrisbane Broncos2020
Brent NadenCanberra Raiders2018
Mitchell PearceSydney Roosters2021
Kalyn PongaNorth Queensland Cowboys2021
James Shepherd (assistant coach)Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks2018
Connor WatsonSydney Roosters2020

Losses
Player/CoachClub
David BhanaReleased
Brendan ElliotGold Coast Titans
Jaelen FeeneyTownsville Blackhawks
Dane GagaiSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Jacob GaganSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Heath GibbsWests Tigers
Rory KostjasynRetirement
Jake MamoHuddersfield Giants
Sam MataoraRetirement
Peter Mata'utiaLeigh Centurions
Sam McIntyreWests Tigers
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
PlayerJunior side
Matt CooperKnights National Youth Competition
Zac HoskingKnights National Youth Competition
Jack JohnsKnights National Youth Competition
Brayden MusgroveKnights National Youth Competition

Change of role
Player/CoachNew role
Rory Kostjasyn (Harold Matthews Cup coach)Knights Intrust Super Premiership NSW coach
Joe MorrisKnights second-tier squad

Re-signings
Player/CoachRe-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)201920202021
Tyrone Amey[1]Jamie Buhrer[2]Mitchell Barnett[3]Sione Mata'utia[4]
Jack Cogger[5]Lachlan Fitzgibbon[6]Herman Ese'ese[7]Mitchell Pearce[8]
Matt Cooper[9]Slade Griffin[10]Aidan Guerra[11]Kalyn Ponga[12]
Thomas Cronan[13]Brodie Jones[14]Josh King[15]
Cory Denniss[16]Shaun Kenny-Dowall[17]Danny Levi[18]
JJ Felise[19]Brayden Musgrove[20]Tautau Moga[21]
Christian Hazard[22]Nathan Ross[23]
Chris Heighington[24]Daniel Saifiti[25]
Trent Hodkinson[26]Jacob Saifiti[25]
Zac Hosking[27]Pasami Saulo[20]
Tom Hughes[9]Sam Stone[27]
Jack Johns[28]Connor Watson[29]
Brock Lamb[30]
Jacob Lillyman[31]
Chanel Mata'utia[32]
Pat Mata'utia[33]
Nick Meaney[34]
Brent Naden[35]
Dylan Phythian[36]
Ken Sio[37]
Tom Starling[38]
Luke Yates[39]

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 were made by ISC and their major sponsor was 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[40]
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[41] K. Ponga, S. Griffin, L. Fitzgibbon K. Ponga (3/3), M. Pearce (FG) 23,516[42]
18 March 2 Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium, Canberra 30-28[43] L. Fitzgibbon, A. Guerra, S. Mata'utia, T. Moga, C. Watson K. Ponga (5/6) 12,626[43]
25 March 3 Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium, Sydney 8-38[44] A. Guerra K. Ponga (2/3) 15,153[45]
1 April 4 St. George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, Wollongong 12-30[46] T. Moga, C. Heighington K. Ponga (2/2) 18,589[46]
7 April 5 Brisbane Broncos McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 15-10[47] L. Fitzgibbon, D. Saifiti K. Ponga (3/3), M. Pearce (FG) 21,969[47]
13 April 6 Melbourne Storm AAMI Park, Melbourne 14-40[48] K. Sio (2), L. Fitzgibbon K. Ponga (1/3) 12,386[48]
21 April 7 Wests Tigers Scully Park, Tamworth 22-20[49] K. Sio (3), S. Kenny-Dowall, M. Pearce K. Ponga (1/5)[50] 10,082
27 April 8 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Lottoland, Manly 18-12[51] S. Griffin, N. Ross, C. Watson K. Sio (3/4) 5,715
4 May 9 South Sydney Rabbitohs McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 18-36[52] S. Kenny-Dowall (2), S. Mata'utai, L. Fitzgibbon K. Sio (1/4) 22,718 [52]
11 May 10 Penrith Panthers McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 18-29[53] 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[54] 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[55] 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[56] 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[57] S. Mata'utia, K. Ponga K. Ponga (4/4) 18,029
17 June 15 Melbourne Storm McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 10-28[58] K. Ponga, K. Sio K. Ponga (1/2) 14,803
30 June 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 16-36[59] C. Watson (2), H. Ese'ese K. Sio (2/3) 17,755
17Bye
13 July 18 Parramatta Eels McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 18-16[60] 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[61] 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[62] L. Fitzgibbon (2), A. Guerra K. Sio (3/4) 11,709
3 August 21 Wests Tigers McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 16-25[63] 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[64] 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:[65]

Representative honours
See also: List of Newcastle Knights representatives

The following players appeared in a representative match in 2018.

Australian Schoolboys

Fiji

Junior Kiwis

New South Wales under-16s

  • Thomas Cant

New South Wales under-18s

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

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