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2018 Newcastle Knights season

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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. attendance18,974
High attendance24,662 (vs. Dragons, round 25)
Top scorers
TriesKen Sio (12)
GoalsKalyn Ponga (27)
PointsKen 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

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

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

Player Previous Club Length
Matt Cooper Newcastle Knights NYC Promoted
Herman Ese'ese Brisbane Broncos 2020
JJ Felise Wests Tigers 2018
Slade Griffin Melbourne Storm 2019
Aidan Guerra Sydney Roosters 2020
Christian Hazard Redcliffe Dolphins 2018
Chris Heighington Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2018
Zac Hosking Newcastle Knights NYC Promoted
Jack Johns Newcastle Knights NYC Promoted
Rory Kostjasyn (ISP NSW coach) Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup 2018
Jacob Lillyman New Zealand Warriors 2018
Tautau Moga Brisbane Broncos 2020
Brayden Musgrove Newcastle Knights NYC Promoted
Brent Naden Canberra Raiders 2018
Mitchell Pearce Sydney Roosters 2021
Kalyn Ponga North Queensland Cowboys 2021
James Shepherd (assistant coach) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2018
Connor Watson Sydney Roosters 2020

Losses

Player Club
David Bhana Released
Brendan Elliot Gold Coast Titans
Jaelen Feeney Townsville Blackhawks
Dane Gagai South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jacob Gagan South Sydney Rabbitohs
Rory Kostjasyn Retirement
Jake Mamo Huddersfield Giants
Sam Mataora Retirement
Peter Mata'utia Leigh Centurions
Joe Morris Newcastle Knights second-tier squad
Jarrod Mullen Contract terminated
Mickey Paea Hull F.C.
Pauli Pauli Wakefield Trinity
Will Pearsall Retirement
Tyler Randell Wakefield Trinity
Braden Robson Wests Tigers
Korbin Sims Brisbane Broncos
Bradie Smith Wyong Roos
Josh Starling Retirement
Jack Stockwell Gold Coast Titans
Anthony Tupou Retirement
Joe Wardle Castleford Tigers
Kurt Wrigley (assistant coach) Released

Re-signings

Player Re-signed to
Tyrone Amey 2018
Nathan Brown ongoing contract
Jamie Buhrer 2019
Matt Cooper 2018
Zac Hosking 2018
Jack Johns 2018
Josh King 2020
Sione Mata'utia 2021
Brayden Musgrove 2019
Pasami Saulo 2020
Sam Stone 2020

Player contract situations

2018 (left) 2018 2019 2020 2021
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

2018 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Sydney Roosters 24 16 0 8 1 542 361 +181 34
2 Melbourne Storm 24 16 0 8 1 536 363 +173 34
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 16 0 8 1 582 437 +145 34
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 16 0 8 1 519 423 +96 34
5 Penrith Panthers 24 15 0 9 1 517 461 +56 32
6 Brisbane Broncos 24 15 0 9 1 556 500 +56 32
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 15 0 9 1 519 472 +47 32
8 New Zealand Warriors 24 15 0 9 1 472 447 +25 32
9 Wests Tigers 24 12 0 12 1 377 460 −83 26
10 Canberra Raiders 24 10 0 14 1 563 540 +23 22
11 Newcastle Knights 24 9 0 15 1 414 607 −193 20
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 8 0 16 1 428 474 −46 18
13 North Queensland Cowboys 24 8 0 16 1 449 521 −72 18
14 Gold Coast Titans 24 8 0 16 1 472 582 −110 18
15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 7 0 17 1 500 622 −122 16
16 Parramatta Eels 24 6 0 18 1 374 550 −176 14

Jerseys and sponsors

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

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

Fixtures

Pre-season trials

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Wednesday, 7 February Trial 1 Melbourne Storm AAMI Park 26 – 22 L.Fitzgibbon, K.Ponga, K.Sio, J.Buhrer, T.Cronan K.Ponga (2/3), B.Lamb (1/2) closed to public[33]
Saturday, 24 February Trial 2 Parramatta Eels Maitland No.1 Sportsground 6 – 26 S.Kenny-Dowall K.Ponga (1/1)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw

Regular Season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
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
17 Bye
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

Name Appearances Tries Goals Field Goals Points Captain Age
Mitchell Barnett 23 2 0 0 8 0 24
Jamie Buhrer 20 0 0 0 0 20 29
Jack Cogger 12 1 0 0 4 0 21
Cory Denniss 11 1 0 0 4 0 21
Herman Ese'ese 23 2 0 0 8 0 24
JJ Felise 2 0 0 0 0 0 22
Lachlan Fitzgibbon 21 9 0 0 36 0 24
Slade Griffin 16 2 0 0 8 0 27
Aidan Guerra 24 5 0 0 20 9 30
Chris Heighington 21 1 0 0 4 0 36
Shaun Kenny-Dowall 24 6 0 0 24 0 30
Josh King 13 0 0 0 0 0 23
Brock Lamb 8 0 7 0 14 0 21
Danny Levi 17 0 0 0 0 0 23
Jacob Lillyman 15 0 0 0 0 0 34
Sione Mata'utia 23 8 0 0 32 0 22
Nick Meaney 5 2 1 0 10 0 21
Tautau Moga 4 2 0 0 8 0 25
Mitchell Pearce 15 2 0 2 10 15 29
Kalyn Ponga 20 6 27 0 78 0 20
Nathan Ross 15 2 0 0 8 0 30
Daniel Saifiti 21 3 0 0 12 0 22
Jacob Saifiti 8 0 0 0 0 0 22
Pasami Saulo 3 0 0 0 0 0 20
Ken Sio 20 12 25 0 98 0 28
Tom Starling 1 0 0 0 0 0 20
Sam Stone 2 0 0 0 0 0 21
Connor Watson 15 7 0 0 28 0 22
Luke Yates 6 0 0 0 0 0 23
Totals 24 73 60 2 414 - Average: 25

29 players used.

Source:[58]

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-20s

New Zealand

Queensland

Queensland under-20s

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

References

  1. ^ "Jack Cogger signs with Canterbury - Zero Tackle". 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "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. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d TOOHEY, BARRY (6 October 2018). "COLUMN - Toohey's News – Eels veteran Jennings in Knights sights". Retrieved 6 October 2018. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  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. ^ a b TOOHEY, BARRY (1 September 2018). "COLUMN - Toohey's News – Eighth Immortal urges Knights to bring star forward home". Retrieved 1 September 2018. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  26. ^ a b "Luke Yates re-signs with Knights - Zero Tackle". 27 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  27. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.
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  39. ^ a b Brad Arthur (1 April 2018). "Dynamic Dragons stay unbeaten by nullifying Knights". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  40. ^ a b Peter Jolly (7 April 2018). "Knights show steel for rare win over Broncos". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  41. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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".
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  58. ^ "2018 player stats".
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