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2021 Newcastle Knights season

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2021 Newcastle Knights season
NRL Rank7th
Play-off resultElimination Finalists (Week 1)
2021 recordWins: 12; draws: 0; losses: 12
Points scoredFor: 428; against: 571
Team information
CEOPhil Gardner
CoachAdam O'Brien
Captain
StadiumMcDonald Jones Stadium
Avg. attendance17,636
High attendance23,015
Top scorers
TriesEnari Tuala (13)
GoalsJake Clifford (33)
PointsJake Clifford (74)
← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 Newcastle Knights season was the 34th in the club's history. Coached by Adam O'Brien and co-captained by Jayden Brailey, Kalyn Ponga and Daniel Saifiti, they competed in the NRL's 2021 Telstra Premiership. In July, the NRL relocated the competition to Queensland to avoid an outbreak of the Deltra variant COVID-19 virus in New South Wales.[1] The Knights finished the regular season in 7th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals but were knocked out after losing to the Parramatta Eels in week 1.

Squad

[edit]
For the complete list of Newcastle Knights players, see List of Newcastle Knights players.
Newcastle Knights 2021 squad
2021 NRL top 30 squad Development players Coaching staff

Extended squad players

Head coach

Assistant coaches

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

Updated: 9 November 2021
Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles,
Rugby League Project


Transfers and Re-signings

[edit]

Gains

[edit]
Player/Coach Previous Club Length Source
McKenzie Baker Sydney Roosters 2021 [2]
Zane Camroux Wests Tigers 2021 [3]
Tyler Coburn Ipswich Jets Pre-season [4]
Jake Clifford North Queensland Cowboys 2023 [5]
Tyson Frizell St. George Illawarra Dragons 2023 [6]
Bailey Hodgson Castleford Tigers 2023 [7]
Jack Johns South Sydney Rabbitohs 2021 [8]
Jacob Kiraz North Queensland Cowboys 2021 [9]
Blake Lenehan Ipswich Jets Pre-season [4]
Brayden Musgrove Cessnock Goannas 2022 [10]
Andrew Ryan (NSW Cup coach) South Newcastle Lions 2021 [11]
Garrett Smith North Queensland Cowboys 2021 [12]
Sauaso Sue Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2022 [13]
Dom Young Huddersfield Giants 2023 [14]

Losses

[edit]
Player/Coach Club Source
Jack Cameron South Sydney Rabbitohs [15]
Matt Cooper Lakes United [16]
Herman Ese'ese Gold Coast Titans [17]
Beau Fermor Gold Coast Titans [18]
David Furner (assistant coach) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs [19]
Tim Glasby Retirement [20]
Tony Gleeson (NSW Cup coach) Released
Aidan Guerra Retirement [21]
Danny Levi Manly Warringah Sea Eagles [22]
Mason Lino Wakefield Trinity [23]
Toby Marks Canberra Raiders [24]
Sione Mata'utia St Helens R.F.C. [25]
Andrew McCullough Brisbane Broncos [26]
Tautau Moga South Sydney Rabbitohs [27]
Tyronne Roberts-Davis Wests Tigers [28]
Brandon Russell Tweed Heads Seagulls [29]
Bayden Searle Macquarie Scorpions [30]
[edit]
Player Junior side Source
Harry Croker Knights Jersey Flegg Cup [31]
Cooper Jenkins Knights Jersey Flegg Cup [32]
Christian Ma'anaima Knights Jersey Flegg Cup [33]
Jaron Purcell Knights Jersey Flegg Cup [2]
Daniel Ticehurst Knights Jersey Flegg Cup [34]
Chris Vea'ila Knights S. G. Ball Cup [35]

Change of role

[edit]
Player/Coach New role Source
Adam Bettridge (Jersey Flegg Cup coach) Knights S. G. Ball Cup assistant coach [36]
Luke Huth Knights NSW Cup [37]
Rory Kostjasyn (Knights development coach) Knights NRL assistant coach [38]
Eric Smith (Knights development coach) Knights NRL assistant coach [38]

Re-signings

[edit]
Player/Coach Re-signed to Source
Bradman Best 2024 [39]
Jayden Brailey 2025 [40]
Lachlan Fitzgibbon 2023 [41]
Hymel Hunt 2023 [42]
Brodie Jones 2023 [43]
Kurt Mann 2023 [44]
Adam O'Brien (head coach) 2024 [45]
Mitchell Pearce 2022 [46]
Daniel Saifiti 2026 [47]
Jacob Saifiti 2024 [47]
Starford To'a 2023 [48]

Player contract situations

[edit]
2021 (left) 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Tyler Coburn[49] McKenzie Baker[50] Mitchell Barnett[51] Bradman Best[39] Jayden Brailey[40] Daniel Saifiti[47]
Blake Green[52] Mitch Black[53] Jake Clifford[5] Jacob Saifiti[47]
Zac Hosking[54] Zane Camroux[53] Lachlan Fitzgibbon[41] Kalyn Ponga[55]
Josh King[56] Harry Croker[31] Tyson Frizell[6]
Jacob Kiraz[57] Mat Croker[58] Bailey Hodgson[7]
Blake Lenehan[49] Phoenix Crossland[59] Hymel Hunt[42]
Christian Ma'anaima[60] Tex Hoy[61] Jack Johns[59]
Mitchell Pearce[62] Cooper Jenkins[50] Brodie Jones[43]
Gehamat Shibasaki[63] Edrick Lee[64] David Klemmer[65]
Garrett Smith[66] Dylan Lucas[50] Kurt Mann[44]
Matt Soper-Lawler[67] Jirah Momoisea[68] Chris Randall[59]
Starford To'a[69] Brayden Musgrove[10] Enari Tuala[70]
Connor Watson[71] Jaron Purcell[72] Chris Vea'ila[73]
Simi Sasagi[74] Dom Young[14]
Pasami Saulo[75]
Sauaso Sue[13]
Daniel Ticehurst[34]

Ladder

[edit]
2021 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm 24 21 0 3 1 815 316 +499 44
2 Penrith Panthers (P) 24 21 0 3 1 676 286 +390 44
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 20 0 4 1 775 453 +322 42
4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 16 0 8 1 744 492 +252 34
5 Sydney Roosters 24 16 0 8 1 630 489 +141 34
6 Parramatta Eels 24 15 0 9 1 566 457 +109 32
7 Newcastle Knights 24 12 0 12 1 428 571 −143 26
8 Gold Coast Titans 24 10 0 14 1 580 583 −3 22
9 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 10 0 14 1 520 556 −36 22
10 Canberra Raiders 24 10 0 14 1 481 578 −97 22
11 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 8 0 16 1 474 616 −142 18
12 New Zealand Warriors 24 8 0 16 1 453 624 −171 18
13 Wests Tigers 24 8 0 16 1 500 714 −214 18
14 Brisbane Broncos 24 7 0 17 1 446 695 −249 16
15 North Queensland Cowboys 24 7 0 17 1 460 748 −288 16
16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 3 0 21 1 340 710 −370 8

Milestones

[edit]

Jerseys and sponsors

[edit]

In 2021, the Knights' jerseys were made by O'Neills and their major sponsor was nib Health Funds.

2021 Home Jersey 2021 Away Jersey 2021 Heritage Jersey 2021 Indigenous Jersey 2021 NSW Mining Jersey

Fixtures

[edit]

Pre-season Trials

[edit]
Date Opponent Venue Score Tries Conversions Attendance
Saturday, 27 February Melbourne Storm Albury Sports Ground 10–30 D.Lucas, D.Young C.Randall (1/1)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw

Statistics

[edit]
Name Appearances Tries Goals Field Goals Points Captain Age
Mitchell Barnett 24 4 13 0 42 0 27
Bradman Best 17 3 0 0 12 0 20
Jayden Brailey 23 3 0 0 12 20 25
Jake Clifford 13 2 33 0 74 0 23
Mat Croker 2 0 0 0 0 0 22
Phoenix Crossland 9 1 1 0 6 0 21
Lachlan Fitzgibbon 10 3 0 0 12 0 27
Tyson Frizell 19 3 0 0 12 0 30
Blake Green 6 0 0 0 0 0 35
Tex Hoy 7 1 6 0 16 0 22
Hymel Hunt 17 4 0 0 16 0 28
Jack Johns 6 1 0 0 4 0 24
Brodie Jones 22 3 0 0 12 0 23
Josh King 18 1 0 0 4 0 26
David Klemmer 21 0 0 0 0 0 28
Kurt Mann 22 3 0 1 13 0 28
Jirah Momoisea 3 0 0 0 0 0 23
Brayden Musgrove 7 1 0 0 4 0 23
Mitchell Pearce 12 3 0 1 13 0 32
Kalyn Ponga 15 8 10 0 52 5 23
Chris Randall 5 2 0 0 8 0 26
Daniel Saifiti 20 3 0 0 12 17 25
Jacob Saifiti 23 3 0 0 12 0 25
Simi Sasagi 2 0 0 0 0 0 20
Pasami Saulo 3 0 0 0 0 0 23
Gehamat Shibasaki 3 1 0 0 4 0 23
Sauaso Sue 23 2 0 0 8 0 29
Starford To'a 12 6 0 0 24 0 21
Enari Tuala 25 13 0 0 52 0 23
Connor Watson 25 2 0 0 8 0 25
Dom Young 6 4 0 0 16 0 20
Totals 25 80 63 2 448 – Average: 25

31 players used.

Source:[76]

Representative honours

[edit]
See also: List of Newcastle Knights representatives

The following players appeared in a representative match or were named in a representative squad in 2021.

Emerging Blues squad

New South Wales

Queensland

Individual honours

[edit]

Newcastle Knights awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NRL clubs to move into Queensland hubs amid NSW COVID-19 outbreak". www.abc.net.au. 11 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Knights v Cessnock trial team list". Newcastle Knights. 16 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Round 2 Junior Rep team lists". Newcastle Knights. 9 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Coburn and Lenehan excited for Knights life". Queensland Rugby League. 26 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Jake Clifford joins Knights for remainder of 2021 season". Newcastle Knights. 29 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Tyson Frizell accepts Knights offer". Newcastle Knights. 26 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Bailey Hodgson joins Knights for '21 season". Newcastle Knights. 19 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Jack Johns returns on development deal". Newcastle Knights. 20 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Full 2021 NRL squad list and development players". Newcastle Knights. 4 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Brayden Musgrove returns to NRL squad". Newcastle Knights. 4 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Seibold appointed coaching consultant at Knights". 22 December 2020.
  12. ^ "2021 Signings Tracker: Finucane to Sharks; Moylan re-signs". National Rugby League. 25 July 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Sauaso Sue signs with the Knights". Newcastle Knights. 19 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Knights sign towering young Englishman". Newcastle Knights. 7 August 2020.
  15. ^ Bode, Mark (2 December 2020). "Cameron to share love nest with his beautiful dancer girlfriend after joining Rabbitohs". The Northern Daily Leader.
  16. ^ "Seagulls, Knights' bond paying dividends". 20 May 2021.
  17. ^ "HERMAN HEADED TO THE TITANS". Gold Coast Titans. 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ TOOHEY, BARRY (28 January 2020). "Boom Knights backrower quits club to link with Gold Coast Titans". Newcastle Herald.
  19. ^ "David Furner named as part of Bulldogs new Coaching and High Performance Staff for 2021". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 18 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Glasby retires: Epitome of hard worker hangs up boots". National Rugby League. 20 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Guerra retires: Knights veteran hanging up boots at season's end". National Rugby League. 10 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Sea Eagles sign Danny Levi". Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. 24 January 2020.
  23. ^ Toohey, Barry (24 November 2020). "Ex-Knight Mason Lino signs with Wakefield in English Super League". Newcastle Herald.
  24. ^ "Jersey Flegg Training Squad". Canberra Raiders. 13 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Sione Mata'utia granted immediate release". Newcastle Knights. 11 November 2020.
  26. ^ Keating, Mitch (7 November 2020). "Walters keen to move on Andrew McCullough as salary cap strains continue | NRL News". Zero Tackle.
  27. ^ DILLON, ROBERT (3 November 2020). "O'Brien hopes Moga rebounds with Rabbits after release from Knights". Newcastle Herald.
  28. ^ Harper, Lachlan (19 February 2021). "Roberts-Davis named in Wests Tigers squad for NRL trial match". The Macleay Argus.
  29. ^ "Brandon Russell". Queensland Rugby League.
  30. ^ Callinan, Josh (1 January 2021). "Newcastle Rugby League: Bayden Searle signs with Macquarie Scorpions for 2021". Newcastle Herald.
  31. ^ a b Callinan, Josh (3 December 2020). "Former Newcastle Knights forward Matt Kennedy to coach Souths in 2021". Newcastle Herald.
  32. ^ "NSW Cup side score win to rise into top four". Newcastle Knights. 17 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Promising forward Ma'anaima signs NRL deal". Newcastle Knights. 1 August 2020.
  34. ^ a b "NRL 2020: transfers, contracts, Esan Marsters stays at the Cowboys, Danny Levi, Manly, Newcastle Knights". 6 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Round 3 Junior Rep team lists". Newcastle Knights. 16 February 2021.
  36. ^ TOOHEY, BARRY (15 November 2020). "Andrew Ryan quits as Souths Lions coach for dream job at Knights". Newcastle Herald.
  37. ^ "Round 12 NSW Cup Team List". Newcastle Knights. 25 May 2021.
  38. ^ a b "'This is everything we want in our staff': O'Brien reveals 2021 coaching team". Newcastle Knights. 18 December 2020.
  39. ^ a b "Bradman Best extends Knights deal". Newcastle Knights. 2 March 2021.
  40. ^ a b "Extended: Brailey a Knight until 2025". Newcastle Knights. 5 September 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Lachlan Fitzgibbon inks new Knights contract". Newcastle Knights. 1 September 2021.
  42. ^ a b "Hymel Hunt extends Knights contract". Newcastle Knights. 16 July 2021.
  43. ^ a b "Brodie Jones inks multi-year Knights deal". Newcastle Knights. 8 July 2021.
  44. ^ a b "Kurt Mann inks two-year Knights extension". Newcastle Knights. 26 July 2021.
  45. ^ "O'Brien handed extension; New Pearce deal on way". National Rugby League. 25 February 2021.
  46. ^ "Pearce drops contract bombshell" – via www.newcastleknights.com.au.
  47. ^ a b c d "Daniel and Jacob Saifiti sign long term Knights deals". Newcastle Knights. 16 July 2021.
  48. ^ "To'a inks fresh NRL deal". Newcastle Knights. 27 November 2020.
  49. ^ a b "Round 5 Intrust Super Cup teams". Queensland Rugby League. 20 April 2021.
  50. ^ a b c "Knights v Bulldogs NRL Trial team list". Newcastle Knights. 18 February 2022.
  51. ^ "Mitch Barnett extends NRL contract". Newcastle Knights. 18 December 2019.
  52. ^ "Blake Green confirms retirement from Rugby League". Newcastle Knights. 25 May 2021.
  53. ^ a b "2022 Round 1 NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg team lists". Newcastle Knights. 8 March 2022.
  54. ^ "Updated Team List: Titans v Broncos". Brisbane Broncos. 18 February 2022.
  55. ^ "Kalyn Ponga secures Knights NRL future". Newcastle Knights. 16 June 2020.
  56. ^ "King to swap Knights for Storm". Melbourne Storm. 17 August 2021.
  57. ^ "Barry Toohey Twitter". Twitter. 14 January 2022.
  58. ^ "Titan Sports Management". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  59. ^ a b c "Rising Knights trio re-sign". Newcastle Knights. 9 November 2021.
  60. ^ "New faces hit the field for pre-season training". Wests Tigers. 4 November 2021.
  61. ^ "Full NRL squad and development list for 2022 season". Newcastle Knights. 2 March 2022.
  62. ^ "Statement: Mitchell Pearce". Newcastle Knights. 14 November 2021.
  63. ^ Keating, Mitch (4 September 2021). "Newcastle young guns facing squeeze". Zero Tackle.
  64. ^ "Knights re-sign Edrick Lee". Newcastle Knights. 2 March 2022.
  65. ^ "Knights secure Origin and Test enforcer Klemmer". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  66. ^ Pryde, Scott (8 November 2021). "Warriors confirm 12 train and trial contracts for 2022". Zero Tackle.
  67. ^ Hartshorn, Michael (23 February 2022). "Maitland Pickers' Matt Soper-Lawler leaves door open with Knights". The Maitland Mercury.
  68. ^ "Promising youngster Momoisea extends NRL deal". Newcastle Knights. 28 January 2020.
  69. ^ "Wests Tigers sign Starford To'a". Wests Tigers. 13 January 2022.
  70. ^ "Tuala extends Knights contract". Newcastle Knights. 22 November 2021.
  71. ^ "Connor Watson to Return to Roosters in 2022". Sydney Roosters. 17 August 2021.
  72. ^ "Titan Sports Management". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  73. ^ "2022 signings tracker: Official rosters for all 16 clubs". National Rugby League. 10 November 2021.
  74. ^ "2021 Signings Tracker: Knights trio re-sign; Feagai twins extend". National Rugby League. 9 November 2021.
  75. ^ "Forward Saulo extends NRL contract". Newcastle Knights. 29 January 2020.
  76. ^ "NRL 2021 - Newcastle Knights - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
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