The 2013 Newcastle Knights season was the 26th in the club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Kurt Gidley, they competed in the NRL's 2013 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 7th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals. The Knights then came within one match of the grand final but were knocked out by eventual premiers, the Sydney Roosters.
Milestones Round 1: Beau Scott made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Round 1: Jeremy Smith made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Round 1: Travis Waddell made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canberra Raiders. Round 3: David Fa'alogo made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Huddersfield Giants. Round 3: Korbin Sims made his NRL debut for the club. Round 4: Adam Cuthbertson scored his 1st try for the club. Round 4: Chris Houston played his 100th game for the club. Round 5: Jarrod Mullen played his 150th game for the club, which was also his 150th career game. Round 6: Joseph Leilua made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters. Round 7: David Fa'alogo scored his 1st try for the club. Round 7: James McManus scored his 50th try for the club, which was also his 50th career try. Round 9: Adam Clydsdale made his NRL debut for the club. Round 9: Kurt Gidley played his 200th game for the club, which was also his 200th career game. Round 10: David Fa'alogo played his 150th career game. Round 10: Joseph Leilua scored his 1st try for the club. Round 11: Akuila Uate played his 100th game for the club, which was also his 100th career game. Round 12: Josh Mantellato made his NRL debut for the club, scored his 1st career try and kicked his 1st career goal. Round 13: Wayne Bennett coached his 670th career game, becoming the most experienced coach ever in the NRL. Round 14: Craig Gower made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the London Broncos. Round 16: James McManus scored 4 tries, equalling Darren Albert, Adam MacDougall, Andrew Johns, Cooper Vuna and Akuila Uate's record of most tries scored in a match by 1 player for the Knights. Round 17: Jeremy Smith played his 150th career game. Round 19: Craig Gower scored his 1st try for the club. Round 19: Kade Snowden played his 50th game for the club and scored his 1st try for the club. Round 21: Neville Costigan played his 50th game for the club. Round 21: Beau Scott scored his 1st try for the club. Round 22: Danny Buderus played his 250th game for the club, which was also his 250th career game, breaking Andrew Johns' record of 249 games for most appearances for the Knights. Round 25: Kurt Gidley kicked his 400th try for the club, which was also his 400th career goal. Round 26: Danny Buderus kicked his 1st career goal. Round 26: Jeremy Smith scored his 1st try for the club. Finals Week 1: Tyrone Roberts played his 50th game for the club, which was also his 50th career game. Finals Week 2: Matt Hilder played his 200th career game and 100th game for the club. Finals Week 2: Willie Mason played his 250th career game.
Squad
Transfers and Re-signings
Gains Player/Coach Previous club LengthDavid Fa'alogoHuddersfield Giants2013Mitchell FreiBrisbane Broncos2013Craig GowerLondon Broncos2013Joseph LeiluaSydney Roosters2014Toka LikilikiNew Zealand Warriors2014Anthony QuinnMelbourne Storm2013Beau ScottSt. George Illawarra Dragons2016Jeremy SmithCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2015Travis WaddellCanberra Raiders2014
Losses Player/Coach ClubSam AndersonPenrith PanthersEthan CookPenrith PanthersJoel EdwardsCanberra RaidersRichard Fa'aosoMelbourne StormAlbert KellyContract terminatedDaine LaurieWyong RoosLorenzo Ma'afuParramatta EelsKurt MannMelbourne StormMaipele MorseauReleasedWes NaiqamaPenrith PanthersKyle O'DonnellPenrith PanthersApi PewhairangiParramatta EelsJunior Sa'uMelbourne StormSimione SaweneReleasedWarren SchillingsWestern Suburbs RosellasZeb TaiaCatalans DragonsRip Taylor (NSW Cup coach)Wyong RoosEvarn TuimavaveHull Kingston RoversWatisoni VotuFiji Rugby UnionMark WadeMerewether Carlton Rugby Club
Promoted juniors Player Junior sideAdam ClydsdaleKnights National Youth CompetitionJosh MantellatoKnights New South Wales CupPat Mata'utiaKnights National Youth CompetitionBen RooseKnights National Youth CompetitionNathan RossKnights New South Wales CupPaterika VaivaiKnights National Youth Competition
Change of role Player/Coach New roleRick Stone (assistant coach)Knights assistant coach & New South Wales Cup coach
Re-signings Player/Coach Re-signed toAdam Clydsdale2016David Fa'alogo2014Dane Gagai2015Matt Hilder2014Josh Mantellato2014Chanel Mata'utia2014Pat Mata'utia2015Sione Mata'utia2015James McManus2016Anthony Quinn2014Chad Redman2014Robbie Rochow2016Korbin Sims2015Timana Tahu2014Zane Tetevano2015Akuila Uate2017Paterika Vaivai2014
Player contract situations 2013 (left)2014201520162017Chris AdamsAdam CuthbertsonDarius BoydAdam ClydsdaleAkuila UateDanny BuderusDavid Fa'alogoDane GagaiJames McManusNeville CostiganMatt HilderKurt GidleyRobbie RochowAdrian DavisChris HoustonPat Mata'utiaBeau ScottMarvin FilipoJoseph LeiluaTyler RandellMitchell FreiToka LikilikiKorbin SimsCraig GowerJosh MantellatoJeremy SmithSiuatonga LikilikiWillie MasonKade SnowdenRodney MasonChanel Mata'utiaZane TetevanoPeter Mata'utiaAlex McKinnonKevin NaiqamaJarrod MullenBen RooseAnthony QuinnNathan RossChad RedmanWill SmithTyrone RobertsRyan StigTimana TahuTravis WaddellPaterika Vaivai
Ladder
Jerseys and sponsors In 2013, the Knights' jerseys were made by ISC and their major sponsor was Hunter Ports.
2013 Home Jersey2013 Away Jersey
Fixtures
Pre-season trials Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 16 FebruaryTrial 1 South Sydney RabbitohsBCU International Stadium18 – 6T.Roberts (2), M.HilderK.Gidley (1/1), T.Roberts (1/1), P.Mata'utia (1/1)Saturday, 23 FebruaryTrial 2 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksScully Park16 – 22K.Naiqama, A.Uate, P.Mata'utiaK.Gidley (1/2), T.Roberts (1/1) Legend:
Regular season 2013 Regular season fixtures
Statistics NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPointsCaptainAge2611004202615110603520000020191004028132008028222008033235002002214238084113161004035610040312430012128191300520221130100262200000331920080212419007602726200815266200802441004030276480120022272008023162008029120000021192008033201004027520080338100402324150060026100000024 Totals 27 100 91 0 582 - Average: 27
29 players used.
Source:
Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match in 2013.
Australia Darius Boyd Kurt Gidley
Australian Schoolboys Sione Mata'utia
Cook Islands Zane Tetevano
Fiji Kevin Naiqama Korbin Sims Rick Stone (coach) Akuila Uate
Indigenous All Stars Timana Tahu Travis Waddell
Italy Josh Mantellato Kade Snowden
Junior Kiwis Joseph Tapine
New South Wales James McManus
New South Wales City Adam Cuthbertson
New South Wales Country Willie Mason Alex McKinnon James McManus Akuila Uate
New South Wales Residents Adrian Davis Matt Hilder Josh Mantellato Peter Mata'utia Kevin Naiqama
New South Wales under-16s Jack Cogger Brock Lamb
New South Wales under-18s Sione Mata'utia
NRL All Stars Wayne Bennett (coach) Willie Mason Akuila Uate
Papua New Guinea Neville Costigan (captain)
Queensland Darius Boyd
Samoa David Fa'alogo Joseph Leilua
Tonga Siuatonga Likiliki
Individual honours
Teams and squads New South Wales Cup Team of the Year Josh Mantellato Peter Mata'utia
Dally M awards Top Try-scorer James McManus (19 tries)
Newcastle Knights awards
Player of the Year National Rugby League (NRL) Player of the Year: Darius Boyd New South Wales Cup Player of the Year: Kevin Naiqama National Youth Competition (NYC) Player of the Year: Adam Clydsdale
Players' Player National Rugby League (NRL) Players' Player: Danny Buderus New South Wales Cup Players' Player: Matt Hilder National Youth Competition (NYC) Players' Player: Jake Mamo
Coach's Award National Rugby League (NRL) Coach's Award: Robbie Rochow New South Wales Cup Coach's Award: Mitchell Frei National Youth Competition (NYC) Coach's Award: Joseph Tapine
Brian Carlson Club-Andrew Johns Medal Sione Mata'utia
References