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 Round 1: Herman Ese'ese made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Brisbane Broncos. Round 1: Slade Griffin made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Melbourne Storm and scored his 1st try for the club. Round 1: Aidan Guerra made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters. Round 1: Chris Heighington made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Round 1: Jacob Lillyman made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the New Zealand Warriors. Round 1: Tautau Moga made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Brisbane Broncos. Round 1: Mitchell Pearce made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters, captained his 1st game for the club and kicked his 1st field goal for the club. Round 1: Kalyn Ponga made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the North Queensland Cowboys, scored his 1st try for the club and kicked his 1st career goal. Round 1: Connor Watson made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters. Round 2: Aidan Guerra scored his 1st try for the club. Round 2: Tautau Moga scored his 1st try for the club. Round 2: Connor Watson scored his 1st try for the club. Round 4: Chris Heighington scored his 1st try for the club. Round 5: Danny Levi played his 50th career game. Round 5: Nathan Ross played his 50th career game. Round 7: Jamie Buhrer played his 150th career game. Round 7: Mitchell Pearce scored his 1st try for the club. Round 7: Daniel Saifiti played his 50th career game. Round 8: Aidan Guerra captained his 1st game for the club. Round 8: Ken Sio kicked his 1st goal for the club. Round 11: Herman Ese'ese scored his 1st try for the club. Round 13: Jack Cogger scored his 1st career try. Round 16: Connor Watson played his 50th career game. Round 18: Nick Meaney made his NRL debut for the club. Round 19: Mitchell Barnett played his 50th career game. Round 19: Nick Meaney scored his 1st career try. Round 21: Mitchell Barnett played his 50th game for the club. Round 21: Herman Ese'ese played his 50th career game. Round 21: JJ Felise made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Wests Tigers. Round 21: Shaun Kenny-Dowall played his 250th career game. Round 22: Mitchell Pearce played his 250th career game. Round 22: Pasami Saulo made his NRL debut for the club. Round 25: Nick Meaney kicked his 1st career goal. Round 25: Tom Starling made his NRL debut for the club.
Squad
Transfers and Re-signings Gains Player/Coach Previous club LengthHerman Ese'eseBrisbane Broncos2020JJ FeliseWests Tigers2018Slade GriffinMelbourne Storm2019Aidan GuerraSydney Roosters2020Christian HazardRedcliffe Dolphins2018Chris HeighingtonCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2018Jacob LillymanNew Zealand Warriors2018Tautau MogaBrisbane Broncos2020Brent NadenCanberra Raiders2018Mitchell PearceSydney Roosters2021Kalyn PongaNorth Queensland Cowboys2021James Shepherd (assistant coach)Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks2018Connor WatsonSydney Roosters2020
Losses Player/Coach ClubDavid BhanaReleasedBrendan ElliotGold Coast TitansJaelen FeeneyTownsville BlackhawksDane GagaiSouth Sydney RabbitohsJacob GaganSouth Sydney RabbitohsHeath GibbsWests TigersRory KostjasynRetirementJake MamoHuddersfield GiantsSam MataoraRetirementPeter Mata'utiaLeigh CenturionsSam McIntyreWests TigersJarrod MullenContract terminatedMickey PaeaHull F.C.Pauli PauliWakefield TrinityWill PearsallRetirementTyler RandellWakefield TrinityBraden RobsonWests TigersKorbin SimsBrisbane BroncosBradie SmithWyong RoosJosh StarlingRetirementJack StockwellGold Coast TitansAnthony TupouRetirementJoe WardleCastleford TigersKurt Wrigley (assistant coach)Released
Promoted juniors Player Junior sideMatt CooperKnights National Youth CompetitionZac HoskingKnights National Youth CompetitionJack JohnsKnights National Youth CompetitionBrayden MusgroveKnights National Youth Competition
Change of role Player/Coach New roleRory Kostjasyn (Harold Matthews Cup coach)Knights Intrust Super Premiership NSW coachJoe MorrisKnights second-tier squad
Re-signings Player/Coach Re-signed toTyrone Amey2018Nathan Brown (head coach)ongoing contractJamie Buhrer2019Matt Cooper2018Zac Hosking2018Jack Johns2018Josh King2020Sione Mata'utia2021Brayden Musgrove2019Pasami Saulo2020Sam Stone2020
Player contract situations 2018 (left)201920202021Tyrone AmeyJamie BuhrerMitchell BarnettSione Mata'utiaJack CoggerLachlan FitzgibbonHerman Ese'eseMitchell PearceMatt CooperSlade GriffinAidan GuerraKalyn PongaThomas CronanBrodie JonesJosh KingCory DennissShaun Kenny-DowallDanny LeviJJ FeliseBrayden MusgroveTautau MogaChristian HazardNathan RossChris HeighingtonDaniel SaifitiTrent HodkinsonJacob SaifitiZac HoskingPasami SauloTom HughesSam StoneJack JohnsConnor WatsonBrock LambJacob LillymanChanel Mata'utiaPat Mata'utiaNick MeaneyBrent NadenDylan PhythianKen SioTom StarlingLuke Yates
Ladder
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
Preseason trials Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceWednesday, 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 publicSaturday, 24 FebruaryTrial 2 Parramatta EelsMaitland No.1 Sportsground6 – 26S.Kenny-DowallK.Ponga (1/1) Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance 9 March1 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle19-18K. Ponga, S. Griffin, L. FitzgibbonK. Ponga (3/3), M. Pearce (FG)23,51618 March2 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium, Canberra30-28L. Fitzgibbon, A. Guerra, S. Mata'utia, T. Moga, C. WatsonK. Ponga (5/6)12,626 25 March3 Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium, Sydney8-38A. GuerraK. Ponga (2/3)15,1531 April4 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, Wollongong12-30T. Moga, C. HeighingtonK. Ponga (2/2)18,5897 April5 Brisbane BroncosMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle15-10L. Fitzgibbon, D. SaifitiK. Ponga (3/3), M. Pearce (FG)21,96913 April6 Melbourne StormAAMI Park, Melbourne14-40K. Sio (2), L. FitzgibbonK. Ponga (1/3)12,38621 April7 Wests TigersScully Park, Tamworth22-20K. Sio (3), S. Kenny-Dowall, M. PearceK. Ponga (1/5)10,08227 April8 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesLottoland, Manly18-12S. Griffin, N. Ross, C. WatsonK. Sio (3/4)5,7154 May9 South Sydney RabbitohsMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle18-36S. Kenny-Dowall (2), S. Mata'utai, L. FitzgibbonK. Sio (1/4)22,71811 May10 Penrith PanthersMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle18-29K. Ponga, N. Ross, C. WatsonB. Lamb (2/2), K. Sio (1/1)14,80119 May11 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium, Robina26-33H. Ese'ese, S. Mata'utia, K. Ponga, K. SioB. Lamb (5/5)11,00827 May12 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle10-48L. Fitzgibbon, S. Mata'utiaK. Sio (1/1), K. Ponga (0/1)20,9132 June13 Parramatta EelsANZ Stadium, Sydney30-4J. Cogger, S. Mata'utia, D. Saifiti, K. Sio, C. WatsonK. Ponga (5/6)7,7199 June14 Sydney RoostersMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle16-18S. Mata'utia, K. PongaK. Ponga (4/4)18,02917 June15 Melbourne StormMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle10-28K. Ponga, K. SioK. Ponga (1/2)14,80330 June16McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle16-36C. Watson (2), H. Ese'eseK. Sio (2/3)17,755 17Bye 13 July18 Parramatta EelsMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle18-16C. Watson, S. Kenny-Dowall, M. PearceK. Sio (3/4)15,86021 July19 Gold Coast TitansMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle30-24M. Barnett (2), N. Meaney, L. Fitzgibbon, S. Kenny-DowallK. Sio (5/6)14,09527 July20 North Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville18-20L. Fitzgibbon (2), A. GuerraK. Sio (3/4)11,7093 August21 Wests TigersMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle16-25A. Guerra, S. Mata'utia, K. PongaK. Sio (2/3)18,56110 August22 New Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland4-20K. SioK. Sio (0/1)14,39518 August23 Penrith PanthersPanthers Stadium, Penrith26 August24 Cronulla Sutherland SharksSouthern Cross Group Stadium, Cronulla25 St George Illawarra DragonsMcDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Legend:
Statistics NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPointsCaptainAge2320080242000002029121004021111004021232008024200000222190036024162008027245002093021100403624600240301300000238070140211700000231500000342380032022521010021420080251520210152920627078020152008030213001202280000022300000202012250980281000002020000021157002802260000023 Totals 24 73 60 2 414 - Average: 25
29 players used.
Source:
Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match in 2018.
Australian Schoolboys Timanu Alexander (squad member) Bradman Best Harry Croker Jock Madden Starford To'a
Fiji Junior Roqica
Junior Kiwis Pasami Saulo (squad member)
New South Wales under-16s Thomas Cant
New South Wales under-18s Bradman Best Phoenix Crossland Brock Gardner (squad member) Jock Madden Jaron Purcell
New Zealand Herman Ese'ese Slade Griffin Danny Levi (squad member)
Queensland Kalyn Ponga
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: Mat 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