The 2020 Newcastle Knights season was the 33rd in the club's history. Coached by Adam O'Brien and captained by Mitchell Pearce, they competed in the NRL's 2020 Telstra Premiership. On 23 March, the NRL announced that the season would be suspended after round 2, until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NRL returned on 28 May with a new draw, the Knights' round 3 game coming on 31 May against the Penrith Panthers. The Knights finished the regular season in 7th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals but were knocked out after losing to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in week 1.
Squad
Transfers and Re-signings Gains Player/Coach Previous club LengthAdam Bettridge (Jersey Flegg Cup coach)Macquarie Scorpions2020Jayden BraileyCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2022Matt CooperEastern Suburbs Tigers2020David Furner (assistant coach)Leeds Rhinos2022Blake GreenNew Zealand Warriors2020Andrew McCulloughBrisbane Broncos2020Adam O'Brien (head coach)Sydney Roosters2022Willie Peters (assistant coach)South Sydney Rabbitohs2020Tyronne Roberts-DavisBurleigh Bears2020Gehamat ShibasakiBrisbane Broncos2022Matt Soper-LawlerSouths Logan Magpies2020Enari TualaNorth Queensland Cowboys2020
Losses Player/Coach ClubMitch AndrewsContract terminatedNathan Brown (head coach)Contract terminatedJamie BuhrerRetirementKiah CooperWestern Suburbs RosellasSale FinauSunbury United Rugby LeagueJacob GagaiSouth Sydney RabbitohsJames GavetHuddersfield GiantsSlade GriffinRetirementShaun Kenny-DowallHull Kingston RoversBrayden MusgroveManly Warringah Sea EaglesJesse RamienCronulla-Sutherland SharksNathan RossRetirementJames Shepherd (assistant coach)St. George Illawarra DragonsSam StoneGold Coast TitansKristian Woolf (assistant coach & interim head coach)St Helens R.F.C.Zac WoolfordNewtown Jets
Promoted juniors Player Junior sideMitch BlackKnights Jersey Flegg CupJack CameronKnights Jersey Flegg CupZac HoskingKnights Canterbury Cup NSWDylan LucasKnights Jersey Flegg CupToby MarksKnights Jersey Flegg CupBrandon RussellKnights Jersey Flegg CupBayden SearleKnights Jersey Flegg Cup
Change of role Player/Coach New roleScott Dureau (Jersey Flegg Cup coach)Knights junior developmentTony Gleeson (Knights JFC assistant coach)Knights Jersey Flegg Cup coachRory Kostjasyn (Canterbury Cup NSW coach)Knights development coach
Re-signings Player/Coach Re-signed toMitchell Barnett2023Blake Green2021Hymel Hunt2021Brodie Jones2021Josh King2021Christian Ma'anaima2023Jirah Momoisea2022Kalyn Ponga2024Chris Randall2021Daniel Saifiti2022Jacob Saifiti2022Simi Sasagi2022Pasami Saulo2022Enari Tuala2021Connor Watson2021
Player contract situations 2020 (left)2021202220232024Jack CameronMitch BlackBradman BestMitchell BarnettKalyn PongaMatt CooperMat CrokerJayden BraileyDavid KlemmerHerman Ese'esePhoenix CrosslandJirah MomoiseaBeau FermorLachlan FitzgibbonDaniel SaifitiTim GlasbyBlake GreenJacob SaifitiAidan GuerraZac HoskingSimi SasagiDanny LeviTex HoyPasami SauloMason LinoHymel HuntGehamat ShibasakiToby MarksLuke HuthSione Mata'utiaBrodie JonesAndrew McCulloughJosh KingTautau MogaEdrick LeeTyronne Roberts-DavisDylan LucasBrandon RussellKurt MannBayden SearleMitchell PearceChris RandallMatt Soper-LawlerStarford To'aEnari TualaConnor Watson
Ladder
Milestones Round 1: Jayden Brailey made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Round 1: Kalyn Ponga played his 50th career game. Round 1: Gehamat Shibasaki made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Brisbane Broncos. Round 1: Enari Tuala made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the North Queensland Cowboys. Round 2: Enari Tuala scored his 1st try for the club. Round 3: Tex Hoy made his NRL debut for the club and kicked his 1st career goal. Round 3: Brodie Jones made his NRL debut for the club. Round 3: Chris Randall made his NRL debut for the club and set a new record for amount of tackles made by a player making their debut, with 71 tackles. Round 4: Andrew McCullough made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Brisbane Broncos. Round 7: Tex Hoy scored his 1st career try. Round 7: Gehamat Shibasaki scored his 1st career try. Round 8: Andrew McCullough scored his 1st try for the club. Round 9: Herman Ese'ese played his 50th game for the club. Round 10: Aidan Guerra played his 200th career game. Round 11: Kalyn Ponga played his 50th game for the club. Round 12: Mitchell Pearce played his 50th game for the club. Round 13: Phoenix Crossland scored his 1st career try. Round 13: Blake Green made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the New Zealand Warriors. Round 14: Aidan Guerra played his 50th game for the club. Round 16: David Klemmer played his 150th career game. Round 17: Josh King scored his 1st career try. Finals Week 1: Aidan Guerra kicked his 1st career goal.
Jerseys and sponsors In 2020, the Knights' jerseys were made by O'Neills and their major sponsor was nib Health Funds.
2020 Home Jersey2020 Away Jersey2020 Indigenous Jersey2020 NSW Mining Jersey
Fixtures
NRL Nines
Squad: 1. Kurt Gidley 2. Jirah Momoisea 3. Hymel Hunt 4. Brodie Jones 5. Gehamat Shibasaki 6. Aidan Guerra (c) 7. Starford To'a 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Pasami Saulo 10. Kurt Mann (c) 11. Tyronne Roberts-Davis 12. Mason Lino 13. Sione Mata'utia 14. Mitchell Barnett 15. Bayden Searle 16. Tex Hoy 17. Simi Sasagi 18. Matt Soper-Lawler
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Drop Goal Conversions AttendanceFriday, 14 FebruaryRound 1 New Zealand WarriorsHBF Park34–0M.Lino, S.Mata'utia, T.Hoy, M.Soper-LawlerM.Lino (4/4)Saturday, 15 FebruaryRound 2 Penrith PanthersHBF Park16–4S.Sasagi, J.Saifiti, T.HoyM.Lino (2/3)Saturday, 15 FebruaryQuarter Finals Parramatta EelsHBF Park7–14T.HoyT.Roberts-Davis (1/1) Legend:
Pre-season Trials Date Opponent Venue Score Tries Conversions AttendanceSaturday, 22 February St. George Illawarra DragonsMaitland Sportsground12–38C.Randall, L.HuthM.Lino (1) T.Hoy (1)Saturday, 29 February Sydney RoostersCentral Coast Stadium58–0M.Barnett, J.Brailey, K.Ponga, G.Shibasaki, H.Hunt, L.Fitzgibbon, C.Watson, S.Sasagi, T.Hoy, M.BarnettK.Ponga (3), M.Lino (6) Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Conversions/Penalty AttendanceSaturday 14 MarchRound 1 New Zealand WarriorsMcdonald Jones Stadium20–0D.Saifiti, E.Lee, K.Ponga K.Ponga (4/5)10,239Sunday 22 MarchRound 2 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval42–24E.Tuala (2), M.Barnett, K.Mann, E.Lee, K.Ponga, M.Pearce, C.WatsonK.Ponga (5/9)0 (closed event)Saturday 28 MarchRound 3 (Suspended)** Cronulla SharksNetstrata Jubilee StadiumSuspendedFriday 3 AprilRound 4 (Suspended)** North Queensland CowboysMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedThursday 9 AprilRound 5 (Suspended)** Manly Sea EaglesLottolandSuspendedSaturday 18 AprilRound 6 (Suspended)** Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium*SuspendedSunday 26 AprilRound 7 (Suspended)** Penrith PanthersMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSaturday 2 MayRound 8 (Suspended)** South Sydney RabbitohsSuncorp StadiumSuspendedSaturday 9 MayRound 9 (Suspended)** St. George Illawarra DragonsMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedThursday 14 MayRound 10 (Suspended)** Sydney RoostersSydney Cricket GroundSuspendedSunday 24 MayRound 11 (Suspended)** Cronulla SharksMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSaturday 30 MayRound 12 (Suspended)** South Sydney RabbitohsMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSunday 7 JuneRound 13 (Suspended)** Penrith PanthersPanthers StadiumSuspendedSaturday 13 JuneRound 14 (Suspended)** Melbourne StormMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSunday 28 JuneRound 15 (Suspended)** Gold Coast TitansMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedRound 16 (Suspended)**ByeSunday 12 JulyRound 17 (Suspended)** North Queensland CowboysQueensland Country Bank StadiumSuspendedSunday 19 JulyRound 18 (Suspended)** Brisbane BroncosMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSunday 26 JulyRound 19 (Suspended)** Wests TigersMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSaturday 1 AugustRound 20 (Suspended)** Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsBankwest StadiumSuspendedSunday 9 AugustRound 21 (Suspended)** New Zealand WarriorsMt Smart StadiumSuspendedSaturday 15 AugustRound 22 (Suspended)** Manly Sea EaglesMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspendedSaturday 22 AugustRound 23 (Suspended)** Brisbane BroncosSuncorp StadiumSuspendedFriday 28 AugustRound 24 (Suspended)** Parramatta EelsBankwest StadiumSuspendedSunday 6 SeptemberRound 25 (Suspended)** Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsMcdonald Jones StadiumSuspended Legend: From Round 2 the NRL announced matches would be played behind closed doors until further notice due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation * Match relocated to Canberra due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation ** Season suspended from Round 3 until further notice due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation
Updated Regular Season - 21 May 2020
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Conversions/Penalty AttendanceSaturday 14 MarchRound 1 New Zealand WarriorsMcdonald Jones Stadium20–0D.Saifiti, E.Lee, K.Ponga K.Ponga (4/5)10,239Sunday 22 MarchRound 2 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval42–24E.Tuala (2), M.Barnett, K.Mann, E.Lee, K.Ponga, M.Pearce, C.WatsonK.Ponga (5/9)0 (closed event)-----Season Suspended due to COVID-19 Pandemic--Sunday 31 MayRound 3 Penrith PanthersCampbelltown Stadium14–14J.Saifiti, B.Best (2)T.Hoy (1/3)0 (closed event)Sunday 7 JuneRound 4 Canberra RaidersCampbelltown Stadium34–18B.Best (2), K.Ponga, E.Lee (2), E.TualaK.Ponga (4/5), T.Hoy (1/1)0 (closed event)Saturday 13 JuneRound 5 Melbourne StormCentral Coast Stadium12–26B.Best, E.LeeK.Ponga (2/3)Not CountedThursday 18 JuneRound 6 Brisbane BroncosCentral Coast Stadium27–6K.Mann, H.Hunt, D.Saifiti, M.PearceK.Ponga (5/5), M.Pearce (1/1 Field Goal) 167 *Restricted CapacitySaturday 27 JuneRound 7 North Queensland CowboysQueensland Country Bank Stadium32–20T.Hoy, H.Hunt, K.Mann, G.ShibasakiK.Ponga (2/4)1,853 *Restricted CapacitySunday 5 JulyRound 8 Manly Sea Eagles Lottoland14–12A.McCullough, K.MannK.Ponga (3/3)2,271 *Restricted CapacitySunday 12 JulyRound 9 Parramatta Eels Mcdonald Jones Stadium10–3A.McCulloughK.Ponga (0/1)6,980 *Restricted CapacitySaturday 18 JulyRound 10 South Sydney RabbitohsBankwest Stadium20–18E.Tuala, K.Mann, K.Ponga, B.BestK.Ponga (2/5)4,249 *Restricted CapacitySunday 26 JulyRound 11 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsMcdonald Jones Stadium12–18H.Hunt, S.Mata'utiaK.Ponga (2/2)3,521 *Restricted CapacitySunday 2 AugustRound 12 Melbourne Storm Sunshine Coast Stadium16–26B.Best, A.Guerra, E.TualaK.Ponga (2/3)5,437 *Restricted CapacitySaturday 8 AugustRound 13 Wests TigersMcdonald Jones Stadium44–3K.Ponga (2), H.Hunt, S.To'a, J.Saifiti, H.Ese'ese, G.Shibasaki, P.CrosslandK.Ponga (6/9)2,952* Restricted CapacitySunday 16 AugustRound 14 Manly Sea EaglesMcdonald Jones Stadium26–24S.To'a, K.Mann, E.Tuala (2), H.HuntK.Ponga (3/5)* Restricted CapacitySunday 23 AugustRound 15 North Queensland CowboysMcdonald Jones Stadium12–0H.Hunt, E.TualaK.Ponga (2/5)5,304* Restricted CapacitySaturday 29 AugustRound 16 New Zealand WarriorsScully Park36–6G.ShibasakiK.Ponga (1/1)* Restricted CapacityFriday 4 SeptemberRound 17 Cronulla SharksMcdonald Jones Stadium38–10S.To'a (2), K.Ponga (3), L.Fitzgibbon, J.KingK.Ponga (0/2), M.Lino (5/6)5,597* Restricted CapacitySaturday 12 SeptemberRound 18 Sydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground42–12E.Tuala, G.ShibasakiM.Lino (2/2)* Restricted CapacitySunday 20 SeptemberRound 19 St. George Illawarra DragonsMcdonald Jones Stadium42–18K.Ponga, G.Shibasaki, A.Guerra, D.Saifiti, E.Tuala (2), J.Saifiti M.Lino (2/2)6,659* Restricted CapacityFriday 25 SeptemberRound 20 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium36–6E.LeeM.Lino (1/1)9,877* Restricted Capacity Legend:
Finals series
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereesCrowd QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS South Sydney Rabbitohs 46–20 Newcastle Knights 4 October 2020, 4:05pm ANZ Stadium B.Cummins 17,212* Restricted Capacity
Statistics