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.[1] The NRL returned on 28 May with a new draw,[2] the Knights' round 3 game coming on 31 May against the Penrith Panthers.[3] 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
Newcastle Knights
2020 NRL premiership (Top 30) squad
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Development players
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Coaching staff
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Extended squad players
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Head coach
Assistant coaches
- Legend:
- (c) Captain(s)
- (vc) Vice-captain(s)
Updated: 4 August 2020 Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles,
Rugby League Project
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Transfers and Re-signings
Gains
Losses
Change of role
Player/Coach |
New role
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Scott Dureau (Jersey Flegg Cup coach) |
Knights junior development
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Tony Gleeson (Knights JFC assistant coach) |
Knights Jersey Flegg Cup coach
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Rory Kostjasyn (Canterbury Cup NSW coach) |
Knights development coach
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Re-signings
Player contract situations
Ladder
Milestones
In 2020, the Knights' jerseys were made by O'Neills and their major sponsor was nib Health Funds.
2020 Home Jersey |
2020 Away Jersey |
2020 Indigenous Jersey |
2020 NSW Mining Jersey
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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
Pre-season Trials
Date
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Opponent
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Venue
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Score
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Tries
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Conversions
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Attendance
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Saturday, 22 February |
St. George Illawarra Dragons |
Maitland Sportsground |
12–38 |
C.Randall, L.Huth |
M.Lino (1) T.Hoy (1) |
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Saturday, 29 February |
Sydney Roosters |
Central Coast Stadium |
58–0 |
M.Barnett, J.Brailey, K.Ponga, G.Shibasaki, H.Hunt, L.Fitzgibbon, C.Watson, S.Sasagi, T.Hoy, M.Barnett |
K.Ponga (3), M.Lino (6) |
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Legend: Win Loss Draw
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Regular season
Date
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Round
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Opponent
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Venue
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Score
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Tries
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Conversions/Penalty
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Attendance
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Saturday 14 March |
Round 1 |
New Zealand Warriors |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
20–0 |
D.Saifiti, E.Lee, K.Ponga |
K.Ponga (4/5) |
10,239
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Sunday 22 March |
Round 2 |
Wests Tigers |
Leichhardt Oval |
42–24 |
E.Tuala (2), M.Barnett, K.Mann, E.Lee, K.Ponga, M.Pearce, C.Watson |
K.Ponga (5/9) |
0 (closed event)
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Saturday 28 March |
Round 3 (Suspended)** |
Cronulla Sharks |
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Friday 3 April |
Round 4 (Suspended)** |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Thursday 9 April |
Round 5 (Suspended)** |
Manly Sea Eagles |
Lottoland |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 18 April |
Round 6 (Suspended)** |
Canberra Raiders |
McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga GIO Stadium* |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 26 April |
Round 7 (Suspended)** |
Penrith Panthers |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 2 May |
Round 8 (Suspended)** |
South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Suncorp Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 9 May |
Round 9 (Suspended)** |
St. George Illawarra Dragons |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Thursday 14 May |
Round 10 (Suspended)** |
Sydney Roosters |
Sydney Cricket Ground |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 24 May |
Round 11 (Suspended)** |
Cronulla Sharks |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 30 May |
Round 12 (Suspended)** |
South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 7 June |
Round 13 (Suspended)** |
Penrith Panthers |
Panthers Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 13 June |
Round 14 (Suspended)** |
Melbourne Storm |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 28 June |
Round 15 (Suspended)** |
Gold Coast Titans |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Round 16 (Suspended)** |
Bye |
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Sunday 12 July |
Round 17 (Suspended)** |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 19 July |
Round 18 (Suspended)** |
Brisbane Broncos |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 26 July |
Round 19 (Suspended)** |
Wests Tigers |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 1 August |
Round 20 (Suspended)** |
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs |
Bankwest Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 9 August |
Round 21 (Suspended)** |
New Zealand Warriors |
Mt Smart Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 15 August |
Round 22 (Suspended)** |
Manly Sea Eagles |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Saturday 22 August |
Round 23 (Suspended)** |
Brisbane Broncos |
Suncorp Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Friday 28 August |
Round 24 (Suspended)** |
Parramatta Eels |
Bankwest Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Sunday 6 September |
Round 25 (Suspended)** |
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
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Suspended |
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Legend: Win Loss Draw Suspended
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- From Round 2 the NRL announced matches would be played behind closed doors until further notice due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation[45]
- * Match relocated to Canberra due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation[46]
- ** Season suspended from Round 3 until further notice due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation[47]
Updated Regular Season - 21 May 2020
[48]
Date
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Round
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Opponent
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Venue
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Score
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Tries
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Conversions/Penalty
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Attendance
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Saturday 14 March |
Round 1 |
New Zealand Warriors |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
20–0 |
D.Saifiti, E.Lee, K.Ponga |
K.Ponga (4/5) |
10,239
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Sunday 22 March |
Round 2 |
Wests Tigers |
Leichhardt Oval |
42–24 |
E.Tuala (2), M.Barnett, K.Mann, E.Lee, K.Ponga, M.Pearce, C.Watson |
K.Ponga (5/9) |
0 (closed event)
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- |
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Season Suspended due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
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Sunday 31 May |
Round 3 |
Penrith Panthers |
Campbelltown Stadium |
14–14 |
J.Saifiti, B.Best (2) |
T.Hoy (1/3) |
0 (closed event)
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Sunday 7 June |
Round 4 |
Canberra Raiders |
Campbelltown Stadium |
34–18 |
B.Best (2), K.Ponga, E.Lee (2), E.Tuala |
K.Ponga (4/5), T.Hoy (1/1) |
0 (closed event)
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Saturday 13 June |
Round 5 |
Melbourne Storm |
Central Coast Stadium |
12–26 |
B.Best, E.Lee |
K.Ponga (2/3) |
Not Counted
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Thursday 18 June |
Round 6 |
Brisbane Broncos |
Central Coast Stadium |
27–6 |
K.Mann, H.Hunt, D.Saifiti, M.Pearce |
K.Ponga (5/5), M.Pearce (1/1 Field Goal) |
167 *Restricted Capacity
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Saturday 27 June |
Round 7 |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
32–20 |
T.Hoy, H.Hunt, K.Mann, G.Shibasaki |
K.Ponga (2/4) |
1,853 *Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 5 July |
Round 8 |
Manly Sea Eagles |
Central Coast Stadium Lottoland |
14–12 |
A.McCullough, K.Mann |
K.Ponga (3/3) |
2,271 *Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 12 July |
Round 9 |
Parramatta Eels |
Central Coast Stadium Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
10–3 |
A.McCullough |
K.Ponga (0/1) |
6,980 *Restricted Capacity
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Saturday 18 July |
Round 10 |
South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Bankwest Stadium |
20–18 |
E.Tuala, K.Mann, K.Ponga, B.Best |
K.Ponga (2/5) |
4,249 *Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 26 July |
Round 11 |
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
12–18 |
H.Hunt, S.Mata'utia |
K.Ponga (2/2) |
3,521 *Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 2 August |
Round 12 |
Melbourne Storm |
Suncorp Stadium Sunshine Coast Stadium |
16–26 |
B.Best, A.Guerra, E.Tuala |
K.Ponga (2/3) |
5,437 *Restricted Capacity
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Saturday 8 August |
Round 13 |
Wests Tigers |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
44–3 |
K.Ponga (2), H.Hunt, S.To'a, J.Saifiti, H.Ese'ese, G.Shibasaki, P.Crossland |
K.Ponga (6/9) |
2,952* Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 16 August |
Round 14 |
Manly Sea Eagles |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
26–24 |
S.To'a, K.Mann, E.Tuala (2), H.Hunt |
K.Ponga (3/5) |
* Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 23 August |
Round 15 |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
12–0 |
H.Hunt, E.Tuala |
K.Ponga (2/5) |
5,304* Restricted Capacity
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Saturday 29 August |
Round 16 |
New Zealand Warriors |
Scully Park |
36–6 |
G.Shibasaki |
K.Ponga (1/1) |
* Restricted Capacity
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Friday 4 September |
Round 17 |
Cronulla Sharks |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
38–10 |
S.To'a (2), K.Ponga (3), L.Fitzgibbon, J.King |
K.Ponga (0/2), M.Lino (5/6) |
5,597* Restricted Capacity
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Saturday 12 September |
Round 18 |
Sydney Roosters |
Sydney Cricket Ground |
42–12 |
E.Tuala, G.Shibasaki |
M.Lino (2/2) |
* Restricted Capacity
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Sunday 20 September |
Round 19 |
St. George Illawarra Dragons |
Mcdonald Jones Stadium |
42–18 |
K.Ponga, G.Shibasaki, A.Guerra, D.Saifiti, E.Tuala (2), J.Saifiti |
M.Lino (2/2) |
6,659* Restricted Capacity
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Friday 25 September |
Round 20 |
Gold Coast Titans |
Cbus Super Stadium |
36–6 |
E.Lee |
M.Lino (1/1) |
9,877* Restricted Capacity
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Legend: Win Loss Draw
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Finals series
Statistics
30 players used.
Source:[49]
Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match or were named in a representative squad in 2020.
Indigenous All Stars
Māori All Stars
New South Wales extended 64-man squad
New South Wales
Queensland
Individual honours
Newcastle Knights awards
References
- ^ "NRL announces suspension of 2020 season due to coronavirus pandemic". ABC News. March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Back on deck: Players set to train when details land next week". National Rugby League. May 1, 2020.
- ^ "LIVE NRL: Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights: Round 3 blog, Scores, Updates, Supercoach, video". May 31, 2020.
- ^ Bode, Mark (December 2, 2020). "Cameron to share love nest with his beautiful dancer girlfriend after joining Rabbitohs". The Northern Daily Leader.
- ^ a b c d "Knights v Cessnock trial team list". Newcastle Knights. February 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Knights re-sign three bright prospects". Newcastle Knights. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ "Mitch Barnett extends NRL contract". Newcastle Knights. December 18, 2019.
- ^ "Kalyn Ponga secures Knights NRL future". Newcastle Knights. June 16, 2020.
- ^ "Seagulls, Knights' bond paying dividends". May 20, 2021.
- ^ "Knights v Storm NRL trial team list". Newcastle Knights. February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Jayden Brailey to join Knights in 2020". Newcastle Knights. 31 July 2019.
- ^ "Knights secure Origin and Test enforcer Klemmer". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ "HERMAN HEADED TO THE TITANS". Gold Coast Titans. July 13, 2020.
- ^ "Promising youngster Momoisea extends NRL deal". Newcastle Knights. January 28, 2020.
- ^ TOOHEY, BARRY (January 28, 2020). "Boom Knights backrower quits club to link with Gold Coast Titans". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Knights re-sign Fitzgibbon". Zero Tackle. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "NSW Origin prop Daniel Saifiti inks new deal". Newcastle Knights. November 11, 2019.
- ^ "Glasby retires: Epitome of hard worker hangs up boots". National Rugby League. September 20, 2020.
- ^ "Green remains a Knight in 2021". Newcastle Knights. November 9, 2020.
- ^ "Jacob Saifiti re-signs with Knights". Newcastle Knights. July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Guerra retires: Knights veteran hanging up boots at season's end". National Rugby League. September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "2021 Signings Tracker: Mata'utia off to Saints; Montoya joins Warriors". National Rugby League. November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Danny Levi granted release from NRL contract". Newcastle Knights. January 21, 2020.
- ^ "Tex Hoy promoted to Knights Top 30 NRL squad". Newcastle Knights. February 29, 2020.
- ^ "Forward Saulo extends NRL contract". Newcastle Knights. January 29, 2020.
- ^ Toohey, Barry (24 November 2020). "Ex-Knight Mason Lino signs with Wakefield in English Super League". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Hymel Hunt inks new Knights deal". Newcastle Knights. November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Gehamat Shibasaki signs with Newcastle Knights". Newcastle Knights. December 5, 2019.
- ^ "Jersey Flegg Training Squad". Canberra Raiders. November 13, 2020.
- ^ "Sione Mata'utia granted immediate release". Newcastle Knights. November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Blake Green joins Knights effective immediately". Newcastle Knights. August 4, 2020.
- ^ "Josh King signs new Knights deal". Newcastle Knights. November 18, 2020.
- ^ DILLON, ROBERT (November 3, 2020). "O'Brien hopes Moga rebounds with Rabbits after release from Knights". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Knights add Lee". Zero Tackle. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Harper, Lachlan (February 19, 2021). "Roberts-Davis named in Wests Tigers squad for NRL trial match". The Macleay Argus.
- ^ Callinan, Josh (December 3, 2020). "Former Newcastle Knights forward Matt Kennedy to coach Souths in 2021". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Brandon Russell". Queensland Rugby League.
- ^ Moorhead, Joseph (9 December 2018). "Knights slay the Dragons in Kurt Mann poaching". Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Callinan, Josh (January 1, 2021). "Newcastle Rugby League: Bayden Searle signs with Macquarie Scorpions for 2021". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Newcastle Knights sign Mitchell Pearce". Zero Tackle. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ Toohey, Barry (November 21, 2020). "TOOHEY'S NEWS: New Knights teenage signing earns Ponga comparison". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Exciting back Starford To'a awarded new deal". Newcastle Knights. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ "Enari Tuala re-signs with Newcastle Knights". Newcastle Knights. March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Connor Watson re-signs with the Knights". Newcastle Knights. October 16, 2020.
- ^ "NRL measures for 2020 season". National Rugby League. March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Wagga Wagga match moved back to Canberra". Canberra Raiders. March 17, 2020.
- ^ "NRL suspends competition due to coronavirus pandemic". National Rugby League. March 23, 2020.
- ^ "NRL Telstra Premiership draw". National Rugby League. May 21, 2020.
- ^ "NRL 2020 - Newcastle Knights". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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The Club | |
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Home grounds | |
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Important figures | |
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League | |
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Premierships (2) | |
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Seasons (30) |
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
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Other competitions | |
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Affiliations | |
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