- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2025, the Knights are again hoping Kalyn Ponga can drag them into finals contention.
Newcastle fans can be forgiven for feeling a massive sense of déjà vu with their team’s chances yet again resting on the shoulders of Kalyn Ponga.
The 2023 Dally M medal winner was dynamic when he was on the park last year, but he needs more support from his teammates if the Knights are going to make the leap from fringe playoff team to top-four contenders.
As was the case last year when Adam O’Brien cycled through several playmakers in search of an effective halves combination, the six and seven jerseys are the crucial ones at Newcastle.
O’Brien settled on Jack Cogger and Phoenix Crossland late last season, and they are likely to get first crack at the roles in round one.
The Knights have been one of the least active teams in free agency. They have added depth, but no established stars.
Utility back James Schiller has lobbed in Newcastle from the Raiders, as has young Eels hooker Matt Arthur as a likely successor to veteran Jayden Brailey, who was nearly squeezed out of the club in the off-season to go the other way to Parramatta.
Newcastle have also taken a punt on rugby union converts Tyrone Thompson and Taj Annan, and Panthers prospect Francis Manuleleua.
Thompson is the identical twin of front-rower Leo Thompson and he comes to the Knights after representing the Maori All Blacks.
Annan is a Newcastle local who has been plying his trade as an outside back in the Super Rugby for the Queensland Reds after representing Australia in the Under 20 rugby world championship in 2023.
Manuleleua is a back-rower who is a 20-year-old man mountain who the Knights think can push for NRL action straight away after signing him to a three-year deal.
Adam Elliott celebrates a try with teammates. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Former NSW U19 lock Myles Martin accepted a better deal at Canberra while representative front-rower Daniel Saifiti was squeezed out due to the Knights’ salary cap concerns and he’s now at the Dolphins.
Utility back Enari Tuala has joined Canterbury while Tom Jenkins and Krystian Mapapalangi have not had their contracts renewed.
As has been the case so often in recent times, Newcastle’s fate rests on their halves combination.
Cogger and Crossland seemed to work effectively late last season, but the Knights lack a dominant on-field general and someone who can attacking spark outside of Ponga’s brilliance from the back.
After getting a brief taste of first grade last year with five matches, young English five-eighth Will Pryce is probably worth a greater shot at the No.6 jersey as the Knights try to conjure up some creativity in their playmakers.
They have potent centres on each edge with NSW centre Bradman Best and veteran Dane Gagai and they unearthed a speedster on the wing in Fletcher Sharpe with Greg Marzhew on the other flank.
Adam O’Brien. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Getting the ball out wide with attacking momentum is the problem that O’Brien needs to solve.
Jackson Hastings fell out of favour late last season and he is set to spend the season as the highest-paid player in the NSW Cup unless O’Brien gives him another chance while journeyman Tyson Gamble could also see time as a starting half but is more likely to end up as the bench utility due to his ability to cover hooker as well.
Up front, the Knights have question marks in their pack, with Jacob Saifiti and Leo Thompson their only meter-eaters of note and if either of them is out, their pack looks light on for strikepower.
Thompson has already accepted a lucrative offer from Canterbury for 2026 in a sign that he thinks the Knights are treading water rather than building towards a tilt at the title.
The Knights look like a team that needs everything to go their way, just to be in contention to make it to the finals.
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Fletcher Sharpe
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Jack Cogger
7 Phoenix Crossland
8 Jacob Saifiti
9 Jayden Brailey
10 Leo Thompson
11 Kai Pearce-Paul
12 Tyson Frizell
13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
14 Tyson Gamble
15 Dylan Lucas
16 Brodie Jones
17 Mat Croker
Other squad members: Will Pryce, Jackson Hastings, Cody Hopwood, Francis Manulelea, James Schiller, Jermaine McEwen, Paul Bryan, Matt Arthur, Riley Jones, Sebastian Su’a, Taj Annan, Thomas Cant, Jack Hetherington
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.