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2021 Newcastle Knights season
| 2021 Newcastle Knights season | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7th | ||
| Elimination Finalists (Week 1) | ||
| Wins: 12; draws: 0; losses: 12 | ||
| For: 428; against: 571 | ||
| Phil Gardner | ||
| Adam O'Brien | ||
| .mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}Jayden Brailey, Kalyn Ponga & Daniel Saifiti | ||
| McDonald Jones Stadium | ||
| 17,636 | ||
| 23,015 | ||
| Enari Tuala (13) | ||
| Jake Clifford (33) | ||
| Jake Clifford (74) | ||
| ← 2020 | 2022 → | |
| ← 2020 | 2022 → |
The 2021 Newcastle Knights season was the 34th in the club's history. Coached by Adam O'Brien and co-captained by Jayden Brailey, Kalyn Ponga and Daniel Saifiti, they competed in the NRL's 2021 Telstra Premiership. In July, the NRL relocated the competition to Queensland to avoid an outbreak of the Deltra variant COVID-19 virus in New South Wales. The Knights finished the regular season in 7th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals but were knocked out after losing to the Parramatta Eels in week 1.
| 2021 NRL top 30 squad | Development players | Coaching staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 261 Lachlan Fitzgibbon – SR | ||||||||
| 268 Daniel Saifiti (c) – PR | ||||||||
| 269 Jacob Saifiti – PR, SR | ||||||||
| 273 Josh King – PR, LK | ||||||||
| 276 Mitchell Barnett – SR, FE (gk) | ||||||||
| 295 Mitchell Pearce – HB | ||||||||
| 296 Kalyn Ponga (c) – FB (gk) | ||||||||
| 297 Connor Watson – LK, FE, FB | ||||||||
| 300 Pasami Saulo – PR | ||||||||
| 304 Hymel Hunt – WG | 305 David Klemmer – PR, LK | |||||||
| 306 Edrick Lee – WG | ||||||||
| 307 Kurt Mann – FE, HB, FB, WG | ||||||||
| 310 Phoenix Crossland – HB, FE (gk) | ||||||||
| 311 Bradman Best – CE | ||||||||
| 312 Starford To'a – WG | ||||||||
| 313 Jayden Brailey (c) – HK | ||||||||
| 314 Gehamat Shibasaki – WG | ||||||||
| 315 Enari Tuala – CE, WG | ||||||||
| 316 Tex Hoy – FB (gk) | 318 Brodie Jones – SR, CE | |||||||
| 320 Blake Green – HB (mid-season retirement) | ||||||||
| 321 Tyson Frizell – SR | ||||||||
| 322 Sauaso Sue – LK | ||||||||
| 323 Dom Young – WG, CE | ||||||||
| 324 Brayden Musgrove – WG | ||||||||
| 325 Simi Sasagi – CE | ||||||||
| 326 Jake Clifford – FE, HB (gk) (mid-season signing) | ||||||||
| 329 Jirah Momoisea – PR | ||||||||
| 000 Bailey Hodgson – FB | 317 Chris Randall – LK | |||||||
| 328 Jack Johns – SR, CE | ||||||||
| Jacob Kiraz – CE | ||||||||
| Christian Ma'anaima – PR | ||||||||
| Garrett Smith – PR | ||||||||
| Extended squad players |
327 Mat Croker – PR McKenzie Baker – FB Mitch Black – HK Zane Camroux – FE Tyler Coburn – SR (pre-season training experience) Harry Croker – SR Zac Hosking – LK Cooper Jenkins – SR Blake Lenehan – LK (pre-season training experience) Dylan Lucas – CE Jaron Purcell – LK Matt Soper-Lawler – WG Daniel Ticehurst – PR Chris Vea'ila – FB | | Head coach
Adam O'Brien
Assistant coaches
Rory Kostjasyn
Willie Peters
Eric Smith
Andrew Ryan - NSW Cup coach
Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s)
Updated: 9 November 2021Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles, Rugby League Project |
| Player/Coach | Previous club | Length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie Baker | Sydney Roosters | 2021 | |
| Zane Camroux | Wests Tigers | 2021 | |
| Tyler Coburn | Ipswich Jets | Pre-season | |
| Jake Clifford | North Queensland Cowboys | 2023 | |
| Tyson Frizell | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2023 | |
| Bailey Hodgson | Castleford Tigers | 2023 | |
| Jack Johns | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2021 | |
| Jacob Kiraz | North Queensland Cowboys | 2021 | |
| Blake Lenehan | Ipswich Jets | Pre-season | |
| Brayden Musgrove | Cessnock Goannas | 2022 | |
| Andrew Ryan (NSW Cup coach) | South Newcastle Lions | 2021 | |
| Garrett Smith | North Queensland Cowboys | 2021 | |
| Sauaso Sue | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2022 | |
| Dom Young | Huddersfield Giants | 2023 |
| Player/Coach | Club | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Cameron | South Sydney Rabbitohs | |
| Matt Cooper | Lakes United | |
| Herman Ese'ese | Gold Coast Titans | |
| Beau Fermor | Gold Coast Titans | |
| David Furner (assistant coach) | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | |
| Tim Glasby | Retirement | |
| Tony Gleeson (NSW Cup coach) | Released | |
| Aidan Guerra | Retirement | |
| Danny Levi | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | |
| Mason Lino | Wakefield Trinity | |
| Toby Marks | Canberra Raiders | |
| Sione Mata'utia | St Helens R.F.C. | |
| Andrew McCullough | Brisbane Broncos | |
| Tautau Moga | South Sydney Rabbitohs | |
| Tyronne Roberts-Davis | Wests Tigers | |
| Brandon Russell | Tweed Heads Seagulls | |
| Bayden Searle | Macquarie Scorpions |
| Player | Junior side | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Croker | Knights Jersey Flegg Cup | |
| Cooper Jenkins | Knights Jersey Flegg Cup | |
| Christian Ma'anaima | Knights Jersey Flegg Cup | |
| Jaron Purcell | Knights Jersey Flegg Cup | |
| Daniel Ticehurst | Knights Jersey Flegg Cup | |
| Chris Vea'ila | Knights S. G. Ball Cup |
| Player/Coach | New role | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Bettridge (Jersey Flegg Cup coach) | Knights S. G. Ball Cup assistant coach | |
| Luke Huth | Knights NSW Cup | |
| Rory Kostjasyn (Knights development coach) | Knights NRL assistant coach | |
| Eric Smith (Knights development coach) | Knights NRL assistant coach |
| Player/Coach | Re-signed to | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bradman Best | 2024 | |
| Jayden Brailey | 2025 | |
| Lachlan Fitzgibbon | 2023 | |
| Hymel Hunt | 2023 | |
| Brodie Jones | 2023 | |
| Kurt Mann | 2023 | |
| Adam O'Brien (head coach) | 2024 | |
| Mitchell Pearce | 2022 | |
| Daniel Saifiti | 2026 | |
| Jacob Saifiti | 2024 | |
| Starford To'a | 2023 |
| 2021 (left) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Coburn | McKenzie Baker | Mitchell Barnett | Bradman Best | Jayden Brailey | Daniel Saifiti |
| Blake Green | Mitch Black | Jake Clifford | Jacob Saifiti | ||
| Zac Hosking | Zane Camroux | Lachlan Fitzgibbon | Kalyn Ponga | ||
| Josh King | Harry Croker | Tyson Frizell | |||
| Jacob Kiraz | Mat Croker | Bailey Hodgson | |||
| Blake Lenehan | Phoenix Crossland | Hymel Hunt | |||
| Christian Ma'anaima | Tex Hoy | Jack Johns | |||
| Mitchell Pearce | Cooper Jenkins | Brodie Jones | |||
| Gehamat Shibasaki | Edrick Lee | David Klemmer | |||
| Garrett Smith | Dylan Lucas | Kurt Mann | |||
| Matt Soper-Lawler | Jirah Momoisea | Chris Randall | |||
| Starford To'a | Brayden Musgrove | Enari Tuala | |||
| Connor Watson | Jaron Purcell | Chris Vea'ila | |||
| Simi Sasagi | Dom Young | ||||
| Pasami Saulo | |||||
| Sauaso Sue | |||||
| Daniel Ticehurst |
- Round 1: Jayden Brailey captained his 1st game for the club.
- Round 1: Tyson Frizell made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
- Round 1: Daniel Saifiti played his 100th career game and captained his 1st game for the club.
- Round 1: Sauaso Sue made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
- Round 2: Jayden Brailey scored his 1st try for the club.
- Round 3: Tyson Frizell scored his 1st try for the club.
- Round 3: Mitchell Pearce played his 300th career game.
- Round 3: Dom Young made his NRL debut for the club, after previously playing for the Huddersfield Giants.
- Round 4: Kurt Mann kicked his 1st career field goal.
- Round 5: Chris Randall scored his 1st career try.
- Round 6: Hymel Hunt played his 50th game for the club.
- Round 6: Brodie Jones scored his 1st career try.
- Round 6: Brayden Musgrove made his NRL debut for the club.
- Round 8: David Klemmer played his 50th game for the club.
- Round 8: Brayden Musgrove scored his 1st career try.
- Round 8: Sauaso Sue played his 150th career game.
- Round 9: Connor Watson played his 50th game for the club.
- Round 10: Mitchell Barnett played his 100th career game.
- Round 11: Phoenix Crossland kicked his 1st career goal.
- Round 11: Simi Sasagi made his NRL debut for the club.
- Round 11: Sauaso Sue scored his 1st try for the club.
- Round 12: Mitchell Barnett played his 100th game for the club.
- Round 12: Enari Tuala played his 50th career game.
- Round 13: Jake Clifford made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the North Queensland Cowboys.
- Round 13: Mat Croker made his NRL debut for the club.
- Round 13: Jack Johns made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
- Round 14: Jake Clifford kicked his 1st goal for the club.
- Round 14: Kurt Mann played his 50th game for the club.
- Round 14: Dom Young scored his 1st career try.
- Round 16: Hymel Hunt played his 100th career game.
- Round 21: Jake Clifford played his 50th career game and scored his 1st try for the club.
- Round 21: Kalyn Ponga captained his 1st game for the club.
- Round 22: Connor Watson played his 100th career game.
- Round 23: Jirah Momoisea made his NRL debut for the club.
- Round 25: Jack Johns scored his 1st career try.
In 2021, the Knights' jerseys were made by O'Neills and their major sponsor was nib Health Funds.
| 2021 Home Jersey | 2021 Away Jersey | 2021 Heritage Jersey | 2021 Indigenous Jersey | 2021 NSW Mining Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Conversions | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 27 February | Melbourne Storm | Albury Sports Ground | 10–30 | D.Lucas, D.Young | C.Randall (1/1) |
| Name | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Points | Captain | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Barnett | 24 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 27 |
| Bradman Best | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 20 |
| Jayden Brailey | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 25 |
| Jake Clifford | 13 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 74 | 0 | 23 |
| Mat Croker | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Phoenix Crossland | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 21 |
| Lachlan Fitzgibbon | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 27 |
| Tyson Frizell | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 30 |
| Blake Green | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Tex Hoy | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 22 |
| Hymel Hunt | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 28 |
| Jack Johns | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Brodie Jones | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 23 |
| Josh King | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 26 |
| David Klemmer | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Kurt Mann | 22 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 28 |
| Jirah Momoisea | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Brayden Musgrove | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 23 |
| Mitchell Pearce | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 32 |
| Kalyn Ponga | 15 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 52 | 5 | 23 |
| Chris Randall | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 26 |
| Daniel Saifiti | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 25 |
| Jacob Saifiti | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 25 |
| Simi Sasagi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Pasami Saulo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Gehamat Shibasaki | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 23 |
| Sauaso Sue | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 29 |
| Starford To'a | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 21 |
| Enari Tuala | 25 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 23 |
| Connor Watson | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 25 |
| Dom Young | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 20 |
31 players used.
Source:
The following players appeared in a representative match or were named in a representative squad in 2021.
Emerging Blues squad
- Bradman Best
- Tex Hoy
- Jacob Saifiti
New South Wales
- Daniel Saifiti
Queensland
-
Kurt Mann (18th man)
-
Kalyn Ponga
-
Player of the Year (Danny Buderus Medal): Jacob Saifiti
-
Excalibur Club Players' Player: Connor Watson
-
Gladiator of the Year: Jayden Brailey
-
Community Player of the Year: Josh King
-
Rookie of the Year: Brodie Jones
-
Knight in Shining Armour: Mitchell Pearce
-
Club Person of the Year: Mathew Morris & Jane Farrell
-
NSW Cup Player of the Year: Zac Hosking
-
NSW Cup Excalibur Club Players' Player: Mat Croker & Luke Huth
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