The 2017 Newcastle Knights season was the 30th in the club's history. Coached by Nathan Brown and captained by Trent Hodkinson, before being replaced by Sione Mata'utia and Jamie Buhrer in the captaincy role, they competed in the NRL's 2017 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 16th place (out of 16).
Milestones Round 1: Jamie Buhrer made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Round 1: Ken Sio made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Hull Kingston Rovers. Round 1: Josh Starling made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Round 1: Jack Stockwell scored his 1st try for the club. Round 1: Sam Stone made his NRL debut for the club. Round 1: Luke Yates made his NRL debut for the club. Round 2: Sam Stone scored his 1st career try. Round 3: Brock Lamb kicked his 1st career goal. Round 3: Ken Sio scored his 1st try for the club. Round 4: Joe Wardle made his NRL debut for the club, after previously playing for the Huddersfield Giants. Round 5: Jacob Gagan made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and scored his 1st try for the club. Round 5: Sione Mata'utia played his 50th career game. Round 5: Anthony Tupou made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Round 5: Joe Wardle scored his 1st try for the club. Round 8: Sione Mata'utia captained his 1st game for the club. Round 10: Brock Lamb scored his 1st career try. Round 14: Jaelen Feeney scored his 1st career try. Round 18: Jamie Buhrer captained his 1st game for the club. Round 20: Trent Hodkinson played his 150th career game. Round 20: Shaun Kenny-Dowall made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters, and scored his 1st try for the club. Round 25: Jamie Buhrer scored his 1st try for the club.
Squad
Transfers and Re-signings Gains Player/Coach Previous club LengthJamie BuhrerManly Warringah Sea Eagles2018Thomas CronanCanberra Raiders2017Jacob GaganCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2017Shaun Kenny-DowallSydney Roosters2019Rory KostjasynNorth Queensland Cowboys2018Ken SioHull Kingston Rovers2018Josh StarlingManly Warringah Sea Eagles2017Anthony TupouWakefield Trinity Wildcats2017Joe WardleHuddersfield Giants2019Simon Woolford (ISP NSW coach)Queanbeyan Blues2017Kurt Wrigley (assistant coach)South Sydney Rabbitohs2017
Losses Player/Coach ClubChris AdamsLakes UnitedUiti BakerWestern Suburbs RosellasDanny Buderus (assistant coach)ReleasedKrys FreemanCentral Queensland CaprasTama KoopuNorths DevilsMatt Lantry (ISP NSW coach)Western Suburbs RosellasTodd LowrieRetirementRobbie RochowSouth Sydney RabbitohsTariq SimsSt. George Illawarra DragonsJeremy SmithRetirementKade SnowdenRetirementJoseph TapineCanberra RaidersJames TaylorSouth Newcastle LionsKen TofilauCentral Queensland CaprasAkuila UateManly Warringah Sea EaglesTekina VaileaEastern Suburbs Tigers
Promoted juniors Player Junior sideTyrone AmeyKnights Intrust Super Premiership NSWTom HughesKnights Intrust Super Premiership NSWBrodie JonesKnights National Youth CompetitionNick MeaneyKnights National Youth CompetitionJoe MorrisKnights Intrust Super Premiership NSWPasami SauloKnights National Youth CompetitionTom StarlingKnights National Youth CompetitionSam StoneKnights National Youth Competition
Change of role Player/Coach New roleBryce DonovanKnights second-tier squad
Re-signings Player/Coach Re-signed toMitchell Barnett2020Cory Denniss2018Lachlan Fitzgibbon2019Tom Hughes2018Danny Levi2020Nick Meaney2018Dylan Phythian2018Nathan Ross2020Daniel Saifiti2020Jacob Saifiti2020Tom Starling2018Sam Stone2018Luke Yates2018
Player contract situations 2017 (left)201820192020David BhanaTyrone AmeyLachlan FitzgibbonMitchell BarnettBrendan ElliotJamie BuhrerShaun Kenny-DowallDanny LeviJaelen FeeneyJack CoggerNathan RossDane GagaiThomas CronanDaniel SaifitiJacob GaganCory DennissJacob SaifitiRory KostjasynTrent HodkinsonJake MamoTom HughesSam MataoraBrodie JonesPeter Mata'utiaJosh KingJoe MorrisBrock LambJarrod MullenChanel Mata'utiaMickey PaeaPat Mata'utiaPauli PauliSione Mata'utiaWill PearsallNick MeaneyTyler RandellDylan PhythianBraden RobsonPasami SauloKorbin SimsKen SioBradie SmithTom StarlingJosh StarlingSam StoneJack StockwellLuke YatesAnthony TupouJoe Wardle
Ladder
Jerseys and sponsors In 2017, the Knights' jerseys were made by ISC and their major sponsor was nib Health Funds.
2017 Home Jersey2017 Away Jersey2017 Indigenous Jersey2017 ISC Marvel Heroes Iron Patriot Jersey2017 NSW Mining Jersey
Fixtures
Auckland Nines
Squad: 1. Peter Mata'utia 2. Ken Sio 3. Brendan Elliot 4. Nathan Ross 5. Cory Denniss 6. Brock Lamb 7. Jaelen Feeney 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Danny Levi 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Mitchell Barnett 12. Jamie Buhrer (c) 13. Luke Yates 14. Tyler Randell 15. Jack Stockwell 16. Sam Stone 17. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 18. Nick Meaney 19. Sione Mata'utia (Emergency Player)
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Drop Goal Conversions AttendanceSaturday, 4 FebruaryAuckland Nines Game 5 Wests TigersEden Park18-10K.Sio, N.Ross, S.Stone, M.BarnettB.Lamb (1/4)Saturday, 4 FebruaryAuckland Nines Game 13 Brisbane BroncosEden Park8-21D.Levi, P.Mata'utiaSunday, 5 FebruaryAuckland Nines Game 22 Melbourne StormEden Park10-20B.Lamb, C.DennissT.Randell (1/1) Legend:
Preseason trials Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 18 FebruaryTrial 1 Canberra RaidersSeiffert Oval44 – 0D.Levi, P.Mata'utia, J.Buhrer, S.Mata'utia, T.Hodkinson, B.Elliot, C.Mata'utia, K.SioT.Hodkinson (4/5), B.Lamb (2/3)6,350 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSunday 5 March1 New Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium22 – 26N. Ross (2), P. Mata'utia, J. StockwellT. Hodkinson (3/5)13,712Saturday 11 March2 Gold Coast Titans34 – 26N. Ross (2), B. Elliot, P. Mata'utia, J. Stockwell, S. StoneT. Hodkinson (5/6)12,869Saturday 18 March3 South Sydney RabbitohsMcDonald Jones Stadium18 – 24T. Hodkinson, P. Mata'utia, K. SioT. Hodkinson (2/3), B. Lamb (1/1)15,212Friday 24 March4 Penrith PanthersPepper Stadium0 – 4010,567Saturday 1 April5 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSouthern Cross Stadium18 – 19Brendan Elliot, Jacob Gagan, Joe WardleTrent Hodkinson (3/3)12,838Friday 7 April6 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsMcDonald Jones Stadium12 – 22Dane Gagai, Nathan RossTrent Hodkinson (2/3)16,929Friday 14 April7 Sydney RoostersMcDonald Jones Stadium6 – 24Ken SioTrent Hodkinson (1/1)21,412Saturday 22 April8 North Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium12 – 24Brendan Elliot, Nathan RossBrock Lamb (2/2)13,878Saturday 29 April9 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium8 – 38Sam StoneBrock Lamb (2/2)10,511Sunday 14 May10 Canberra RaidersMcDonald Jones Stadium34 – 20Sione Mata'utia (2), Brock Lamb, Peter Mata'utia, Nathan Ross, Joe WardleBrock Lamb (5/7)10,997Sunday 21 May11 Penrith PanthersMcDonald Jones Stadium20 – 30Brock Lamb, Peter Mata'utia, Daniel SaifitiBrock Lamb (4/4)13,31912BYE Friday 2 June13 Melbourne StormAAMI Park12 – 40Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Ken SioBrock Lamb (2/2)11,070Friday 9 June14 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval14 – 18Jaelen Feeney, Daniel LeviBrock Lamb (3/3)4,18915 BYE Sunday 25 June16 St George IllawarraUOW Jubilee Oval28 – 32Nathan Ross (3), Brendan Elliot, Lachlan FitzgibbonBrock Lamb (4/6)10,174Sunday 2 July17 Wests TigersMcDonald Jones Stadium12 – 33Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Joe WardleTrent Hodkinson (2/2)19,531Sunday 9 July18 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBelmore18 – 20Peter Mata'utia (2), Chanel Mata'utiaTrent Hodkinson (3/4), Brock Lamb (0/1)13,10315 July 201719 Brisbane BroncosMcDonald Jones Stadium34 – 22Dane Gagai, Daniel Levi, Chanel Mata'utia, Sione Mata'utiaTrent Hodkinson (3/4)13,773Friday 21 July20 Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium4 – 28Shaun Kenny-DowallTrent Hodkinson (0/1)7,12129 July 201721 St. George Illawarra DragonsMcDonald Jones Stadium21 – 14Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Brock Lamb, Jacob SifitiTrent Hodkinson (4/4) and (FG)15,031Saturday 5 August22 New Zealand WarriorsMcDonald Jones Stadium26 – 10Mitchell Barnett (2), Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Brock LambTrent Hodkinson (5/6)11,824Friday 11 August23 Parramatta EelsANZ Stadium29 – 10Ken Sio, Mitchell Barnett, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Brock LambTrent Hodkinson (4/5), Brett Lamb (FG)13,141Saturday 19 August24 Melbourne StormMcDonald Jones Stadium12 – 44Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Joe WardleTrent Hodkinson (2/2)16,001Friday 25 August25 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium28 – 46Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Mitchell Barnett, Jamie Buhrer, Daniel SaifitiTrent Hodkinson (4/5)10,523Sunday 3 September26 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMcDonald Jones Stadium18 – 26Lachlan Fitzgibbon (2), Daniel LeviTrent Hodkinson (3/3)20,535 Legend:
Statistics NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPointsCaptainAge10000021224001602316100492820000020124001602381004023148003202323200802611004024171461977296400160291500000222152316702024300120221000002742008025247002802722300121521500000311000002250000025201000400292320080212110040212150020027130000027102008025162008020400000341740016026190000022 Totals 24 72 69 2 418 - Average: 25
31 players used.
Source:
Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match in 2017.
Australia Dane Gagai
Australian Schoolboys Luke Huth (squad member)
Cook Islands Sam Mataora
Fiji Michael Potter (coach) Daniel Saifiti Jacob Saifiti
Indigenous All Stars Dane Gagai
Italy Jack Johns
Junior Kangaroos Sam Stone
New South Wales City Pauli Pauli Nathan Ross
New South Wales Residents Josh King (18th man) Nick Meaney (19th man)
New South Wales under-16s Bradman Best Harry Croker Cooper Jenkins Jaron Purcell (captain)
New South Wales under-20s Nick Meaney
New Zealand Danny Levi
Prime Minister's XIII Dane Gagai
Queensland Dane Gagai
Samoa Peter Mata'utia Sione Mata'utia
Scotland Joe Wardle (train-on squad)
World All Stars Sione Mata'utia
Individual honours
Teams and squads Intrust Super Premiership New South Wales Team of the Year Tom Hughes
Newcastle Knights awards
Player of the Year National Rugby League (NRL) Player of the Year: Mitchell Barnett Intrust Super Premiership NSW Player of the Year: Nick Meaney National Youth Competition (NYC) Player of the Year: Zac Hosking
Players' Player National Rugby League (NRL) Players' Player: Daniel Saifiti Intrust Super Premiership NSW Players' Player: Tom Hughes National Youth Competition (NYC) Players' Player: Matt Cooper
Coach's Award National Rugby League (NRL) Coach's Award: Jamie Buhrer Intrust Super Premiership NSW Coach's Award: Braden Robson National Youth Competition (NYC) Coach's Award: Heath Gibbs
References