The 2019 Newcastle Knights season was the 32nd in the club's history. Coached by Nathan Brown, interim coached by Kristian Woolf after Brown's contract was terminated, and captained by Mitchell Pearce, they competed in the NRL's 2019 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 11th place (out of 16).
Milestones Round 1: James Gavet made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the New Zealand Warriors. Round 1: Tim Glasby made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Melbourne Storm and scored his 1st try for the club. Round 1: Hymel Hunt made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Round 1: David Klemmer made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Round 1: Edrick Lee made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and scored his 1st try for the club. Round 1: Kurt Mann made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Round 1: Jesse Ramien made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Round 3: Hymel Hunt played his 50th career game. Round 3: Jesse Ramien scored his 1st try for the club. Round 4: Hymel Hunt scored his 1st try for the club. Round 4: Edrick Lee scored his 50th career try. Round 4: Mason Lino made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the New Zealand Warriors. Round 6: Mitchell Barnett kicked his 1st career goal. Round 7: James Gavet scored his 1st try for the club. Round 9: Lachlan Fitzgibbon played his 50th career game. Round 9: Edrick Lee played his 100th career game. Round 10: Nathan Brown won his 100th career game as coach. Round 10: Kurt Mann scored his 1st try for the club. Round 13: Mason Lino kicked his 1st goal for the club. Round 13: Sione Mata'utia played his 100th career game. Round 15: Mason Lino scored his 1st try for the club. Round 16: Phoenix Crossland made his NRL debut for the club. Round 16: Shaun Kenny-Dowall captained his 1st game for the club. Round 16: Kurt Mann played his 100th career game. Round 21: Shaun Kenny-Dowall played his 50th game for the club. Round 21: Jacob Saifiti played his 50th career game. Round 22: Josh King played his 50th career game. Round 23: Bradman Best made his NRL debut for the club. Round 24: Bradman Best scored his 1st career try. Round 25: Starford To'a made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
Squad
Transfers and Re-signings Gains Player/Coach Previous club LengthSale FinauMelbourne Storm2019James GavetNew Zealand Warriors2020Tim GlasbyMelbourne Storm2021Hymel HuntSouth Sydney Rabbitohs2019David KlemmerCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2023Edrick LeeCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2021Mason LinoNew Zealand Warriors2020Kurt MannSt. George Illawarra Dragons2021Jesse RamienCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2020Kristian Woolf (assistant coach & interim head coach)Townsville Blackhawks2019Zac WoolfordCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2019
Losses Player/Coach ClubTyrone AmeyMaitland PickersJack CoggerCanterbury-Bankstown BulldogsMatt CooperEastern Suburbs TigersThomas CronanSouth Newcastle LionsCory DennissSouth Sydney RabbitohsJJ FeliseCanberra RaidersChristian HazardTweed Heads SeagullsChris HeighingtonRetirementTrent HodkinsonCronulla-Sutherland SharksTom HughesEastern Suburbs TigersJack JohnsSouth Sydney RabbitohsBrock LambSydney RoostersJacob LillymanRetirementTodd Lowrie (Jersey Flegg Cup coach)ReleasedJock MaddenWests TigersChanel Mata'utiaCessnock GoannasPat Mata'utiaWestern Suburbs RosellasNick MeaneyCanterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBrent NadenPenrith PanthersDylan PhythianContract terminatedMichael Potter (assistant coach)ReleasedKen SioSalford Red DevilsTom StarlingCanberra RaidersSimon Woolford (ISP NSW coach)Huddersfield GiantsLuke YatesLondon Broncos
Promoted juniors Player Junior sideMitch AndrewsKnights Jersey Flegg CupBradman BestKnights Jersey Flegg CupKiah CooperKnights Intrust Super Premiership NSWMat CrokerKnights Jersey Flegg CupPhoenix CrosslandKnights Jersey Flegg CupBeau FermorKnights Jersey Flegg CupJacob GagaiKnights Intrust Super Premiership NSWTex HoyKnights Jersey Flegg CupLuke HuthKnights Jersey Flegg CupJirah MomoiseaKnights Jersey Flegg CupChris RandallKnights Intrust Super Premiership NSWSimi SasagiKnights Jersey Flegg CupStarford To'aKnights Jersey Flegg Cup
Change of role Player/Coach New roleScott Dureau (S. G. Ball Cup coach)Knights Jersey Flegg Cup coachZac HoskingKnights second-tier squad
Re-signings Player/Coach Re-signed toBradman Best2022Phoenix Crossland2021Beau Fermor2020Lachlan Fitzgibbon2021Tex Hoy2021Jirah Momoisea2020Simi Sasagi2020Starford To'a2021
Player contract situations 2019 (left)2020202120222023Mitch AndrewsMitchell BarnettPhoenix CrosslandBradman BestDavid KlemmerJamie BuhrerMat CrokerLachlan FitzgibbonKiah CooperHerman Ese'eseTim GlasbySale FinauBeau FermorTex HoyJacob GagaiAidan GuerraEdrick LeeJames GavetHymel HuntKurt MannSlade GriffinLuke HuthSione Mata'utiaShaun Kenny-DowallBrodie JonesMitchell PearceBrayden MusgroveJosh KingKalyn PongaJesse RamienDanny LeviStarford To'aNathan RossMason LinoSam StoneTautau MogaZac WoolfordJirah MomoiseaChris RandallDaniel SaifitiJacob SaifitiSimi SasagiPasami SauloConnor Watson
Ladder
Jerseys and sponsors In 2019, the Knights' jerseys were made by ISC and their major sponsor is nib Health Funds.
2019 Home Jersey2019 Away Jersey2019 Indigenous Jersey2019 NSW Mining Jersey
Fixtures
Pre-season trials Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 23 FebruaryTrial 1 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium10 – 18L.Fitzgibbon, E.LeeK.Ponga (1/2)Saturday, 2 MarchTrial 2 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMaitland No.1 Sportsground6 – 30S.To'aK.Ponga (1/1) Legend:
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance 15 March1 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMcDonald Jones Stadium14 – 8T. Glasby, E. LeeK. Ponga (3/3)21,81323 March2 Penrith PanthersMcDonald Jones Stadium14 – 16M. Barnett, E. LeeK. Ponga (3/5)19,45129 March3 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium10 – 17S. Kenny-Dowall, J. RamienK. Ponga (1/2)10,5857 April4 St. George Illawarra DragonsMcDonald Jones Stadium12-13E. Lee, H. Hunt.K. Ponga (1/2)19,10513 April5 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMcDonald Jones Stadium18-26E. Lee, A. Guerra, M. BarnettK. Ponga (3/3)21,77921 April6 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium38-14H. Hunt, M. Barnett, K. PongaM. Barnett (1/3)11,65428 April7 Parramatta EelsMcDonald Jones Stadium28-14K. Ponga, L. Fitzgibbon, J. Gavet, M. PearceK. Ponga (4/4)19,6045 May8 New Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium36-18M. Pearce, S. Kenny-Dowall, S. Mata'utia, H. Hunt, K. PongaK. Ponga (4/4)14,97511 May9 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSuncorp Stadium22-10H. Hunt, M. Pearce, L. Fitzgibbon, K. PongaK. Ponga (3/4)25,29219 May10 St. George Illawarra DragonsGlen Willow Oval45-12T. Glasby, K. Ponga 2, K. Mann, S. Kenny-Dowall, M. Pearce, C. WatsonK. Ponga (6/7)9,26724 May11 Sydney RoostersMcDonald Jones Stadium38-12H. Hunt, K. Ponga, M. Pearce, C. Watson, E. LeeK. Ponga (7/7) M. Barnett (2/2)25,929 12Bye 7 June13 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium20-12H. Hunt, M. Barnett, C. WatsonM. Lino (4/5)8,25315 June14 Melbourne StormAAMI Park34-4H. Hunt -16,31329 June15 Brisbane BroncosMcDonald Jones Stadium26-12E. Lee, L. Fitzgibbon, S. Kenny-Dowall, M. LinoM. Lino (5/5)24,3976 July16 New Zealand WarriorsMcDonald Jones Stadium12 July17 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsMcDonald Jones Stadium20 July18 Sydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground26 July19 Wests TigersMcDonald Jones Stadium3 August20 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesLottoland10 August21 Parramatta EelsBankwest Stadium17 August22 North Queensland CowboysMcDonald Jones Stadium24 August23 Wests TigersCampbelltown Stadium31 August24 Gold Coast TitansMcDonald Jones Stadium8 September25 Penrith PanthersPanthers Stadium Legend:
Statistics NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPointsCaptainAge21730340253100401890000130100000191820080252150020025181004030212008030122008031249003602623800321311300000242100000261460024027170000024122330740251910040262250020023620080262380133233020114801400211720080222100000237000002330000021110040192140016023 Totals 24 79 84 1 485 - Average: 25
27 players used.
Source:
Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match in 2019.
Australia David Klemmer
Australian Men's Nines Kalyn Ponga
Australian Schoolboys Mitchell Black Cooper Jenkins
Indigenous All Stars Jesse Ramien
Junior Kangaroos Kalyn Ponga
Junior Kiwis Christian Ma'anaima Simi Sasagi (squad member) Daniel Ticehurst Starford To'a
Māori All Stars Danny Levi Kalyn Ponga
New South Wales David Klemmer Mitchell Pearce Daniel Saifiti
New South Wales under-16s Max Bradbury Lachlan Crouch Oryn Keeley Fletcher Myers Noah Nailagoliva Jonah Pezet Noah Reed
New South Wales under-18s Bradman Best Mitchell Black
New South Wales under-20s Mat Croker Phoenix Crossland (20th man) Tex Hoy Luke Huth
New Zealand Nines Starford To'a (squad member)
Queensland Tim Glasby Kalyn Ponga
Queensland under-20s Brandon Russell (squad member)
Samoa Herman Ese'ese James Gavet Hymel Hunt Mason Lino
Samoan Nines James Gavet (squad member) Danny Levi
Tonga Kristian Woolf (coach)
References