Newcastle Knights NRL 2018 season preview

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• Author: Mick Gannon
  Feb 28, 2018 01:07 AM
• AAP

Out of Dark Knights, Men of Steel can rise

Key gains: Mitchell Pearce (Roosters), Aidan Guerra (Roosters), Chris Heighington (Sharks), Jacob Lillyman (Warriors), Tautau Moga (Broncos), Kalyn Ponga (Cowboys), Connor Watson (Roosters), Herman Ese’ese (Broncos), Slade Griffin (Storm)

Key losses: Brendan Elliot (Titans), Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs), Rory Kostjasyn (retired), Peter Mata’utia (Leigh), Sam Mataora (retired), Jarrod Mullen (released), Trent Hodkinson (Sharks)

Overview

It’s a case of out with the old, in the with the New-castle. The Novocastrians have reshaped their squad in the off-season and bought exceptionally well for 2018, opening their chequebook in a bid to avoid a third consecutive wooden spoon.

The most-high profile new recruit is former Roosters and NSW Origin halfback Mitchell Pearce, who brings a wealth of experience to the young side. Coach Nathan Brown has added further experience to the roster, signing the likes of Aiden Guerra and Jacob Lillyman, who will provide a benchmark for his junior forwards to follow. Both Guerra and Lillyman have represented QLD in State of Origin and will need to lead from the front in 2018. 

Before joining the Knights in 2016, Brown had a career win rate of 57% after successful coaching stints at the Dragons, Huddersfield and St Helens. The former St George hooker was all too aware of the challenges that he would face in rebuilding the Newcastle franchise and has only been rewarded with six wins in two seasons. Now into his third season at the club, Brown has finally assembled a squad which he can say is his own, with the depth and quality needed to compete in the NRL. Another wooden spoon this year however and the cross-hair will be pointed squarely in his direction.

There’s optimism in the air in Newcastle at the moment and a feeling within the community that they are building towards something big. Despite winning only five games in 2017, the Knights improved their point differential by 275 points, losing 11 games by 12 points or less. The squad also gained plenty of valuable experience following a season in which they were the youngest side in the competition, with an average age of 24.2.  

With only two home games in the first eight rounds, don’t be surprised to see the Knights slow out of the blocks. If they pick up some early wins, however, then watch out, as they play eight home games in their following ten fixtures where they could gain some serious momentum heading into the back-end of the season.

Player to watch: Kalyn Ponga only played nine games at the Cowboys however quickly became one of the most sort after young talents in the competition. Showing the footwork and speed reminiscent of Billy Slater, the fullback has all the attributes to break a game apart. This kid could be the next star of the NRL - let’s hope for Knights fans he is.

Key player: Mitchell Pearce has reached veteran status now aged 28, having achieved more than most in the game after winning a Premiership at the Roosters in 2013 and representing NSW on 17 occasions. He now faces arguably the biggest challenge of his career in taking charge of this young Knights outfit, coming off a year for the Roosters which many believe was his best in the NRL scoring 7 tries and assisting in 14.  

Outside backs rating: 6/10

Wingers Nathan Ross and Shaun Kenny-Dowall both know how to bag a try. Ross has now scored 21 four-pointers in 45 appearances for the Knights, whilst former Kiwi International ‘SKD’ as he’s affectionately known by fans, has scored 126 tries in his 221 NRL appearances. Tautau Moga comes to the Knights off his best season yet after breaking into a strong Broncos squad last year. He was almost unstoppable with ball in hand and Brown will be hoping that he’ll be able to fill the big boots left by QLD and Kangaroos representative Dane Gagai, who had been a focal point for the Knights’ attack in the past three seasons.

Sione Mata’utia is the youngest player to ever represent Australia, playing three games in 2014. Four-years-on and with the support of class players around him, a more mature Mata’utia has the opportunity to recapture the form that saw him earn a call-up to the national side.  

Forward Pack rating: 4/10

At the ripe age of 21, prop Daniel Saifiti is now in his third year of NRL and will relish the opportunity to play alongside the experienced Lillyman in the front-row. Lachlan Fitzgibbon was one of the club’s rare shining lights last season, scoring 8 tries in 14 appearances, and he’ll be well supported by Aiden Guerra in the backrow. Lock Mitch Barnett will play a role for Coach Brown, however expect utility Jamie Buhrer to push hard for a starting spot. Buhrer can make a significant impact in games and has proven himself as an 80-minute player. Overall the pack doesn’t look exciting on paper, however expect them to work well together as a unit.    

Spine rating: 6/10      

There is something noticeably different in this year’s Newcastle spine of Kalyn Ponga (Fullback), Connor Watson (Five Eighth), Mitchell Pearce (Halfback) and Danny Levi (Hooker). The club has finally cut ties with Jarryd Mullen after persisting with him for over a decade in the halves. Although their hand was forced given Mullen’s positive drug test midway through last year, many believe it was a blessing in disguise for the club, given his wretched injury record and inability to take his game to the next level.

Pearce gets the opportunity to reunite with former Roosters teammate Connor Watson who possesses plenty of toe, whilst hooker Danny Levi will look to catapult off the back of the experience he gained playing for the Kiwis in the 2017 World Cup. All in all, this is a combination that has the potential to pour on the points.