2021 Newcastle Knights season
NRL Rank7th
Play-off resultElimination Finalists (Week 1)
2021 recordWins: 12; draws: 0; losses: 12
Points scoredFor: 428; against: 571
Team information
CEOPhil Gardner
CoachAdam O'Brien
Captain
StadiumMcDonald Jones Stadium
Avg. attendance17,636
High attendance23,015
Top scorers
TriesEnari Tuala (13)
GoalsJake Clifford (33)
PointsJake Clifford (74)
< 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.[1] 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.

Squad

2021 NRL top 30 squad Development players Coaching staff

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

Assistant coaches


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 9 November 2021
Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles,
Rugby League Project

Transfers and Re-signings

Gains

Player/CoachPrevious ClubLengthSource
McKenzie BakerSydney Roosters2021[2]
Zane CamrouxWests Tigers2021[3]
Tyler CoburnIpswich JetsPre-season[4]
Jake CliffordNorth Queensland Cowboys2023[5]
Tyson FrizellSt. George Illawarra Dragons2023[6]
Bailey HodgsonCastleford Tigers2023[7]
Jack JohnsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs2021[8]
Jacob KirazNorth Queensland Cowboys2021[9]
Blake LenehanIpswich JetsPre-season[4]
Brayden MusgroveCessnock Goannas2022[10]
Andrew Ryan (NSW Cup coach)South Newcastle Lions2021[11]
Garrett SmithNorth Queensland Cowboys2021[12]
Sauaso SueCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2022[13]
Dom YoungHuddersfield Giants2023[14]

Losses

Player/CoachClubSource
Jack CameronSouth Sydney Rabbitohs[15]
Matt CooperLakes United[16]
Herman Ese'eseGold Coast Titans[17]
Beau FermorGold Coast Titans[18]
David Furner (assistant coach)Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs[19]
Tim GlasbyRetirement[20]
Tony Gleeson (NSW Cup coach)Released
Aidan GuerraRetirement[21]
Danny LeviManly Warringah Sea Eagles[22]
Mason LinoWakefield Trinity[23]
Toby MarksCanberra Raiders[24]
Sione Mata'utiaSt Helens R.F.C.[25]
Andrew McCulloughBrisbane Broncos[26]
Tautau MogaSouth Sydney Rabbitohs[27]
Tyronne Roberts-DavisWests Tigers[28]
Brandon RussellTweed Heads Seagulls[29]
Bayden SearleMacquarie Scorpions[30]
PlayerJunior sideSource
Harry CrokerKnights Jersey Flegg Cup[31]
Cooper JenkinsKnights Jersey Flegg Cup[32]
Christian Ma'anaimaKnights Jersey Flegg Cup[33]
Jaron PurcellKnights Jersey Flegg Cup[2]
Daniel TicehurstKnights Jersey Flegg Cup[34]
Chris Vea'ilaKnights S. G. Ball Cup[35]

Change of role

Player/CoachNew roleSource
Adam Bettridge (Jersey Flegg Cup coach)Knights S. G. Ball Cup assistant coach[36]
Luke HuthKnights NSW Cup[37]
Rory Kostjasyn (Knights development coach)Knights NRL assistant coach[38]
Eric Smith (Knights development coach)Knights NRL assistant coach[38]

Re-signings

Player/CoachRe-signed toSource
Bradman Best2024[39]
Jayden Brailey2025[40]
Lachlan Fitzgibbon2023[41]
Hymel Hunt2023[42]
Brodie Jones2023[43]
Kurt Mann2023[44]
Adam O'Brien (head coach)2024[45]
Mitchell Pearce2022[46]
Daniel Saifiti2026[47]
Jacob Saifiti2024[47]
Starford To'a2023[48]

Player contract situations

2021 (left)20222023202420252026
Tyler Coburn[49]McKenzie Baker[50]Mitchell Barnett[51]Bradman Best[39]Jayden Brailey[40]Daniel Saifiti[47]
Blake Green[52]Mitch Black[53]Jake Clifford[5]Jacob Saifiti[47]
Zac Hosking[54]Zane Camroux[53]Lachlan Fitzgibbon[41]Kalyn Ponga[55]
Josh King[56]Harry Croker[31]Tyson Frizell[6]
Jacob Kiraz[57]Mat Croker[58]Bailey Hodgson[7]
Blake Lenehan[49]Phoenix Crossland[59]Hymel Hunt[42]
Christian Ma'anaima[60]Tex Hoy[61]Jack Johns[59]
Mitchell Pearce[62]Cooper Jenkins[50]Brodie Jones[43]
Gehamat Shibasaki[63]Edrick Lee[64]David Klemmer[65]
Garrett Smith[66]Dylan Lucas[50]Kurt Mann[44]
Matt Soper-Lawler[67]Jirah Momoisea[68]Chris Randall[59]
Starford To'a[69]Brayden Musgrove[10]Enari Tuala[70]
Connor Watson[71]Jaron Purcell[72]Chris Vea'ila[73]
Simi Sasagi[74]Dom Young[14]
Pasami Saulo[75]
Sauaso Sue[13]
Daniel Ticehurst[34]

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm 2421031815316+49944
2 Penrith Panthers (P) 2421031676286+39044
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2420041775453+32242
4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2416081744492+25234
5 Sydney Roosters 2416081630489+14134
6 Parramatta Eels 2415091566457+10932
7 Newcastle Knights 24120121428571−14326
8 Gold Coast Titans 24100141580583−322
9 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24100141520556−3622
10 Canberra Raiders 24100141481578−9722
11 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2480161474616−14218
12 New Zealand Warriors 2480161453624−17118
13 Wests Tigers 2480161500714−21418
14 Brisbane Broncos 2470171446695−24916
15 North Queensland Cowboys 2470171460748−28816
16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2430211340710−3708

Milestones

Jerseys and sponsors

In 2021, the Knights' jerseys were made by O'Neills and their major sponsor was nib Health Funds.

2021 Home Jersey2021 Away Jersey2021 Heritage Jersey2021 Indigenous Jersey2021 NSW Mining Jersey

Fixtures

Pre-season Trials

Date Opponent Venue Score Tries Conversions Attendance
Saturday, 27 February Melbourne StormAlbury Sports Ground10–30D.Lucas, D.YoungC.Randall (1/1)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw

Statistics

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField GoalsPointsCaptainAge
Mitchell Barnett24413042027
Bradman Best1730012020
Jayden Brailey23300122025
Jake Clifford13233074023
Mat Croker20000022
Phoenix Crossland91106021
Lachlan Fitzgibbon1030012027
Tyson Frizell1930012030
Blake Green60000035
Tex Hoy716016022
Hymel Hunt1740016028
Jack Johns61004024
Brodie Jones2230012023
Josh King181004026
David Klemmer210000028
Kurt Mann2230113028
Jirah Momoisea30000023
Brayden Musgrove71004023
Mitchell Pearce1230113032
Kalyn Ponga15810052523
Chris Randall52008026
Daniel Saifiti20300121725
Jacob Saifiti2330012025
Simi Sasagi20000020
Pasami Saulo30000023
Gehamat Shibasaki31004023
Sauaso Sue232008029
Starford To'a1260024021
Enari Tuala25130052023
Connor Watson252008025
Dom Young640016020
Totals2580632448Average: 25

31 players used.

Source:[76]

Representative honours

The following players appeared in a representative match or were named in a representative squad in 2021.

Emerging Blues squad

New South Wales

Queensland

Individual honours

Newcastle Knights awards

References

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