As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2024, the Knights are dark horses for the top four.
The Knights went from potentially punting their coach mid-season to storming into the finals in 2023 but the big question is whether they can carry that momentum into the new year.
Kalyn Ponga thankfully avoided any further concussion dramas to surge into career-best form which took him all the way to the Dally M Medal and propelled Newcastle into fifth spot.
After being bounced out of the second week of the finals in Auckland, they have improved their roster over the off-season with the long-awaited arrival of two English rising stars in Will Pryce and Kai Pearce-Paul.
The return of Jayden Brailey at hooker after another serious knee injury should add starch to the Knights in the middle although his replacement, Phoenix Crossland, gave the team great value in the role last year and at worst should find a spot on the interchange in 2024 as a utility.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien is going into the season with a more settled squad than recent years but needs to decide early whether he will stick with the halves which took his team to the finals or revamp his playmakers with fresh blood in Pryce or Jack Cogger.
Who’s new?
Pryce is just 21 and may take his time to find his feet in the NRL but the Knights brought him into the fold to solve their five-eighth problem after Ponga failed to fire in the position before journeyman Tyson Gamble was given the gig.
Pearce-Paul is a year older and is a towering forward who could cause plenty of problems down an edge.
Cogger has returned home after stints at Canterbury, the Super League and Penrith and could also be a playmaking option while another ex-Panther in Tom Jenkins will boost Newcastle’s depth on the wings.
Former Rabbitohs forward Jed Cartwright could also prove a handy acquisition as an interchange player or starting second-rower.
Adam O’Brien. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Who’s gone?
Dominic Young’s departure to the Roosters leaves a big hole on the flank while utility back Lachlan Miller, playmaker Adam Clune, back-up hooker Fa’amanu Brown and second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon have jetted off to the Super League.
Experienced utility Kurt Mann has switched to the Bulldogs while young forward Simi Sasagi has relocated to the Raiders.
Hymel Hunt and Jack Johns have also left after not getting a new deal.
Key spots to unlock
Young’s wing spot is likely to go to experienced campaigner Enari Tuala although Jenkins scored five tries in his six appearances for Penrith so he could be the better long-term candidate.
The halves are a four-way battle between incumbent chief playmaker Jackson Hastings and Gamble, with Pryce and Cogger also having claims to a starting gig.
Whichever way O’Brien goes with his halves, he needs to lock the combination in early as the spine has been an ever-evolving quartet at Newcastle in recent seasons.
With Fitzgibbon gone, the left edge is up for grabs in the pack and Pearce-Paul, Cartwright and perhaps Brodie Jones could pack down opposite Tyson Frizell, who turned back the clock with his form in 2023.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Round 1 predicted team
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Enari Tuala
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Will Pryce
7 Jackson Hastings
8 Daniel Saifiti
9 Jayden Brailey
10 Jacob Saifiti
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Kai Pearce-Paul
13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
14 Phoenix Crossland
15 Jed Cartwright
16 Jack Hetherington
17 Leo Thompson
Other squad members: Jack Cogger, David Armstrong, Dylan Lucas, Riley Jones, Paul Bryan, Myles Martin, Mathew Croker, Tyson Gamble, Thomas Jenkins, Ryan Rivett, Krystian Mapapalangi, Brodie Jones.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
As a matter of fact . The Knights also bought one of the Panthers brightest up & comers, in centre Wilson De Courcey . They plan to play him alongside of Best in the centres & that could be for the 2024 season. They see him as the long term centres partner of Best.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Well - remember you heard it here first :happy:
Beastie
Roar Rookie
Didn't last year with that lot.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
Not a bad list! I can't see Gamble being dislodged unless he's injured or suspended for round 1.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I hope you're wrong but they've both got form.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Round 6, Knights V Roosters, Ponga odds on HIA, just don't know if it will be JWH or Radley ?
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Miss the 8 with that lot
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
What a team! Too many stars to pick from! Dally M Player of the Century! The Siafiti boys owning the middle with Leo Thompson! Best to get better still! Phoenix Crossland to star off the bench for NSW in Origin! You're 2024 NRL premiers. Let the dynasty begin
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Geez they had a great run last year. Not sold on their pack though. Dom Young is a massive loss. And they’re always one head knock away from disaster…
Dutski
Roar Guru
Elliot, when fit, is a tackling machine with good hands. Offer more than Jones.
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
This kid Pryce is a gun. I also like Cogger as a 7 as he will play very direct and flat. i think the player under most pressure is Hasting. The Knights looked better without him last year. The other weak point is Adam Elliot but Im happy to see him rotate at 13 with Brodie Jones/Tyson Gamble and Phoenix. I think we are 1 x quality front rower short however.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
Will Pryce is a 5/8 / fullback and will cover at 1 as well as David Armstrong. As it stands Mapapalangi is lining up as Gags replacement or maybe Jenkins. Doubt they’ll have big cash to recruit in so one of those guys. Or extend Gags on less money for a year – he isn’t playing too bad.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Now got 5 halves in the squad but no cover for Ponga ? and no plan for replacing 33 year old Gagai who is off contact. But the Coach has a new 3 year contract, so no pressure till 2025
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
When you say it hinges on Ponga, presumably you mean how the Knights manage his workload, so he doesn’t overplay, suffer any long term injuries and especially little down time from concussions. I got the impression, late last season, the Knights were gaining more self-belief in their ability to win games without Ponga. Guys like Bradman Best really seemed to take a lot of confidence from playing SOO and I thought their pack was very good towards the end of the season. Assuming they pick up where they left off, the Knights should be finals bound again. They need to keep working on other attacking options apart from Ponga if they’re going to seriously contend with the Panthers & Broncos, but overall, their supporters should be looking forward to a good season.
Pommy Chris
Roar Rookie
I reckon Dylan Lucas will get first bite at the #12 jersey, especially with KPP’s injury. Equally, it’s likely that Leo Thompson will start ahead of one of the Saifiti’s, probably Dan. There’s a fair amount of cohesion in this team so hopefully the form from the back half of last season will flow through to this one, but as you say it hinges on Ponga!