NRL Profile: Newcastle Knights

The Newcastle Knights showed some real signs of promise last season and will be looking to build on that foundation in the 2024 NRL campaign.

Newcastle were one of the form teams heading into the finals in 2023 but their story was to come to an abrupt end with a 40-10 defeat to the New Zealand Warriors in the semi-finals.

Looking to learn lessons from that disappointment, head coach Adam O’Brien and his side are ready to go again in 2024, where they are 26.00 to win the grand final. 

Knights fell short last season

The Knights stormed their way into the finals last season and managed to keep up their strong form with victory over the Canberra Raiders in the elimination game.

Edging that encounter with the Raiders 30-28, Newcastle then hit a brick wall when suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of the Warriors.

It meant Newcastle fans’ wait for a title would continue for another year, having last lifted the trophy back in 2001.

Key players

Newcastle had three players who featured across the three State of Origin matches in 2023 and all will have big roles to play next season.

Tyson Frizell, Jacob Saifiti and Bradman Best all played for New South Wales and will be hoping to earn a place back in the squad to take on Queensland again in 2024.

Jackson Hastings is another key player in this Newcastle squad and the Great Britain representative will be hoping for a big season to come.

Another livewire in the backline is fullback Kalyn Ponga, who enjoyed a stellar 2023 by winning the Daly M Medal.

The 25-year-old from Port Hedland will take plenty of confidence from earning that individual accolade and will be hoping to inspire the Knights to better things in 2024.

New signings 

On the back of last season’s efforts, Newcastle have been busy with incomings and outgoing ahead of the new campaign.

The players making their way to NRL from Super League are Kai Pearce-Paul from the Wigan Warriors and Will Pryce from the Huddersfield Giants.

Pearce-Paul and Pryce will be joined by other new arrivals Jack Cogger, Jed Cartwright and Tom Jenkins.

Cogger and Jenkins have both joined from reigning champions Penrith Panthers, while Cartwright has made the switch from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Opening fixtures

The Knights will kick-start their 2024 regular season campaign on 7th March when they play hosts to the Canberra Raiders.

Newcastle are 1.44 to win and 2.80 to lose to the Raiders in that opening game at McDonald Jones Stadium. 

The Knights are next on their travels at the North Queensland Cowboys on 16th March, before returning to the McDonald Jones Stadium for a clash against Melbourne Storm on 24th March.