Newcastle Knights History

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The Newcastle area has always been a Rugby League stronghold since 1908 when the area fielded a team in the opening two years of the Sydney premiership. Newcastle left the premiership to conduct its own competition, which was to become the 3rd strongest Rugby League competition in Australia after the Sydney and Brisbane premierships. The Newcastle-Hunter area has produced many champions before the Knights introduction including the greatest ever Australian footballer in Clive Churchill who hailed from Merewether. Also from Newcastle included Wally Prigg, Roy Kirkaldy, Les Johns, John Graves and John Sattler.Newcastle's return to the Sydney premiership was not an easy road. In the late 1970's, all 36 Newcastle delegates voted against fielding a team in the Sydney premiership. Gradually, the delegates were starting to be won over about the idea of having a Newcastle side in the Sydney premiership. The expansion of the Sydney premiership in 1982 to include Canberra and Illawarra was very significant with the Newcastle premiership now isolated and the big move came in 1986-87 when moves were afloat to introduce a team from Brisbane into the Sydney premiership. That made Newcastle's move into the Sydney cum National premiership a certainty with the game beginning the first steps to long term rationalisation.Allan McMahon was appointed the first coach and Kiwi International Sam Stewart was first captain of the Knights in their debut season. Newcastle struggled early on before the signings of Michael Hagan and Mark Sargent from Canterbury toughened up the Knights. Newcastle made the play-off for 5th position in 1990, losing 12-4 to Balmain but after only three seasons, had stamped their mark on the premiership with big home crowds supporting them. Sargent who won the Rothmans Medal in his first year at Newcastle in 1989 would also become the Knights first Australian International when he was selected on the 1990 Kangaroo tour. He played in three Tests on tour. Newcastle struggled in 1991 where David Waite mid-season replaced Allan McMahon as coach before making the semi-finals for the first time in 1992. Paul Harragon emerged as a superstar in 1992, winning selection in the Australia team for the first time. Newcastle beat Wests 23-2 in the first semi-final but lost 3-2 the following week to St George. Harragon, Sargent and fullback Brad Godden won selection for the end of season World Cup tour with only Sargent playing in the final.Newcastle struggled in 1993-94 where Waite was replaced as coach by successful Great Britain coach Mal Reilly. In 1994, Waite unearthed the dangerous Johns brothers combination that would be the heart of the Newcastle sides in the years to come. Newcastle came within one game of making the grand final in 1995 and with the Super League war, many Newcastle players cashed in on Test jumpers, Harragon, both Johns brothers, Jamie Ainscough, Adam Muir and Robbie O'Davis all winning World Cup berths in 1995. The year of the Knights came in 1997 with the competition split into two, Newcastle held the ARL competition together with great support and an emotional run to the ARL grand final to united the entire Newcastle area. The Knights came from 16-8 down at half time to level at 16-all and with under a minute to go, Andrew Johns sets up Darren Albert to score under the posts to win Newcastle the grand final. The city of Newcastle was in party mode for months, probably still are actually and the win by Newcastle gave Rugby League hope for the future during tough times for the code. A drug bust hit Newcastle in 1998 with O'Davis, Adam MacDougall and Wayne Richards receiving lengthy suspensions and along with many injuries, the Knights faltered away in the semi-finals despite Andrew Johns having the best season by any individual in many years.Newcastle came within a whisker of making the 2000 grand final under the guidance of Warren Ryan, who was close to being their first coach in 1988. The harsh realities of the salary cap came to hit Newcastle in the 2000 season with Matthew Johns being forced to continue his Rugby League career elsewhere and great sadness through the Hunter region.Under new coach Michael Hagan, one of Ryan?s protegies, the Knights took all before them in the 2001 season to claim their second Premiership. Andrew Johns tookover as captain following the retirement of Tony Butterfield and his leadership was the catalyst for a sensational season. Johns enjoyed his best season as Newcastle led Parramatta 24-0 at halftime and ultimately won 30-24.The Knights hopes in recent seasons have depended purely on the back of Johns. When the champion halfback is on the field than Newcastle can match it with the best but when he?s out injured than they are a wooden spoon rabble. One player hasn?t had as much impact on team sport as Johns. Newcastle have struggled in 2005 with injuries and off field troubles but with Johns at the helm until the end of the 2008 season, the Knights have a platform to start another rebuilding phase around the greatest player of today?s era.

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