Kalyn Ponga Cleared to Play After Concussion Scares

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The Knights are breathing a sigh of relief, announcing Kalyn Ponga will return to play for the side during next week's clash with the Cowboys. 

There were concerns for the young star's future, after he suffered four knocks to the head in just 10 months. 

However, after undergoing neurological testing in Canada, Ponga has been cleared to make his return in round eight.  

Speaking to the media for the first time since his last concussion, suffered during Newcastle's round two battle against the Wests Tigers, the skipper said the overseas medical team were happy with his health and he's feeling positive in continuing with his NRL career. 

"You can build the brain back, you can train the brain, and you can make it perform at a higher level," he said. 

Questions have been circling around the future of Ponga's on-field performance, but the 25-year-old said he just wants to get back to business as usual. 

"I know what my best plays are and I'm still going to run them. Regardless of the head-knocks, that's what makes me so good in my role," Ponga said.   

"I'm not going to start changing the way I play in that sense." 

Ponga did confirm he'd be working on his tackle technique and would be looking to be "smarter" in defence. 

The playmaker says he still plans to play at five-eight, with no plans to return to fullback. 

Lord Mayor puts jersey on the line for NRLW Grand Final

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has accepted a challenge from her Parramatta counterpart ahead of the NRLW Grand Final clash on Sunday.

The Knights are headed to Accor Stadium to take a shot at the Women's Premiership, less than a year after claiming the wooden spoon in their inaugural season.

In their round three meeting earlier this month, Newcastle came out just ahead of the Sydney side with an 18-16 win.

"We were one of the inaugural sponsors to ensure that we got a women's NRL team here, and I couldn't be more proud of those young women," Cr Nelmes said.

"They've represented Newcastle perfectly and I'm expecting a very good result."

The stakes are high for the Lord Mayor too, however - if the Eels come out on top, Nuatali Nelmes will don the blue and gold at Newcastle Council's next meeting.

And if the Knights claim victory, Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis will wear a Newcastle jersey instead.

Cr Nelmes says she's looking forward to a Grand Final win, here in the Hunter.

"I'll be sending you down a Knights W-League jersey for your next council meeting," she said.

"When the men can't get it done in Newcastle, just ask the women. They'll get it done."

The Knights came out on top of the Eels earlier this month.

Origin And Knights Head North As COVID Cases Increase In Sydney

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hot on the heels of Newcastle missing out on hosting Origin 3, the NRL has ordered 12 NSW clubs including the Knights to relocate to Queensland as COVID numbers increase in Sydney.

The ARL Commission decided not to proceed with holding the final Origin match in Newcastle on Saturday night after the State Government intervened on advice from the Chief Medical Officer, saying the risk was too great.

Almost 20,000 people signed an online petition demanding the game not be played in Newcastle.

It comes after Premier Gladys Berejiklian  warned the state to brace for 100 fresh COVID cases on Monday.

It prompted the NRL to order 12 clubs, including Newcastle to relocate to south-east Queensland for at least 4 weeks in an effort to keep the competition alive.

NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo says there's a distinct possibility the teams could remain there for the rest of the season.

The Knights could be away from their home ground for the rest of the season Picture: newcastleknights.com.cu

Knights Player Faces Possible Fine Over Pub Incident At Hamilton

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Knights five-eighth Mason Lino is facing a possible fine from the club over an incident at a Hamilton hotel last weekend.

Fairfax reports the 25-year-old was involved in a push-and-shove incident with two people at the Greenroof Hotel on Saturday night.

Knights CEO, Phil Gardner has issued a statement saying the club is aware of a "low-level" incident involving Lino at the weekend and the club is conducting a review and will work with the playing group to identify methods to best prepare for the rest of the season, including the avoidance of venues with previous issues.

The Greenroof Hotel is the same venue where prop Jacob Saifiti was knocked out and suffered a broken leg during an altercation in December last year.

Mason Lino involved in "low-level" incident last weekend Picture: foxsports.com.au

Agony And Ecstasy For Knights Stars Ahead Of Origin 2

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Knights prop, Daniel Saifiti is on cloud nine after learning he's been included in the NSW team for State of Origin II.

The 23-year-old, who has played two internationals for Fiji, will make his Origin debut in Perth this Sunday.

An excited Saifiti told Fairfax "It's crazy, I can't wait" and "It doesn't get much bigger than than Origin and I want to make sure I prepare really well and just take the opportunity with both hands. I really want to show I belong at that level", he said.

Meanwhile, Knights captain, Mitchell Pearce was also recalled into the side but was forced to call Blues coach, Brad Fitler back to withdraw after consulting Knights medical staff. He took a hip flexor strain into Saturday's game against the Storm and suffered a bad leg cork during the match which the Knights lost 34-4. A disappointed Pearce told Fitler he didn't want to let him down by taking the risk of playing and he didn't want to let NSW down.

Despite the setback Pearce says he hasn't given up hope of making an Origin return.

Meanwhile, Knights veteran Tim Glassby has earned a recall into the Queensland squad and has been named at number 16. As expected, Kalyn Ponga has again been named at fullback for the Maroons.

Knight Prop Daniel Saifiti to make his Origin debut for NSW Picture:newcastleknights.com.au

Former Knights Star Jarrod Mullen Facing Drugs Charges

BY IAN CROUCH

Former Newcastle Knights star, Jarrod Mullen has been arrested on drugs charges.

The 32-year-old is one of eight people to be charged in connection with an alleged cocaine ring operating in the Hunter.

He was arrested at a home in Wollongong yesterday and has since been charged with three counts of supplying cocaine and one count of supplying a trafficable quantity of a prohibited drug.

Mullen's arrest follows an incident at a birthday party in December last year where he almost died from a drug overdose.

He's currently serving a 4 year ban from the NRL for testing positive to steroids in 2017.

Mullen has been granted conditional bail to face Newcastle Local Court on June 20.

Jarrod Mullen Facing Drugs Charges

Former Knights Star Being Investigated Over Drug Supply Ring

BY IAN CROUCH

It's been revealed former Newcastle Knights player, Jarrod Mullen nearly died from a drug overdose in December last year.

The 31-year-old spent two days in intensive care and then 6 weeks in rehabilitation after overdosing at a party.

It comes as police confirm 10 people have been charged over an alleged drug supply ring operating in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

Mullen is also reportedly being investigated but has not been charged at this stage.

He's currently serving a four year ban after testing positive to steroids in 2017.

Former Knights star Jarrod Mullen faces drugs probe Picture: foxsports.com.au

Man Charged Over Jacob Saifiti Incident

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have now charged a man over an alleged assault on Newcastle Knights forward Jacob Saifiti.

Police say the 22-year-old  became involved in an altercation outside a hotel in Tudor Street Hamilton just before 2.30am on Sunday 2 December.

Saifiti was allegedly knocked unconscious, falling awkwardly and breaking his leg.

Following investigations, a 28-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station yesterday afternoon, where he was arrested and charged with reckless grievous bodily harm.

He's been granted conditional bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court in 10 January 2019.

Jacob Saifiti Picture: Newcastle Knights

Rising star falls: Knights sack Dylan Phythian

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Newcastle Knights have made the tough decision to sack rising star Dylan Phythian, after the 22-year-old returned two positive drug tests.

Under the NRL code, Knights chief executive Phil Gardner had the option of imposing a 12-week ban on Phythian and keeping him on board despite this being his second cocaine offence but instead decided to tear up his contract.

Dylan Phythian originated as a Belmont junior and has only played 3 games, scoring a try in one, before he ruptured his ACL which left him on the bench for a year.

In a statement, the club said "his behaviour is at odds with the culture we are building within the club."

The Knights will offer the young man counselling to deal with the blow.

Knights Old Boys Reach Everest Base Camp!

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Fulfilling their goal in just nine days of trekking, a team of former Newcastle Knights players have reached Mount Everest Base Camp.

Former Knights stars including Kurt and Matt Gidley, Matty Johns, Danny Buderus, Paul 'Chief' Harragon and Mark Hughes made up the team, who got off to a nervous start in Nepal after their luggage was lost at the airport.

It was all uphill from there- literally- as they scaled to an altitude of 5380 metres; 20 years on from another momentous occasion in Knights' history- the 1997 premiership victory.

The team completed the trek in the name of brain cancer research, with a total sum of $448, 125 raised so far for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Large contributions were made from sponsors NIB and Adam MacDougall's The Man Shake, however, the tally falls just short of the Foundation's original $500,000 fundraising target.

Mark Hughes says he's very proud of the team, who battled the effects of altitude to conquer the task.

It's expected they will return home fit and healthy.

To donate to the MHF Everest Challenge, head to the Mark Hughes Foundation website.

We did it!!!!!!! 28 our of 28 blokes made it! Unbelievable experience. Very challenging physically & mentally. @MarkHughesFdn #mhfeverest 🇳🇵 pic.twitter.com/MOVc2jaYq6

— Kurt Gidley (@kurt_gidley) October 24, 2017