CONFIRMED: State of Origin III to be played in Newcastle

BY JARROD MELMETH

It's been confirmed, Newcastle will host State of Origin III on July 14. 

The game is set to be played at McDonald Jones Stadium in front of a 75 per cent capacity crowd of around 23,000 fans.

It will be the first Origin game in NSW to be played outside of Sydney. 

The game was due to be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney but an alterative venue has been sought after since Sydney's strict COVID-19 lockdown was announced on June 26.

The NSW Government announced on Wednesday morning the hard lockdown would be extended for a further seven days, ruling out the Sydney venue completely. 

The Broadmeadow venue has been a front runner to host the match in the days since with the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys, as well as Knights legends Kurt Gidley, Danny Buderus, Paul Harragon and Andrew Johns throwing their support behind the proposal.

South Sydney's Friday night clash with North Queensland is also being moved to Newcastle.

It's understood the Queensland government pushed to have Friday's game moved after a venue in Olympic Park was listed as a COVID-19 exposure site.

Pictured: McDonald Jones Stadium.
Source: McDonald Jones Stadium Facebook.

$7.5 million commitment for brain cancer research at the University Of Newcastle

BY JARROD MELMETH 

Brain cancer research will have a dedicated team at the University of Newcastle following a $7.5 million commitment from the Mark Hughes Foundation.

The announcement was made at the official launch of the 2021 NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round, and aims to dramatically intensify Australia's brain cancer research efforts.

The five-year philanthropic commitment to the University of Newcastle will support a dedicated brain cancer team to drive critical research, education and health care improvements at a national scale for brain cancer patients, their families and careers, and health professionals. 

Mark Hughes, a former Newcastle Knights NRL player, said the establishment of the team will build on the work of others, including MHF partners at the Hunter Research medical Institute and the Brain Cancer Group, to take the research to the next level.

"This is a commitment to building a bigger team to bring help and hope to people with brain cancer and their families.

"By partnering with the University of Newcastle we are expanding the support team around every brain cancer patient, not just here, but everywhere around the world.

"We are not starting from scratch either. There’s no time. This is about taking brain cancer research to the next level and quickly," Mr Hughes said.

Each year around 1,600 Australians are diagnosed with brain cancer and around 1,200 die. Formed in 2014 by Mark and Kirralee Hughes, after Mark was diagnosed with a high-grade brain cancer, MHF has played a significant part in addressing chronic underfunding of brain cancer.

University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alex Zelinsky says the University is honoured to be given the opportunity to advance brain cancer research and education in the name of the Mark Hughes Foundation and is committed to the urgent pursuit of a cure.

“Working with the Mark Hughes Foundation is a reminder of how deeply personal and urgent this fight is.

“By establishing the Foundation, Mark has drawn attention to how prevalent brain cancer is in our region alone. We’re deeply committed to improving health outcomes in our region but we know that our discoveries and efforts don’t stop with us. What we achieve will have national and global impact," Mr Zelinsky said.

The University of Newcastle brain cancer team will cover the breadth of prevention, early detection, recovery and rehabilitation, and treatments and models of care for all stages of brain cancer. 

Pictured: Mark Hughes. 
Source: Supplies by UON.

Jarryd Hayne Pleads Not Guilty to Hunter Sexual Assault

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne has pleaded not guilty to raping a woman at a Fletcher home last year.

It's alleged Hayne had sex with a 26-year-old woman without her consent, knowing that she did not consent, on NRL Grand Final night in September last year.

The former Parramatta Eels player was arraigned in Newcastle District Count court on Thursday morning, where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault and inflict actual bodily harm.

The 31-year-old will remain on bail until his trial begins on May 4th, 2020.

Earlier this month, Hayne's bail conditions were altered to allow him to attend a religious education course in Perth.

The trial is expected to take between 5 and 7 days.

Jarryd Hayne. Image: Pedestrian TV

BREAKING - Knights to sign International forward

BY JOSH SIM

The Newcastle Knights will today announce the signing of English International and two-time premiership winner, Chris Heighington, to a one-year deal.

It is believed the 35 year-old considered retirement before agreeing to link up with the club.

The 318-game veteran brings a vast array of experience to the young Knights forward pack and will join fellow recruit Jacob Lillyman in a mentoring role.

Heighington joins a long list of new faces to join the club in 2018, with coach Nathan Brown firmly putting his stamp on the side.

Heighington playing for the Cronulla Sharks. Photo Courtesy of Triple M.

BREAKING: Knights To Part Ways With CEO Matt Gidley

BY JOSH SIM

The Knights have confirmed CEO Matt Gidley will depart the club from November 1 this year.

Gidley, who played 221 games for the Knights, began his tenure as CEO with the club in 2011 after beginning as a Business Development Manager in 2010.

He was instrumental in delivering funding for the club's Centre of Excellence, which is yet to be built, as well as increasing resources within the club's junior development.

The Knights sale to Wests Group meant Gidley felt the time was right to step down from his post.

"Over the last three years it's been a really challenging period and everyone is aware of those challenges but I'm really proud of the fact that the key foundations to build the club upon are set in place now which is fantastic, and I look forward to standing on the hill with my son and cheering the Knights on in the future,"

'The majority of this change is complete and it's an appropriate time for me to take a break,' said Gidley.

The CEO thanked his board and staff for the difficult job they had faced over the past few years and was full of praise for the work done rebuilding the club.

"I'm really proud of the fans who stood behind us and believed in what we were trying to build and I'm really confident that they're going to be rewarded for that loyalty over the course of next decade and hopefully this team can develop and bring the premiership back to Newcastle."

Gidley says he will continue to assist the club as it transitions to ownership under the Wests Group.

Matt Gidley Image Newcastle Knights

Newcastle Knights Lower Grade Teams Head Into Mad Monday

BY IAN CROUCH

The Newcastle Knights Under 20's and Reserve Grade sides are enjoying end-of-season celebrations after bowing out of the finals series at the weekend.

The Knights NYC side came back from a 20-4 half time deficit to almost pip the Broncos on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.

It was starting to look a bit one-sided when the Broncos extended their lead to 20 points early in the second half, but then a brilliant run and grubber kick by halfback, Hayden Loughrey allowed winger, Kainoa Gudgeon to dash down the sideline and score in the corner. Kurtis Dark bagged the conversion to make it 24-10.

Tries in the 63rd minute to Heath Gibbs and Brayden Musgrove in the 68th minute brought the scoreline back to 24-20 and the Knights looked like staging a boilover.

But the pendulum of the match swung the other way when prop Cameron King was forced into touch near the halfway line. The Broncos quickly capitalised and extended their lead to 30-22 thanks to a try from Joshua Fauide.

However, the brave Knights didn't throw in the towel, with a try in the corner to Cory Dennis five minutes from fulltime. Kurtis Dark wasn't able to convert and the final score was 30-26.

Meanwhile, the Knights weren't able to replicate their dominant display against the North Sydney Bears in week one of the Instrust Super Premiership finals series last week..

The Reserve Grade NSW Cup side traveled to Kogarah Jubilee Oval for last night's semi-final against the Warriors.

However, the Knights were always going to struggle in defense against the big New Zealand side, who piled on 12 unanswered points ahead of the half time break.

The Warriors streaked further ahead in the second half, going to a 30-nil lead despite some valiant efforts from the Newcastle side.

It wasn't unto the 76th minute that the Knights scored, with a try to Curtis McNaughton which was converted by Nick Meany to give the Warriors a 30-6 victory.

Newcastle Knights Still Alive In Lower Grades

BY IAN CROUCH

It might be all over for the 2017 season for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, but the lower grade teams are still in the race for finals glory.

The Knights Reserve Grade side completely outplayed the North Sydney Bears in yesterday's 40-18 win at Kogarah's UOW Jubilee Oval in the Intrust Super Premiership (NSW Cup).

The sixth placed Bears have had the wood on the Knights all season, winning their last two encounters, but the under-strength Norths were no match for the seventh placed Newcastle side in the Elimination Final.

The Knights led 20-8 at half time thanks to tries to Bradie Smith, Brendan Elliot and Nick Meaney.

Elliot bagged another try in the second half along with Will Pearsal,and Joey Morris, while Nick Meaney had a great afternoon with the boot, kicking six goals and two penalty goals from as many attempts.

The win propels the Knights into the semi finals.

Meanwhile, the Knights Under 20's scored a 36-24 win over the Sharks yesterday and will play Brisbane in week one of the finals series next week.

Wests Takeover Of Knights Given The Green Light

BY IAN CROUCH

Members of the Wests Group have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed takeover of the Newcastle Knights.

More than 13-and-a-half thousand members voted last week, with 93 per cent endorsing the outright ownership of the embattled NRL club.

Wests will now enter into an interim partnership with the NRL to undertake due diligence and finalise the board structure before taking the reigns of the club from November 1.

CEO, Phil Gardiner has described the outcome as a great vote of confidence in the Wests Group and a determination by members to make the Knights a successful brand once again.

Wests To Takeover Knights photo therherald.com.au

NRL suspend Knights player Jarrod Mullen

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle Knights player Jarrod Mullen has been handed a four year suspension under the NRL's Anti-Doping Policy.

He was found guilty of taking the banned steroid Drostanolone. He returned a positive result for the steroid after a routine swab test during pre-season training last year.

Jarrod Mullen has 21 days to decide if he'll fight the ruling and take the NRL to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Knight CEO Matt Gidley said in a statement:

"It is important to acknowledge Jarrod made a significant contribution to the Club over a long period of time and that adds to the disappointment in how he now departs the Club."

Image nrl.com

Alex McKinnon Expected to Sue NRL

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

In an unprecedented move, former Newcastle Knights player, Alex McKinnon is reportedly preparing to take out a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the NRL and Melbourne Storm prop, Jordan McLean.

The 24-year-old is believed to be seeking compensation after he was tackled by McLean during a match in 2014, leaving him with spinal injuries and rendering him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

The tackle was deemed as illegal, leading to McLean serving a seven-match ban.

Alex McKinnon
Image Courtesy: nrl.com

In rugby league, individual players have been sued by other players in the past however, this is the first time the head body of the sport has been legally pursued in NRL history.

McKinnon was paid $750 000 by the Newcastle Knights for the remainder of his two-year contract.

He was promised a job in the NRL for life by the then chief executive, David Smith and is currently employed in player recruitment with the Knights.

$1 500 000 was also raised at the time of McKinnon's injury through the Rise for Alex fundraiser.

It is estimated McKinnon's medical costs for the rest of his life could come to more than $20 000 000.