Funding Boost for Knights Centre of Excellence

BY TYNAN SALAMONE. 

The Newcastle Knights are expected to have a $20 million Centre of Excellence in Broadmeadow by November 2019. 

The Knights were one of five NRL clubs to be provided funds from the NSW Government, receiving $10 million, the most of any club. 

As a condition of the ownership deal struck between the Wests Leagues Club and the NRL in July, Wests will match the grant dollar-for-dollar. 

Wests and Knights chief executive Phil Gardner believes the development of the centre is vital to the future of sport in Newcastle. 

"I don't think we can overstate how important it is to the region. It is a huge commitment from the Wests Group and a legacy for the town. We don't think there is a better place for us to invest money.

"We'll have one home finally. It'll be a home for the Knights, a home for the community and a home for other sports as well," he said. 

Construction is expected to start in the middle of next year. 

Not the First Place You'd expect to Find the Knights...

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's not the first place you'd find the Newcastle Knights, but this morning they took a walk around the Newcastle 500 Supercars track.

Knights players Jamie Buhrer and Nathan Ross were joined by V8 Supercar greats Scott McLaughlin, Jason Bright and Novocastrian driver Aaren Russell to take a walk around the track and offer advice on what the drivers should do while they're staying in Newcastle.

There's just 10 days to go until the inaugural Newcastle 500 and the drivers arrived today to find the track nearing its completion.

Supercar Drivers and Newcastle Knights walk the track.

"It's crazy, I've now walked it three times properly and each time it just progresses so much, it's quite crazy to think how much they can do in a couple of weeks so I know all of these other guys saw it back in July and there was nothing here and now there's this massive amount of infrastructure that the town has built," said Novocastrian driver Aaren Russell.

"It's going to be a crazy racetrack but I'm looking forward to it."

The drivers all agree the track has a little bit of everything when it comes to scenery.

"There's not many places you can go and you get kind of like a San Francisco feeling through Watt Street and then also have the harbour and the beach as well so I think these guys and myself as well, we're just keen to get here and the scene is set , you've got two guys who are fighting for the championship and its going to come down to this race at Newcastle," said Aaren.

Supercars driver Jason Bright says they expect 50 per cent of the crowd to be first time supercar event attendees and they hope they develop a love for the sport from what will be a great race.

"That's the beauty of street races like this. We basically bring the racing to the people, when we're having races out in the country or at a permanent circuit you rely on the pure motorsport fan to come and watch our races whereas at events like this we come into the city and it's a big event for the city," said Jason Bright.

Aaren Russell, Scott McLaghlin, Jamie Buhrer, Jason Bright and Nathan Ross.

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.

Alex McKinnon Rises To The Occasion For Emotional Wedding Day

BY IAN CROUCH

Former Newcastle Knights player, Alex McKinnon and his long-time girlfriend, Teigan Power have tied the knot during an emotional ceremony at Pokolbin.

25-year-old Alex fulfilled a promise to rise from his wheel chair on their wedding day, standing to his feet as Teigan joined him at the altar.

Alex's promising NRL career was cut short when he suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a game against Melbourne in 2014.

Despite the injury leaving him wheelchair-bound, Alex set himself a goal of walking Teigan down the aisle, but later admitted such a feat would be impossible, promising instead to rise to his feet when she joined him at the altar.

More than 150 guests, including some of the NRL's biggest names, attended the ceremony.

Brisbane Broncos skipper, Darius Boyd was Alex's best man.

Alex McKinnon Heading To The Altar Picture: Diimex

Teigan Power Escorted Down The Aisle By Her Father Picture: Diimex

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.

New Screen for McDonald Jones Stadium

BY TYLER FARDELL

Fans of the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle Jets will be able to see the action much clearer with the installation of a brand new video screen.

The screen measures in at an impressive 98.3 square metres, three times larger than the current screen.

Work has already begun to remove the old screen, with the new screen expected to be up and running by November, still into the early rounds of the A-League season.

The upgrade has been welcomed by both the CEO of the Knights and the Jets, who say 'this is a major coup for the fans of both codes'.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald was full of praise for the project.

"The old screen was quite hard to see and this is a big step up in quality and it will make it a better experience for those there on the day".

Photo source; Triple M

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.

Brave Kurri Kurri Teen Who Attended School Formal With Knights Star Trent Hodkinson Dies

BY IAN CROUCH

A teenager who was taken to her school formal by Newcastle Knights player, Trent Hodkinson has passed away following a battle with cancer.

15-year-old Hannah Rye beamed as the popular rugby league player escorted her in to the Kurri Kurri High School formal last month.

The school decided to bring forward the event so Hannah could attend.

Trent held her hand as she walked in and joined her in cutting the cake in front of her schoolmates.

Hannah Attending Last Month's School Formal With Trent Hodkinson Picture:smh.com.au

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.

Newcastle Knights Major Sponsor Faces Court Action

BY IAN CROUCH

  The Newcastle Knights are dealing with an off-field drama which threatens to further derail their already troubled season.

Their major sponsor, Newpave Ashphalt is being sued by a rival company in the Supreme Court over claims it breached the Corporations Act by benefiting from an alleged conflict of interest.

Newcastle Knights C.E.O Matt Gidley has told the Herald he's not aware of any financial risk to the club from the court case.

Matt Gidley Photo courtesy theherald.com.au