League

Bennett wields the axe as star duo dropped

Brett Keeble Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett has reacted to the Knights' capitulation against Canberra by dumping Chris Houston and Timana Tahu – two of their most experienced players – for the match against the...

Blues hopeful Gidley keen to make up for lost time - and lost series

Brett Keeble Knights captain Kurt Gidley can empathise with his wounded former NSW teammates who are in doubt for, or out of, the State of Origin series opener at ANZ Stadium on June 5.

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Mullen awaits blood results after knee cleared of damage

Brett Keeble Newcastle general Jarrod Mullen has been cleared of serious damage to his left knee but remains in doubt for the Knights' game against the giant-killing Raiders at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Rugby

Sharks shake off Gallen blow as late kick seals comeback win over Knights

Brett Keeble When Sharks skipper Paul Gallen hobbled off Hunter Stadium on Sunday about the same time Knights centre Dane Gagai galloped over for a try, Newcastle looked like they would coast to a fifth straight...

League

Knights rule out early releases

Brett Keeble Knights coach Wayne Bennett has all but ruled out the possibility of releasing any players from their contracts before the June 30 transfer deadline.

Knights CEO rejects McKinnon exit talk

Brett Keeble CHIEF executive Matt Gidley has rejected speculation the Knights are trying to off-load in-form Country Origin representative Alex McKinnon to an English Super League club before the June 30 transfer...

Gidley knows Knights need to prove their worth on the road

Brett Keeble Newcastle captain Kurt Gidley agrees with the popular perception that the Knights won't be taken seriously until they start winning on the road.

Knights reject Kelly finally fulfilling potential

Brett Keeble This time last year, gifted playmaker Albert Kelly was trying to resurrect his career in Newcastle after Knights coach Wayne Bennett threw the one-time boy wonder a lifeline.

Suspended Knight vows to correct technique

Brett Keeble SUSPENDED Knights hard man Jeremy Smith plans to use his enforced stint on the sidelines to fine-tune his tackling style to avoid an even longer ban in the second half of the season.

League

Smith in strife as Knights nullify Panthers

Brett Keeble Newcastle Knights hung on to beat the Panthers 8-6 at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night in a game unlikely to feature on any NRL highlight reels this season.

Gidley puts injury woes aside to focus on Kangaroos recall

Brett Keeble Knights skipper Kurt Gidley is pleased to know he remains in contention for a return to Australia's Test team despite a ''chequered'' start to the season.

Mason pushes hard for Blues jersey - for Knights teammate Mullen

Brett Keeble He has been touted as a Blues bolter himself, but Knights pack leader Willie Mason would rather see in-form teammate Jarrod Mullen recalled to help NSW end Queensland's seven-year State of Origin...

League

Bennett sees progress in Knights victory

Brett Keeble The Knights scored 18 unanswered second-half points to beat the Raiders 28-12 at Hunter Stadium last night in a game coach Wayne Bennett said Newcastle would have been incapable of winning last year.

Rugby League

Spotlight on Edwards

Brett Keeble As former Knights hit man Joel Edwards prepares for his return to Newcastle with the Canberra Raiders on Sunday, one of his old teammates Timana Tahu knows how he feels.

Stony-faced Wicks walks free looking forward to fresh start

Naomi Davidson, Adrian Proszenko, Brett Keeble Former Newcastle Knights star Danny Wicks has walked from jail after completing his sentence for supplying drugs.

Ban query by Knights

Brett Keeble, Adrian Proszenko Newcastle are hopeful but not confident of having B.J. Leilua's suspension reduced by one week, which would allow the former Rooster to play against Canberra at Hunter Stadium on Sunday night.

League

Thurston's 200th game overshadowed by big-scoring Knights

Brett Keeble Knights coach Wayne Bennett and stand-in skipper Chris Houston agreed the confidence gained from defending their line for the opening 15 minutes was the catalyst to Newcastle's remarkable 34-6...

Bennett feels no need to grill Smith and Snowden

Brett Keeble Knights coach Wayne Bennett said he had not spoken to former Cronulla players Kade Snowden and Jeremy Smith about the drugs scandal that has rocked the Sharks or the potential for any aftershocks in...

Rugby league

Former Raider Waddell thrown lifeline by Knights

Brett Keeble This time last week Travis Waddell was lugging machinery around Brisbane's rain-soaked suburbs, working for an equipment-hire company owned by Wally Lewis' brother Scott.