2025 Newcastle Knights season

2025 Newcastle Knights season
Team information
CEO	Phil Gardner
Coach	Adam O'Brien
Captain	Kalyn Ponga
Stadium	McDonald Jones Stadium
←  2024 2026  →

The 2025 Newcastle Knights season will be the 38th in the club's history. Coached by Adam O'Brien and captained by Kalyn Ponga, they will compete in the NRL's 2025 Telstra Premiership.

Squad

For the complete list of Newcastle Knights players, see List of Newcastle Knights players.

Newcastle Knights 2025 squad

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Top 30 squad - 2025 NRL season						Development list		Coaching staff
Taj Annan – WG Matt Arthur – HK Bradman Best – CE Jayden Brailey – HK Paul Bryan – PR Tom Cant – SR Jack Cogger – HB, FE Mat Croker – PR, LK Phoenix Crossland – HK, HB Adam Elliott – LK		Tyson Frizell – SR Dane Gagai – CE Tyson Gamble – FE Jackson Hastings – HB Jack Hetherington – PR Brodie Jones – SR Riley Jones – HK Dylan Lucas – SR, CE Francis Manuleleua – SR Greg Marzhew – WG		Jermaine McEwen – SR Kai Pearce-Paul – SR Kalyn Ponga (c) – FB Will Pryce – FE, FB Jacob Saifiti – PR James Schiller – WG, CE Fletcher Sharpe – FB, WG Sebastian Su'a – PR Leo Thompson – PR		Wilson De Courcey – CE Jye Linnane – FE Malachi Smith – HK Tyrone Thompson – PR Connor Votano – FB Extended squad Bailey Carmichael – PR Brock Greacen – SR Haami Herbert-Loza – HB Jack Hilliar – LK Cody Hopwood – PR Kyle McCarthy – CE Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana – SR Liam Sutton – FE, HB Siteni Taukamo – WG, FB		Head coach Adam O'Brien Assistant coaches Brian McDermott TBA - NSW Cup coach Michael Dobson - Jersey Flegg Cup coach Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Updated: 7 February 2025 Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles, Rugby League Project

Transfers and re-signings

Gains

Player/Coach	Previous club	Length	Source
Taj Annan	Queensland Reds	2027	[1]
Matt Arthur	Parramatta Eels	2027	[2]
Francis Manuleleua	Penrith Panthers	2027	[1]
James Schiller	Canberra Raiders	2027	[3]
Tyrone Thompson	Chiefs	2025	[4]

Losses

Player/Coach	Club	Source
David Armstrong	Leigh Leopards	[5]
Jed Cartwright	Hull F.C.	[6]
Ronald Griffiths (NSW Cup coach)	New Zealand Warriors	[7]
Zach Herring	Featherstone Rovers	[8]
Thomas Jenkins	Released	[9]
Rory Kostjasyn (assistant coach)	Dolphins	[10]
Krystian Mapapalangi	Released	[9]
Myles Martin	Canberra Raiders	[11]
Fletcher Myers	South Sydney Rabbitohs	[12]
Laitia Moceidreke	Released
Ryan Rivett	Toulouse Olympique	[13]
Daniel Saifiti	Dolphins	[14]
Enari Tuala	Released	[9]

Promoted juniors

Player	Junior side	Source
Wilson De Courcey	Jersey Flegg Cup	[15]
Cody Hopwood	Jersey Flegg Cup	[16]
Jermaine McEwen	Jersey Flegg Cup	[16]
Connor Votano	Jersey Flegg Cup	[16]

Player contract situations

2025 (leaving)	2025 (off-contract)	2026	2027	2028
Leo Thompson [17]	Jayden Brailey [18]	Tom Cant [19]	Taj Annan [1]	Cody Hopwood [16]
	Paul Bryan [20]	Jack Cogger [21]	Matt Arthur [2]
	Mat Croker [15]	Phoenix Crossland [22]	Bradman Best [23]
	Adam Elliott [24]	Wilson De Courcey [15]	Dylan Lucas [25]
	Jackson Hastings [26]	Tyson Frizell [27]	Francis Manuleleua [1]
	Jack Hetherington [24]	Dane Gagai [28]	Kyle McCarthy [29]
	Brodie Jones [30]	Tyson Gamble [31]	Jermaine McEwen [16]
	Riley Jones [20]	Greg Marzhew [32]	Kalyn Ponga [33]
	Kai Pearce-Paul [34]	Fletcher Sharpe [35]	Jacob Saifiti [36]
	Will Pryce [34]		James Schiller [3]
	Sebastian Su'a [37]
	Tyrone Thompson [4]
	Connor Votano [16]

Pre-season

Main article: 2025 NRL pre-season results

Newcastle will play the Parramatta Eels in Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters in Gosford as their pre-season fixtures. Both matches were part of the third edition of the NRL Pre-season Challenge. ^[38]

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

Round 1: 14 February 2025	Newcastle Knights	v	Parramatta Eels	Newcastle
18:00 AEDT		Report		Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium

Round 2: 23 February 2025	Sydney Roosters	v	Newcastle Knights	Gosford
16:00 AEDT		Report		Stadium: Industree Group Stadium

Regular season

Main article: 2025 NRL season

Ladder

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Brisbane Broncos	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Advance to finals series
2	Canberra Raiders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Dolphins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Gold Coast Titans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Melbourne Storm	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Newcastle Knights	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	New Zealand Warriors	0	0	0	0	0			0	0
11	North Queensland Cowboys	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Parramatta Eels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Penrith Panthers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	South Sydney Rabbitohs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	St. George Illawarra Dragons	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	Sydney Roosters	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	Wests Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Source: National Rugby League

Results by round

Round	1
Ground	A
Result
Position
Points

Source: National Rugby League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Main article: 2025 NRL season results

The league fixtures were released on 21 November 2024. ^[39]

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

Round 1: 7 March 2025	Wests Tigers	v	Newcastle Knights	Campbelltown
18:00 AEDT		Report		Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium

Round 2: 13 March 2025	Newcastle Knights	v	Dolphins	Newcastle
20:00 AEDT		Report		Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium

Round 3: 22 March 2025	Gold Coast Titans	v	Newcastle Knights	Gold Coast
19:35 AEDT		Report		Stadium: Cbus Super Stadium

Round 4 (Bye for Newcastle Knights)

Round 9: 3 May 2025	South Sydney Rabbitohs	v	Newcastle Knights	Brisbane
15:00 AEST		Report		Stadium: Suncorp Stadium

Round 11: 16 May 2025	Newcastle Knights	v	Parramatta Eels	Newcastle
18:00 AEST		Report		Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium

Round 18 (Bye for Newcastle Knights)

Round 22 (Bye for Newcastle Knights)

Round 27: 7 September 2025	Parramatta Eels	v	Newcastle Knights	Parramatta
16:05 AEST		Report		Stadium: CommBank Stadium

NRL Women's team

2025 Newcastle Knights season
Team information
CEO	Phil Gardner
Coach	Ben Jeffries
Captain	Hannah Southwell
Stadium	McDonald Jones Stadium
←  2024 2026 →

The 2025 Newcastle Knights Women's season will be the 5th in the club's history. Coached by Ben Jeffries and captained by Hannah Southwell, they will compete in the NRLW's 2025 NRL Women's Premiership.

For the complete list of Newcastle Knights Women's players, see List of Newcastle Knights Women's players.

Newcastle Knights women's – current squad

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2025 NRLW top 24 squad						Development list		Coaching staff
26 Yasmin Clydsdale – SR 27 Olivia Higgins – HK, LK 28 Shanice Parker – CE 29 Hannah Southwell (c) – LK 30 Jesse Southwell – HB 33 Tayla Predebon – PR 34 Simone Karpani – LK, PR 37 Tiana Davison – LK		41 Kayla Romaniuk – LK, PR 44 Sheridan Gallagher – WG 48 Viena Tinao – PR 49 Georgia Roche – FE 52 Grace Kukutai – LK 53 Isabella Waterman – FB 54 Lilly-Ann White – FB 55 Tenika Willison – WG		56 Evie Jones – FE 57 Evah McEwen – SR Leilani Ahsam – HB Fane Finau – SR Jules Kirkpatrick – LK Joeli Morris – LK Leah Ollerton – HK Botille Vette-Welsh – FB		Mercedez Taulelei-Siala – CE		Head coach Ben Jeffries Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Updated: 21 November 2024 Source(s): Newcastle Knights Profiles, Rugby League Project

Player gains and losses

Player gains
Player/Coach	Previous club	Length	Source
Tiana Davison	Sydney Roosters	2027	[40]
Mercedez Taulelei-Siala	Tweed Heads Seagulls	2025	[41]
Botille Vette-Welsh	Wests Tigers	2027	[42]

Losses
Player/Coach	Club	Source
Laishon Albert-Jones	New Zealand Warriors	[43]
Rima Butler	Sydney Roosters	[44]
Jacinta Carter	Released	[45]
Jayde Herdegen	Released	[46]
Caitlan Johnston-Green	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	[47]
Tamerah Leati	Released	[48]
Nita Maynard	Released	[45]
Abigail Roache	Released	[45]
Tamika Upton	Brisbane Broncos	[49]

Promoted juniors
Player	Junior side	Source
Joeli Morris	Knights NSW Women's Premiership	[40]

Player contract situations

2025	2026	2027
Leilani Ahsam [50]	Fane Finau [51]	Tiana Davison [40]
Yasmin Clydsdale [52]	Olivia Higgins [53]	Evie Jones [54]
Sheridan Gallagher [55]	Simone Karpani [53]	Evah McEwen [56]
Grace Kukutai [40]	Jules Kirkpatrick [57]	Georgia Roche [58]
Leah Ollerton [53]	Joeli Morris [40]	Hannah Southwell [59]
Shanice Parker [50]	Tayla Predebon [54]	Jesse Southwell [59]
Mercedez Taulelei-Siala [41]	Kayla Romaniuk [54]	Botille Vette-Welsh [42]
Viena Tinao [53]	Tenika Willison [60]
Isabella Waterman [53]
Lilly-Ann White [53]

References

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2. Dillon, Robert (21 August 2024). "Who's the odd man out as the Knights sign Eels tyro Matt Arthur?". Port Macquarie News.
3. "Star's blitz shows Raiders what they'll miss; stunning Pangai Jnr return: Reserves wrap". Fox Sports. 27 May 2024.
4. "The Waikato Times". www.waikatotimes.co.nz.
5. "David Armstrong to join Leopards from 2025 – Leigh Leopards".
6. McHugh, Robert (16 August 2024). "Jed Cartwright looking forward to the experience of being coached by his dad at Hull FC". TBR Rugby League.
7. "Griffiths to lead Warriors back into NRLW in 2025". Warriors. 30 June 2024.
8. "Rovers bring in Australian half Zach Herring for 2025 – Featherstone Rovers Rugby League".
9. Chalk, Ethan Lee (17 September 2024). "Knights confirm departures of six players". Zero Tackle.
10. Chalk, Ethan Lee (4 October 2024). "Dolphins appoint two new assistant coaches". Zero Tackle.
11. "Papali'i's surprise contract change as Raiders raid Knights again". The Canberra Times. 22 May 2024.
12. "Rabbitohs sign Fletcher Myers immediately until the end of Season 2025 – South Sydney Rabbitohs". Site Name, i.e. Moz. 12 October 2024.
13. "NRL starlet signs for Championship club Toulouse Olympique on two-year contract". Love Rugby League. 17 February 2024.
14. "Saifiti joins the Dolphins". The Dolphins. 1 October 2024.
15. "Knights re-sign Mat Croker". Newcastle Knights. 1 October 2024.
16. "Pathways strength on show as key juniors re-sign". Newcastle Knights. 20 September 2024.
17. "Bulldogs Sign Leo Thompson for 2026". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 3 January 2025.
18. "Extended: Brailey a Knight until 2025". Newcastle Knights. 5 September 2021.
19. "Young gun extends for two seasons". Newcastle Knights. 27 August 2024.
20. "2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Gamble inks new Knights deal; Townsend joins Roosters". National Rugby League. 5 July 2024.
21. "Knights sign Cogger". Newcastle Knights. 2 August 2023.
22. "Knights Re-Sign Crossland". Newcastle Knights. 25 October 2023.
23. "Knights re-sign Bradman Best". Newcastle Knights. 13 February 2024.
24. "Knights take two big forward steps". Newcastle Knights. 10 June 2022.
25. "Dylan Lucas re-signs". Newcastle Knights. 25 October 2024.
26. "Knights sign Jackson Hastings". Newcastle Knights. 16 November 2022.
27. "Frizell re-signs with the Knights". Newcastle Knights. 27 July 2023.
28. "Gagai re-signs with the Knights". Newcastle Knights. 10 May 2024.
29. Dillon, Robert (19 August 2024). "Newcastle Knights rookie Kyle McCarthy reflects on his NRL debut". Newcastle Herald.
30. "Knights re-sign Brodie Jones". Newcastle Knights. 23 October 2024.
31. "Knights all in as Gamble re-signs". Newcastle Knights. 5 July 2024.
32. "Knights extend Marzhew". Newcastle Knights. 30 August 2023.
33. "Kalyn Ponga Re-Signs". Newcastle Knights. 20 April 2022.
34. "Knights announce English signings". Newcastle Knights. 5 December 2022.
35. "Knights elevate outside backs". Newcastle Knights. 29 February 2024.
36. "Knights re-sign Jacob Saifiti". Newcastle Knights. 28 November 2023.
37. "2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Montoya, Tevaga once were Warriors". National Rugby League. 11 October 2024.
38. "2025 NRL Pre-Season Challenge". National Rugby League. 21 November 2024.
39. "2025 NRL Telstra Premiership schedule". National Rugby League. 21 November 2024.
40. "Knights secure key NRLW signatures". Newcastle Knights. 23 October 2024.
41. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
42. "Knights sign Botille Vette-Welsh". Newcastle Knights. 9 December 2024.
43. "Albert-Jones: Ron's a coach who genuinely cares". Warriors. 16 September 2024.
44. "Rima Butler to join the Roosters". Sydney Roosters. 14 October 2024.
45. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
46. "Host of international and NRLW experience bolsters Knights". Newcastle Knights. 10 May 2023.
47. "World-class Johnston to join Sharks in 2025". Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. 2 May 2024.
48. "Knights sign Rugby International for 2024 NRLW season". Newcastle Knights. 31 July 2024.
49. "Upton Returns Home To The Broncos". Brisbane Broncos. 5 December 2024.
50. "Knights confirm 2024 NRLW squad". Newcastle Knights. 24 May 2024.
51. "2024 NRLW Signings Tracker: Knights re-sign Willison; Bent extends at Titans". National Rugby League. 11 October 2024.
52. "Clydsdale commits for Knights NRLW charge". Newcastle Knights. 13 April 2023.
53. "Knights announce 2024 NRLW signings". Newcastle Knights. 8 December 2023.
54. "Knights lock in NRLW locals". Newcastle Knights. 19 July 2024.
55. "Knights re-sign Sheridan Gallagher". Newcastle Knights. 19 January 2024.
56. "Evah McEwen extends". Newcastle Knights. 10 December 2024.
57. "Knights secure NRLW rising stars". Newcastle Knights. 11 September 2024.
58. "NRLW, Newcastle Knights, Georgia Roche, Telstra Hersday, English star talks about the biggest move of her life | Knights". Newcastle Knights. 20 July 2023.
59. "Home is where the heart is for Southwell sisters". Newcastle Knights. 19 April 2023.
60. "Knights re-sign Tenika Willison". Newcastle Knights. 11 October 2024.