Knights Stadium
In 1988, a team representing the Newcastle Knights first ran out onto the
playing field. In terms of natural talent and financial resources the team
was not well endowed. However in terms of courage and commitment the same
team was without peer. In those formative years, while the Club’s win/loss
record remained less than overwhelming, a fearful reputation was simultaneously
being forged by the blue and reds, a reputation which the Club has carried
as a badge of honour ever since. As time has elapsed, success on the field
has come more frequently. At all times however, the standards set in those
formative years have applied. Names like Sargent, McCormack, Harragon,
and Butterfield have become synonymous with what it means to play in the
red and blue. The tradition has been faithfully perpetuated through the
likes of Johns, Buderus and Gidley.
A play-off for fifth spot in 1990 was the first time many in the rugby
league world took our Club seriously. Two years later semifinal footy was
a reality. A narrow one point loss in a preliminary semi in 1992 cost the
team a chance at glory but confirmed its status as a team with an abundance
of character. A semifinal appearance in 1995 was an early indicator of
what was to come in the watershed year of 1997. That season probably went
a long way to describing what being a Newcastle Knight had become. The
team was made up of around 70% local talent. Of the rest, most had adopted
the town and Club of Newcastle as their home and played accordingly. It
proved a valuable lesson. The 1997 Optus Cup title was followed up with
the unforgettable 2001 Telstra Premiership victory. Two premierships in
the first fourteen years of the Club’s existence creating an enviable record,
and cementing the Club’s hard-won reputation as consistently one of the
best in the League.
Look out for Sir Viva and Tedwin, cheering on the Knights!!
Club history
The Newcastle Knights entered the NSW Rugby League competition in 1988
with Allan McMahon as coach. The team was a success from the start becoming
one of the most popular clubs in its first season. By 1990, the team was
strong enough to enter a play-off for fifth spot losing to the Balmain
Tigers. The club won its first competition, the Nissan Sevens, in 1991
and made the playoffs in 1992 where it was beaten by St. George.
The Knights made the semi-finals again in 1995 when the competition
became the Australian Rugby League and won the reserve grade the same year.
The club stayed loyal to the Australian Rugby League when Rupert Murdoch
started Super League in an attempt to win pay television rights to rugby
league - this decision was very popular in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley
areas.
News Limited formed the Hunter Mariners to compete with the Knights
in the one and only season of Super League in Australia but the Mariners
failed to win much support in the area. The Knights won the 1997 Australian
Rugby League premiership defeating the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-16
in the Grand Final. This win was a huge morale boost to the district following
the closure of the area's biggest employer the BHP Steelworks announced
in 1997. Seventy per cent of the winning squad were Newcastle juniors.
From 1996 - 2003, the Knights have made seven final series in a row.
In 1998, the Knights finished equal on points with the Brisbane Broncos
but finished second on points differential. The Knights came third in 2000
followed by a National Rugby League Premiership victory over the Parramatta
Eels in 2001. The club tied with the New Zealand Warriors in 2002 on the
competition but finished second in the minor premiership due to inferior
points differential. Andrew Johns won the Rothmans Medal for best player
in the National Rugby League four years in a row between 1988 and 2001-
the best performance by any player in the history of the award. Robbie
O'Davis won the Clive Churchill Medal for best player in the 1997 Grand
Final and Andrew Johns won it in 2001 Grand Final.
In 2004, injuries plagued the club, with Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy
out for extended periods of time. The club missed the finals, despite strong
performances from Matt Gidley, Kurt Gidley and NSW State of Origin captain,
Danny Buderus.
Energy
Australia Stadium
Naming rights:
International Sports Centre, (ISC) between 1988 - 1992,
Marathon Stadium betwen 1992 - 2001,
Energy Australia Stadium 2002 - 2007.
NEWCASTLE
KNIGHTS
Feeder Club: Burleigh Bears
First Grade Semi-Finals: 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002
Club Championships (1): 1992.
World Sevens (2): 1991, 1996.
Premierships: 1997 ARL Optus Cup & 2001 Telstra Premiership
Club Chairman: Michael Hill
First Grade Coach - Michael Hagan
Sponsors
Henny Penny (1988-90),
BP (1991-93),
Stockland (1995-97),
Impulse Airlines (1998-2001),
Flight Centre (2001),
Qantas Link (2002-2004),
Coal and Allie (2005 -
Club Coaches;
Allan McMahon (1988-91),
David Waite (1991-94),
Malcolm Reilly (1995-98),
Warren Ryan (1999- 2000),
Michael Hagan (2001 - 2006)
Brian Smith (2007 -
Captains;
Sam Stewart (1988),
Michael Hagan (1989-93),
Mark Sargent (1994-95),
Paul Harragon (1995-99),
Tony Butterfield (1999- 2000),
Andrew Johns (2001 - )
Knights Life Members:
Leigh Maughan, Paul Harragon, Kevin Smith, Sam Stewart, Matthew Johns,
Tony Butterfield, Kevin Lynch, Marc Glanville,
David Turrell, Graham Hardes, Brian Warby, Bill Peden, Robbie O'Davis,
John Shoobridge, Wal Bentley
KNIGHTS Team credo
"Each player aspire's to be the player, other players
want to play with."
Premierships 1997 &
2001
 
Prominent players
Including representative players first selected and other notable players
and the years they first achieved the honours if known.
• Sam Stewart, Adrian Shelford, Tony Kemp (New Zealand) (1988)
• Gary Worth (Great Britain)
• Michael Hagan (1989) (QLD, 100 Games for the Club) (2004) (QLD coach)
• Mark Sargent (NSW, Australia) (1990)
• Mike McLean (Queensland) (1991)
• Adrian Brunker (Queensland)
• Paul Harragon (NSW, Australia) (1993) David Boyd and Marc Glanville
(100 Games for club)
• Robbie McCormack, (100 Games for club) (1994)
• Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Adam Muir (NSW Australia) (1995)
• Robbie O'Davis (Queensland, Australia) (1997)
• Tony Butterfield (1998) (NSW)
• Bill Peden Club Captain 2001
• Ben Kennedy, Timana Tahu, Matt Gidley have represented Australia
and NSW in recent years.
• Danny Buderus captained the successful NSW State of Origin captain
in 2004 and also represented Australia.
• Kurt Gidley (NSW) (2004)
Knights history
The Newcastle Knights entered the NSW Rugby League competition in 1988
with Allan McMahon as coach.[1] The team was a success from the start,
becoming one of the most popular clubs in its first season. By 1990, the
team was strong enough to enter a play-off for fifth spot, losing to the
Balmain Tigers. The club won their first competition, the Nissan Sevens,
in 1991 and made the playoffs in 1992, where they were beaten by the St.
George Dragons. The Knights made the semi-finals again in 1995 when the
competition became the Australian Rugby League, and won the reserve grade
premiership the same year.
The club stayed loyal to the Australian Rugby League when Rupert Murdoch
started Super League in an attempt to win pay television rights to rugby
league -- this decision was very popular in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley
areas. News Limited formed the Hunter Mariners to compete with the Knights
in the one and only season of Super League in Australia, but the Mariners
failed to win much support in the area.
From 1997-2003, the Knights made seven finals series in a row. The
Knights won the 1997 Australian Rugby League premiership, defeating the
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-16 in the Grand Final, with Robbie O'Davis
winning the Clive Churchill Medal. The match is best remembered for its
classic finish - Darren Albert breaking a 16 all deadlock with his try
7 seconds from fulltime. This win was a huge morale boost to the district
following the closure of the area's biggest employer, the BHP Steelworks,
being announced the same year. Seventy per cent of the winning squad were
Newcastle juniors.
The following season, Knights players Robbie O'Davis, Wayne Richards
and Adam MacDougall tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs; however,
all three maintained they started use after the Knights 1997 victory. The
three were suspended, despite O'Davis' claims the club was not notified
his drug was banned until after his positive test, and MacDougall's medical
reason for taking the steroids (his usage continued after he completed
his suspension, now approved by the NRL). In addition, the Knights terminated
Wayne Richards' contract.
In 1998, the Knights finished equal on competition points with the
Brisbane Broncos, but finished second on points differential. The Knights
came third in 2000, followed by a National Rugby League Premiership victory
over the Parramatta Eels in 2001, with Andrew Johns winning the Clive Churchill
Medal. Newcastle were handed heavy underdog status, but shocked the Eels
with a 24-0 halftime lead, and eventual 30-24 win. In 2002, the club finished
equal with the New Zealand Warriors on competition points but, once again,
finished second in the minor premiership due to inferior points differential.
Andrew Johns won the Dally M Medal for best player in the National
Rugby League twice in a row in 1998 and 1999, and won an unprecedented
third Dally M Medal in 2002. In addition, Johns also won the Provan-Summons
Medal (the people's choice award for player of the year) four years in
a row from 1998 to 2001 -- the best performance by any player in the history
of the award.
In 2004, injuries plagued the club, with Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy
out for extended periods of time. The club missed the finals, finishing
10th despite strong performances from Matthew Gidley, Kurt Gidley and NSW
State of Origin captain, Danny Buderus.
Following further injuries and a lack of experienced players, the club
failed to win a single match in the first half of the 2005 premiership,
losing 13 consecutive matches -- the worst start to a season by any club
since the 1960s. That losing streak finally came to an end with a win away
from home over the Penrith Panthers in late June. In a tribute to the club's
followers, crowds remained high throughout the losing streak, and while
the Knights were unable to avoid finishing last, fans were rewarded for
their stoicism as the team managed to win eight of their last eleven games,
including a six game winning streak brought to an end in round 26 by the
St George Illawarra Dragons.
2006 boded well for the Novocastrians, with the side recruiting Great
Britain and Irish winger Brian Carney and former Raider Luke Davico, as
well as re-signing 2005 recruit Milton Thaiday and managing to retain the
many promising young juniors (led by the likes of Brad Tighe, Jarrod Mullen,
and Reegan Tanner) that have come through in the club's worst ever season.
Newcastle ultimately finished the season in fourth position, a stunning
reversal in form, but were eliminated from the finals after losing to the
Brisbane Broncos.
Prior to the 2006 season kick-off it was announced that the club's
longest serving coach, Michael Hagan would depart the club following the
2006 season to begin a three year contract with the Parramatta Eels. Ironically,
during the week of the 2006 season-opening game against Parramatta, the
Knights confirmed Parramatta coach Brian Smith would take over coaching
duties in 2007.
Energy Australia Stadium
History - Work on the centre commenced on the 1st December 1967 and was
officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 10th of April
1970. The ground was originally intended as an international-class athletics
stadium to be the centerpiece of a bid (which never eventuated) for the
1978 Commonwealth Games, the International Sports Centre quickly became
the home for Newcastle's major football codes, providing the attraction
of not having a cricket pitch in the middle. Therefore, it was a controversial
decision when a pitch was laid in the centre strip in the late 1970's.
The ground was host to the touring England team for two matches against
a Newcastle eleven in November 1979. After the ISC was named as a venue
for the 1981 World Youth Soccer Championships, the pitch was removed. The
Newcastle Knights secured a lease on the stadium in 1986. The ground
became host to the Newcastle Knights rugby league team in 1988, after which
it was rebuilt to become rectangular in shape, and was renamed Marathon
Stadium after a naming rights sponsor.
Energy Australia has won the naming rights to the International Sports
Centre under a $1.5 million, five year sponsorship deal. The Newcastle
Knights will now play their home games at Energy Australia Stadium. Energy
Australia will take over the naming rights from Marathon Tyres which celebrated
its 11th season with the club this year. "This is the largest commitment
we’ve made in a 10-year involvement with the Knights,” EnergyAustralia
Managing Director, Paul Broad, said. “We’re proud to have had this association
with a club that is now establishing itself as one of the League’s powerhouses.
"A large part of our network area takes in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley,
so many of the Knights loyal fans are also our customers. So this sponsorship
fits well with our commitment to give something back to the communities
we serve. We’re also throwing our weight behind efforts to redevelop the
Stadium and I’m hopeful that by the time we’re due to renew our sponsorship,
the region will have a world class sporting complex,” Mr Broad said. Newcastle
Knights Chairman, Michael Hill, said today’s sponsorship announcement capped
off a tremendous year for the club. “The Knights have the best rugby league
team in the world, we have recorded one of our strongest trading results
and we now have one of Australia’s most respected corporate brands on our
stadium. By anyone’s standards, it all adds up to an extremely successful
year for the region’s football club and stands us in good stead for the
challenges that lay ahead,” Mr Hill said.
The home ground for the Knights was originally the International Sports
Centre, (ISC) between 1988 - 1992, then Marathon Stadium betwen 1992 -
2001.
This new deal will see the naming rights for Energy Australia Stadium
continue till the end of season 2006.
Energy Australia Stadium
Turton Road, New Lambton,
NSW 2305
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Home ground advantage - 8.5 out
of 10.
The cauldron like confines of Energy Aust Stadium
is among the most intimidating grounds to visit, and any side that emerges
with a win knows they've earned it. The Novocastrian fan is a breed
like no other and their support borders on the obsessive. |
How to get to Energy Australia Stadium - is
situated at Turton Road, Lambton, approximately a 10 minute drive from
the Newcastle CBD. A limited number of parking spaces are available in
the northern and southern carparks. You can also reach Marathon Stadium
via bus or train. There is a bus stop located outside the main entrance
to Marathon Stadium. For train travel, catch the train to Broadmeadow station
and either walk the short distance (about 15 minutes) to the stadium or
catch a taxi.
Our town, Our turf, Our team
Newcastle does not bother pinning motivational catch phrases around
its dressing room. In fact, the only item that adorns the Knights"change
room at Marathon Stadium is a cartoon. It depicts a giant red and blue
hand reaching down to pull another hand out of the rubble of the 1989 Newcastle
earthquake. It was originally sketched by cartoonist Mick Eggleston
in the local Star newspaper after the quake. Then Knights coach Allan
McMahon had the arm coloured red and blue, and pinned to the door of the
team's sheds. They say a picture tells a thousand words and McMahon used
the cartoon as a reminder to the players of the opportunity they had to
reach down and lift the city's morale. It has been on the door ever since
and is the last thing the players see before being drowned with applause
as they run through the players"tunnel and on to Marathon Stadium.
Walley Lewis - The Kings view on Marathon - 1
May 1998, Newcastle Herald
A comment from former Australian captain Wally Lewis has warned his
fellow Queenslanders, the Brisbane Broncos, about the perils of playing
against the Newcastle Knights at Marathon Stadium. `It is a s... of a place
to play for away teams,' the `King' said. `I never enjoyed going there
as an away player, that's for sure.' But Lewis conceded that a packed Marathon
Stadium could swing the balance in Newcastle's direction in any game. `Newcastle
on their home turf will have a huge advantage. `They always have. They
grow another arm and a leg when they are playing on Marathon.'
Lewis's memories come from the time he led the Broncos out for the first
time onto the International Sports Centre in 1988 only to be greeted by
rain, mud and the boos of 30,220 screaming Knights fans.
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