2011 Newcastle Knights season explained

Year:	2011
Team Colour:	0000FF
Font Colour:	FFFFFF
League:	NRL
League Rank:	8th
League Wins:	12
League Draws:	0
League Losses:	12
Points For:	478
Points Against:	443
Playoff Result:	Elimination Finalists (Week 1)
Ceo Title:	CEO
Coach Title:	Coach
Avg Attendance:	19,186
High Attendance:	30,729
Top Tries:	Akuila Uate (20)
Top Goals:	Kurt Gidley (55)
Top Points:	Kurt Gidley (130)
Next Season:	2012

The 2011 Newcastle Knights season was the 24th in the club's history. Coached by Rick Stone and captained by Kurt Gidley, they competed in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership. The Knights finished the regular season in 8th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals but were knocked out after losing to the Melbourne Storm in week 1.

Milestones

• Round 1: Neville Costigan made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
• Round 1: Beau Henry made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
• Round 6: Tyrone Roberts made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 6: Steve Southern made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the North Queensland Cowboys.
• Round 10: Marvin Filipo made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 11: Peter Mata'utia made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
• Round 13: Neville Costigan scored his 1st try for the club.
• Round 13: Antonio Kaufusi scored his 1st try for the club.
• Round 15: Ryan Stig made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 16: Wes Naiqama captained his 1st game for the club.
• Round 17: Ryan Stig scored his 1st career try.
• Round 19: Ryan Stig kicked his 1st career goal.
• Round 20: Zane Tetevano made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 25: Siuatonga Likiliki made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the New Zealand Warriors.
• Round 25: Zane Tetevano scored his 1st career try.
• Round 26: Adam MacDougall kicked his 1st career goal.
• Round 26: Akuila Uate scored 4 tries, equalling Darren Albert, Adam MacDougall, Andrew Johns and Cooper Vuna's record of most tries scored in a match by 1 player for the Knights.

Transfers and Re-signings

Gains

Player/Coach	Previous Club	Length
Chris Adams	Cessnock Goannas	2011
Neville Costigan	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2013
Beau Henry	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2013
Chris Houston	Free agent	2012
Siuatonga Likiliki	New Zealand Warriors	2012
Kyle O'Donnell	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	2012
Steve Southern	North Queensland Cowboys	2011
Ryan Stig	Northern Pride RLFC	2011

Losses

Player/Coach	Club
Daniel Abraham	Kurri Kurri Bulldogs
Ben Cross	Leeds Rhinos
Scott Dureau	Catalans Dragons
Jimmy Fawcett	Umina Bunnies
Byron Fruean	Sydney Roosters
George Ndaira	Wests Tigers
Steve Simpson	Retirement
Sione Tovo	Wests Tigers
Cooper Vuna	Melbourne Rebels

Promoted juniors

Player	Junior side
Ethan Cook	Knights National Youth Competition
Api Pewhairangi	Knights National Youth Competition
Chad Redman	Knights National Youth Competition
Mitch Williams	Knights National Youth Competition

Re-signings

Player/Coach	Re-signed to
Chris Adams	2012
Ethan Cook	2012
Marvin Filipo	2012
Kurt Gidley	2015
Matt Hilder	2013
Peter Mata'utia	2013
Kevin Naiqama	2012
Wes Naiqama	2014
Api Pewhairangi	2012
Chad Redman	2012
Tyrone Roberts	2012
Junior Sa'u	2013
Ryan Stig	2013
Zane Tetevano	2013
Evarn Tuimavave	2012

Player contract situations

2011 (left)	2012	2013	2014	2015
Josh Ailaomai^[1]	Chris Adams^[2]	Neville Costigan^[3]	Jarrod Mullen^[4]	Kurt Gidley^[5]
Cameron Ciraldo^[6]	Ethan Cook^[7]	Matt Hilder^[8]	Wes Naiqama^[9]
Isaac De Gois^[10]	Joel Edwards^[11]	Peter Mata'utia^[12]
Beau Henry^[13]	Richard Fa'aoso^[14]	James McManus^[15]
Marvin Karawana^[16]	Marvin Filipo^[17]	Junior Sa'u^[18]
Antonio Kaufusi^[19]	Chris Houston^[20]	Ryan Stig^[21]
Keith Lulia^[22]	Siuatonga Likiliki^[23]	Zane Tetevano^[24]
Adam MacDougall^[25]	Kevin Naiqama^[26]	Akuila Uate^[27]
Shannon McDonnell^[28]	Kyle O'Donnell^[29]
Constantine Mika^[30]	Api Pewhairangi^[31]
Cory Paterson^[32]	Chad Redman^[33]
Ben Rogers^[34]	Tyrone Roberts^[35]
Steve Southern^[36]	Zeb Taia^[37]
Mark Taufua^[38]	Evarn Tuimavave^[39]
Daniel Tolar^[40]
Mitch Williams^[41]
Simon Williams^[42]

Jerseys and sponsors

In 2011, the Knights' jerseys were made by XBlades and their major sponsor was Coal & Allied.

Fixtures

Pre-season trials

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, 5 February	Trial 1	New Zealand Warriors	Wingham Park	22  - 22	J.Edwards, C.Houston, C.Adams, S.Williams	P.Mata'utia (3/4)
Sunday, 13 February	Trial 2	Fiji Bati	EnergyAustralia Stadium	72  - 0	P.Mata'utia (2), J.Ailaomai (2), K.Lulia, B.Henry, E.Cook, Z.Tetevano, S.Williams, C.Adams, K.Naiqama, W.Naiqama, S.Likiliki, A.Pewhairangi	W.Naiqama (3), P.Mata'utia (3), B.Henry (2)	2000
Saturday, 19 February	Trial 3	Penrith Panthers	Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie	22  - 28	M.Karawana, E.Tuimavave, I.De Gois, M.Taufua	W.Naiqama (2), C.Paterson (1)
Saturday, 26 February	Trial 4	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Olympic Park, Muswellbrook	32  - 10	J.Sa'u (2), I.De Gois (2), A.Uate, S.McDonnell	K.Gidley (3), W.Naiqama (1)
Legend:

Regular season

2011 Regular season fixtures

Statistics

Name	Appearances	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points	Captain	Age
	14	1	0	0	4	0	27
	15	3	0	0	12	0	26
	17	1	0	0	4	0	27
	22	0	0	0	0	0	23
	22	2	0	0	8	0	27
	2	0	0	0	0	0	24
	18	5	55	0	130	18	29
	6	2	0	0	8	0	21
	21	4	0	0	16	0	29
	25	3	0	0	12	0	26
	6	0	0	0	0	0	25
	24	2	0	0	8	0	27
	2	0	0	0	0	0	21
	13	2	0	0	8	0	24
	9	4	1	0	18	0	36
	5	2	0	0	8	0	21
	7	4	0	0	16	0	24
	23	10	0	0	40	0	25
	2	0	0	0	0	0	22
	21	2	0	0	8	5	24
	17	4	21	0	58	2	29
	7	3	0	0	12	0	24
	7	0	0	0	0	0	20
	2	0	0	0	0	0	26
	21	4	0	0	16	0	24
	7	0	0	0	0	0	29
	13	1	2	0	8	0	22
	5	2	0	0	8	0	27
	10	0	0	0	0	0	30
	5	1	0	0	4	0	21
	14	0	0	0	0	0	29
	20	0	0	0	0	0	27
	23	20	0	0	80	0	24
Totals	25	82	79	0	486	-	Average: 25

33 players used.

Source:^[43]

Representative honours

See also: List of Newcastle Knights representatives.

The following players appeared in a representative match in 2011.

Australia

• Akuila Uate

Cook Islands

• Keith Lulia
• Zeb Taia
• Zane Tetevano

Indigenous All Stars

• Cory Paterson

Italy

• Cameron Ciraldo

Junior Kangaroos

• Tyrone Roberts (18th man)

New South Wales

• Kurt Gidley (captain)
• Akuila Uate

New South Wales Country

• Chris Houston
• Jarrod Mullen
• Akuila Uate

New South Wales Residents

• Constantine Mika
• Rip Taylor (assistant coach)

New South Wales under-18s

• Pat Mata'utia
• Ben Roose
• Tom Rouse
• Michael Steele

NRL All Stars

• Kurt Gidley
• Akuila Uate

Queensland under-18s

• Kurt Mann

Tonga

• Richard Fa'aoso

Individual honours

Dally M awards

Dally M Winger of the Year

• Akuila Uate

----

Newcastle Knights awards

Player of the Year

• National Youth Competition (NYC) Player of the Year: Sam Anderson

Players' Player

• National Youth Competition (NYC) Players' Player: Sam Anderson

Notes and References

1. Web site: ROBERT DILLON . Sam Anderson in demand | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-09-29 . 2016-08-07.
2. Web site: ROBERT DILLON . Cherished Knights debut for Chris Adams | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2012-05-13 . 2016-08-07.
3. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
4. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
5. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
6. Web site: Robert Dillon. Ciraldo signs with Panthers | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-08-17 . 2016-08-07.
7. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE . Knights lose two local lads to Penrith | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2012-09-17 . 2016-08-07.
8. Web site: Knights re-sign hard-working Hilder. 5 August 2017.
9. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
10. Web site: Rugby League . Sharks sign De Gois . Smh.com.au . 2011-06-28 . 2016-08-07.
11. Web site: rleague.com has been shutdown . 2013-11-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150610230122/http://rleague.com/news/Edwards-re-signs-with-Knights_84540/ . 2015-06-10 .
12. Web site: ROBERT DILLON . Mata'uti opts to stay in Hunter | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-06-16 . 2016-08-07.
13. Web site: Rugby League . Gold Coast snap up Henry after Knights grant release . Smh.com.au . 2011-06-12 . 2016-08-07.
14. Web site: Knights re-sign Fa'aoso for 3 years | The Kennel Forum . Thekennel.net.au . 2016-08-07.
15. Web site: Knights statement: James McManus re-signs . NRL.com . 2016-08-07.
16. Web site: Hamish Bidwell . League golden boy switches code for Wainui . Stuff.co.nz . 2012-04-28 . 2016-08-07.
17. Web site: Cuthbertson in sights as Kaufusi takes London job | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-08-19 . 2016-08-07.
18. Web site: ROBERT DILLON. Sa'u re-signs with Knights | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-06-01 . 2016-08-07.
19. Web site: Kaufusi England bound . News Mail . 2011-10-05 . 2016-08-07.
20. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
21. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
22. Web site: Bradford Bulls sign Australian centre Keith Lulia - BBC Sport . Bbc.co.uk . 2011-06-17 . 2016-08-07.
23. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE . Likiliki honours sick father in title victory | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2010-10-03 . 2016-08-07.
24. Web site: Knights re-sign Tetevano - Newcastle Knights . www.newcastleknights.com.au . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20131120004731/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights%20re-sign%20Tetevano/41221 . 20 November 2013 . dead.
25. Web site: Adam MacDougall confirms retirement plans, thanks fans - Newcastle Knights . www.newcastleknights.com.au . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20131120004750/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Adam-MacDougall-confirms-retirement-plans-thanks-fans/42555 . 20 November 2013 . dead.
26. Web site: ROBERT DILLON . Naiqama brothers extend stay with Knights | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-06-29 . 2016-08-07.
27. Web site: ROBERT DILLON . Akuila Uate repays Smith's faith, with interest | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2009-07-15 . 2016-08-07.
28. News: HULL KR: McDonnell the first to arrive . Hull Daily Mail . 2011-09-27 . 2016-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032123/http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/HULL-KR-McDonnell-arrive/story-13411027-detail/story.html . 2015-09-24 . dead .
29. Web site: CRAIG KERRY . Unlucky O'Donnell bound for Panthers | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2012-08-02 . 2016-08-07.
30. Web site: Hull KR sign Newcastle Knights forward Constantine Mika - BBC Sport . Bbc.co.uk . 2011-10-27 . 2016-08-07.
31. Web site: Eels unveil new additions for 2013 - Parramatta Eels . www.parraeels.com.au . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121202020815/http://www.parraeels.com.au/news-display/Eels-unveil-new-additions-for-2013/66299 . 2 December 2012 . dead.
32. Web site: Cory Paterson to Cowboys - Newcastle Knights . www.newcastleknights.com.au . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20131120004811/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Cory-Paterson-to-Cowboys/37562 . 20 November 2013 . dead.
33. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE . Young Knights face charges after all-in brawl | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2012-04-02 . 2016-08-07.
34. Web site: Ben Rogers retires - Newcastle Knights . www.newcastleknights.com.au . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20131120004712/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Ben-Rogers-retires/42495 . 20 November 2013 . dead.
35. Web site: Knights re-sign exciting young trio - Newcastle Knights . 2013-11-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016022520/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-resign-exciting-young-trio/54520 . 2013-10-16 .
36. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE . Steve Southern heading to Wakefield | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-08-09 . 2016-08-07.
37. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE . Knights battle body and soul as Storm loom on horizon | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2009-08-10 . 2016-08-07.
38. Web site: Home | Live Scores & Latest News . Fox Sports . 2016-07-28 . 2016-08-07.
39. Web site: Rugby League . Benji threatened to quit Tigers . Smh.com.au . 2011-02-20 . 2016-08-07.
40. Web site: Dan Tolar announces retirement - Newcastle Knights . www.newcastleknights.com.au . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20131120004744/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Dan-Tolar-announces-retirement/43979 . 20 November 2013 . dead.
41. Web site: Weekend Trial & All Stars Team Lists . NRL.com . 2016-08-07.
42. Web site: JOSH LEESON . Real NRL season preview: former stars boost Cessnock | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2012-04-11 . 2016-08-07 . 2016-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818102655/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/115156/real-nrl-season-preview-former-stars-boost-cessnock/ . live .
43. Web site: 2011 player stats.