2013 Newcastle Knights season explained

Year:	2013
Team Colour:	0000FF
Font Colour:	FFFFFF
League:	NRL
League Rank:	7th
League Wins:	12
League Draws:	1
League Losses:	11
Points For:	528
Points Against:	422
Playoff Result:	Preliminary Finalists (Week 3)
Ceo Title:	CEO
Coach Title:	Coach
Avg Attendance:	18,836
High Attendance:	26,822
Top Tries:	James McManus (19)
Top Goals:	Tyrone Roberts (48)
Top Points:	Tyrone Roberts (120)
Next Season:	2014

The 2013 Newcastle Knights season was the 26th in the club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Kurt Gidley, they competed in the NRL's 2013 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 7th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals. The Knights then came within one match of the grand final but were knocked out by eventual premiers, the Sydney Roosters.

Milestones

Round 1: Beau Scott made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Round 1: Jeremy Smith made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
Round 1: Travis Waddell made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canberra Raiders.
Round 3: David Fa'alogo made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Huddersfield Giants.
Round 3: Korbin Sims made his NRL debut for the club.
Round 4: Adam Cuthbertson scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 4: Chris Houston played his 100th game for the club.
Round 5: Jarrod Mullen played his 150th game for the club, which was also his 150th career game.
Round 6: Joseph Leilua made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters.
Round 7: David Fa'alogo scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 7: James McManus scored his 50th try for the club, which was also his 50th career try.
Round 9: Adam Clydsdale made his NRL debut for the club.
Round 9: Kurt Gidley played his 200th game for the club, which was also his 200th career game.
Round 10: David Fa'alogo played his 150th career game.
Round 10: Joseph Leilua scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 11: Akuila Uate played his 100th game for the club, which was also his 100th career game.
Round 12: Josh Mantellato made his NRL debut for the club, scored his 1st career try and kicked his 1st career goal.
Round 13: Wayne Bennett coached his 670th career game, becoming the most experienced coach ever in the NRL.
Round 14: Craig Gower made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the London Broncos.
Round 16: James McManus scored 4 tries, equalling Darren Albert, Adam MacDougall, Andrew Johns, Cooper Vuna and Akuila Uate's record of most tries scored in a match by 1 player for the Knights.
Round 17: Jeremy Smith played his 150th career game.
Round 19: Craig Gower scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 19: Kade Snowden played his 50th game for the club and scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 21: Neville Costigan played his 50th game for the club.
Round 21: Beau Scott scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 22: Danny Buderus played his 250th game for the club, which was also his 250th career game, breaking Andrew Johns' record of 249 games for most appearances for the Knights.
Round 25: Kurt Gidley kicked his 400th try for the club, which was also his 400th career goal.
Round 26: Danny Buderus kicked his 1st career goal.
Round 26: Jeremy Smith scored his 1st try for the club.
Finals Week 1: Tyrone Roberts played his 50th game for the club, which was also his 50th career game.
Finals Week 2: Matt Hilder played his 200th career game and 100th game for the club.
Finals Week 2: Willie Mason played his 250th career game.

Transfers and Re-signings

Gains

Player/Coach	Previous Club	Length
David Fa'alogo	Huddersfield Giants	2013
Mitchell Frei	Brisbane Broncos	2013
Craig Gower	London Broncos	2013
Joseph Leilua	Sydney Roosters	2014
Toka Likiliki	New Zealand Warriors	2014
Anthony Quinn	Melbourne Storm	2013
Beau Scott	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2016
Jeremy Smith	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	2015
Travis Waddell	Canberra Raiders	2014

Losses

Player/Coach	Club
Sam Anderson	Penrith Panthers
Ethan Cook	Penrith Panthers
Joel Edwards	Canberra Raiders
Richard Fa'aoso	Melbourne Storm
Albert Kelly	Contract terminated
Daine Laurie	Wyong Roos
Lorenzo Ma'afu	Parramatta Eels
Kurt Mann	Melbourne Storm
Maipele Morseau	Released
Wes Naiqama	Penrith Panthers
Kyle O'Donnell	Penrith Panthers
Api Pewhairangi	Parramatta Eels
Junior Sa'u	Melbourne Storm
Simione Sawene	Released
Warren Schillings	Western Suburbs Rosellas
Zeb Taia	Catalans Dragons
Rip Taylor (NSW Cup coach)	Wyong Roos
Evarn Tuimavave	Hull Kingston Rovers
Watisoni Votu	Fiji Rugby Union
Mark Wade	Merewether Carlton Rugby Club

Promoted juniors

Player	Junior side
Adam Clydsdale	Knights National Youth Competition
Josh Mantellato	Knights New South Wales Cup
Pat Mata'utia	Knights National Youth Competition
Ben Roose	Knights National Youth Competition
Nathan Ross	Knights New South Wales Cup
Paterika Vaivai	Knights National Youth Competition

Re-signings

Player/Coach	Re-signed to
Adam Clydsdale	2016
David Fa'alogo	2014
Dane Gagai	2015
Matt Hilder	2014
Josh Mantellato	2014
Chanel Mata'utia	2014
Pat Mata'utia	2015
Sione Mata'utia	2015
James McManus	2016
Anthony Quinn	2014
Chad Redman	2014
Robbie Rochow	2016
Korbin Sims	2015
Timana Tahu	2014
Zane Tetevano	2015
Akuila Uate	2017
Paterika Vaivai	2014

Player contract situations

2013 (left)	2014	2015	2016	2017
Chris Adams^[1]	Adam Cuthbertson^[2]	Darius Boyd^[3]	Adam Clydsdale^[4]	Akuila Uate^[5]
Danny Buderus^[6]	David Fa'alogo^[7]	Dane Gagai^[8]	James McManus^[9]
Neville Costigan^[10]	Matt Hilder^[11]	Kurt Gidley^[12]	Robbie Rochow^[13]
Adrian Davis^[14]	Chris Houston^[15]	Pat Mata'utia^[16]	Beau Scott^[17]
Marvin Filipo^[18]	Joseph Leilua^[19]	Tyler Randell^[20]
Mitchell Frei^[21]	Toka Likiliki^[22]	Korbin Sims^[23]
Craig Gower^[24]	Josh Mantellato^[25]	Jeremy Smith^[26]
Siuatonga Likiliki^[27]	Willie Mason^[28]	Kade Snowden^[29]
Rodney Mason^[30]	Chanel Mata'utia	Zane Tetevano
Peter Mata'utia^[31]	Alex McKinnon^[32]
Kevin Naiqama^[33]	Jarrod Mullen^[34]
Ben Roose^[35]	Anthony Quinn
Nathan Ross^[36]	Chad Redman^[37]
Will Smith^[38]	Tyrone Roberts
Ryan Stig^[39]	Timana Tahu
	Travis Waddell^[40]
	Paterika Vaivai^[41]

Jerseys and sponsors

In 2013, the Knights' jerseys were made by ISC and their major sponsor was Hunter Ports.

Fixtures

Pre-season trials

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals
Saturday, 16 February	Trial 1	South Sydney Rabbitohs	BCU International Stadium	18 - 6	T.Roberts (2), M.Hilder	K.Gidley (1/1), T.Roberts (1/1), P.Mata'utia (1/1)
Saturday, 23 February	Trial 2	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Scully Park	16 - 22	K.Naiqama, A.Uate, P.Mata'utia	K.Gidley (1/2), T.Roberts (1/1)
Legend:

Regular season

2013 Regular season fixtures

Statistics

Name	Appearances	Tries	Goals	Points	Captain	Age
	26	11	0	42	0	26
	15	1	1	6	0	35
	2	0	0	0	0	20
	19	1	0	4	0	28
	13	2	0	8	0	28
	22	2	0	8	0	33
	23	5	0	20	0	22
	14	2	38	84	11	31
	6	1	0	4	0	35
	6	1	0	4	0	31
	24	3	0	12	1	28
	19	13	0	52	0	22
	1	1	3	10	0	26
	22	0	0	0	0	33
	19	2	0	8	0	21
	24	19	0	76	0	27
	26	2	0	8	15	26
	6	2	0	8	0	24
	4	1	0	4	0	30
	27	6	48	120	0	22
	27	2	0	8	0	23
	16	2	0	8	0	29
	12	0	0	0	0	21
	19	2	0	8	0	33
	20	1	0	4	0	27
	5	2	0	8	0	33
	8	1	0	4	0	23
	24	15	0	60	0	26
	10	0	0	0	0	24
Totals	27	100	91	582	-	Average: 27

29 players used.

Source:^[42]

Representative honours

The following players appeared in a representative match in 2013.

Australia

Australian Schoolboys

Sione Mata'utia

Cook Islands

Zane Tetevano

Fiji

Indigenous All Stars

Italy

Junior Kiwis

Joseph Tapine

New South Wales

James McManus

New South Wales City

Adam Cuthbertson

New South Wales Country

New South Wales Residents

New South Wales under-16s

New South Wales under-18s

Sione Mata'utia

NRL All Stars

Papua New Guinea

Neville Costigan (captain)

Queensland

Darius Boyd

Samoa

Tonga

Siuatonga Likiliki

Individual honours

Teams and squads

New South Wales Cup Team of the Year

----

Dally M awards

Top Try-scorer

James McManus (19 tries)

----

Newcastle Knights awards

Player of the Year

National Rugby League (NRL) Player of the Year: Darius Boyd
New South Wales Cup Player of the Year: Kevin Naiqama
National Youth Competition (NYC) Player of the Year: Adam Clydsdale

Players' Player

National Rugby League (NRL) Players' Player: Danny Buderus
New South Wales Cup Players' Player: Matt Hilder
National Youth Competition (NYC) Players' Player: Jake Mamo

Coach's Award

National Rugby League (NRL) Coach's Award: Robbie Rochow
New South Wales Cup Coach's Award: Mitchell Frei
National Youth Competition (NYC) Coach's Award: Joseph Tapine

Brian Carlson Club-Andrew Johns Medal

Sione Mata'utia

Notes and References

Web site: Off-contract NRL stars revealed. 5 August 2017. 8 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130808230357/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/off-contract-nrl-stars-revealed/story-fni3fbgz-1226692662399#mm-breached. live.
Web site: Robert Dillon . Newcastle Knights sign Adam Cuthbertson | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-10-26 . 2016-08-07 . 2011-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111027113445/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/newcastle-knights-sign-adam-cuthbertson/2337370.aspx . live .
Web site: Boyd follows Benny to the Knights. 9 June 2011. 5 August 2017.
Web site: Brett Keeble . Clydsdale to take baton from Bedsy | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2013-05-06 . 2016-08-07 . 2022-01-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220126224919/https://www.smh.com.au/?cs=306 . live .
Web site: Uate a Knight until 2017 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-03-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130309080110/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Uate-a-Knight-until-2017/69360 . 2013-03-09 .
Web site: No holding back for Buderus - Newcastle Knights . 2013-09-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130906055616/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/knights/83587 . 2013-09-06 .
Web site: David Fa'alogo re-signs for 2014 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-05-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130614082414/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/David-Faalogo-resigns-for-2014/75287 . 2013-06-14 .
Web site: Dane Gagai commits until 2015 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-05-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004230413/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Dane-Gagai-commits-until-2015/75286 . 2013-10-04 .
Web site: McManus signs on for three more - Newcastle Knights . 2013-10-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221835/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/McManus-signs-on-for-three-more/69849 . 2013-10-04 .
Web site: Costigan to join Hull KR next season - Newcastle Knights . 2013-07-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131019121131/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Costigan-to-join-Hull-KR-next-season/79977 . 2013-10-19 .
Web site: Hilder, Tahu, Quinn and Newton for 2014 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-09-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016022850/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Hilder-Tahu-Quinn-and-Newton-for-2014/83845 . 2013-10-16 .
Web site: Sports News First - Latest news on Racing and Sports. www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232342/http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2011/04/20/kurt-gidley-re-signs-with-newcastle/. 2013-10-04. dead.
Web site: Rochow re-signs until 2016 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-05-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130614090458/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Rochow-resigns-until-2016/75283 . 2013-06-14 .
Web site: Dolphins return to training .
1. B50000cliffe Dolphins
. 2013-11-12 . 2016-08-07 . 2016-09-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160913065940/http://www.redcliffedolphins.com.au/?id=5446 . live .
Web site: Houston announces re-signing - Newcastle Knights . 2012-07-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120802211228/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Houston-announces-resigning/60596 . 2012-08-02 .
Web site: Mata'utia trio plus Tetevano re-sign - Newcastle Knights . 2013-10-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016025453/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Matautia-trio-plus-Tetevano-resign/86038 . 2013-10-16 .
Web site: Knights sign Beau Scott from Dragons | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2012-03-09 . 2016-08-07 . 2012-04-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120410114959/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/knights-sign-beau-scott-from-dragons/2483554.aspx . live .
Web site: Robert Dillon . Filipo sacked after off-field incident | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2013-05-22 . 2016-08-07 . 2022-01-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220126224925/https://www.smh.com.au/?cs=306 . live .
Web site: Knights officially sign Joseph Leilua - Newcastle Knights . 2013-03-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130308152401/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-officially-sign-Joseph-Leilua/69291 . 2013-03-08 .
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 .
Web site: Archived copy . m.qrl.com.au . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20140204141125/http://m.qrl.com.au/%20news-display/Intrust-Super-Cup-player-gains--losses/89418 . 4 February 2014 . dead.
Web site: Knights sign Toka Likiliki - Newcastle Knights . 2013-01-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130224040826/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights%20sign%20Toka%20Likiliki/63720 . 2013-02-24 .
Web site: Newcastle secure Korbin Sims - Newcastle Knights . 2013-06-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003113/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Sims-commits-to-Newcastle/76216 . 2013-10-05 .
Web site: Rugby League . Craig Gower and Bryce Gibbs expected to hang up the boots . Smh.com.au . 2013-10-24 . 2016-08-07 . 2014-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202093107/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/craig-gower-and-bryce-gibbs-expected-to-hang-up-the-boots-20131024-2w3y6.html#ixzz2icrmGA6U . live .
Web site: Mantellato re-signs for 2014 - Newcastle Knights . 2016-02-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131206004323/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Mantellato-resigns-for-2014/83274 . 2013-12-06 .
Web site: Knights sign Jeremy Smith - Newcastle Knights . 2012-09-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930090330/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-sign-Jeremy-Smith/64513 . 2012-09-30 .
Web site: Titans recruit promising quartet - iSelect Gold Coast Titans . 2013-08-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130817093056/http://www.titans.com.au/news-display/Titans-recruit-promising-quartet/81905 . 2013-08-17 .
Web site: Mason officially extends contract - Newcastle Knights . 2012-11-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121118043602/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Mason-officially-extends-contract/65936 . 2012-11-18 .
http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=36576&kade-snowden-returns-home
Web site: Nocookies . The Australian . 2016-08-07.
Web site: Dragons Add Depth For 2014 - St.George Illawarra Dragons . 2013-08-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130826063352/http://www.dragons.com.au/news-display/dragons/82629 . 2013-08-26 .
Web site: Cuthbertson in sights as Kaufusi takes London job | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2011-08-19 . 2016-08-07 . 2012-07-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120718035226/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/cuthbertson-in-sights-as-kaufusi-takes-london-job/2264563.aspx . live .
Web site: Naiqama signs with Panthers for 2014 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-06-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131019121141/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Naiqama-signs-with-Panthers-for-2014/77683 . 2013-10-19 .
Web site: Mullen eyes Knightlife after deal. 5 August 2017.
Web site: NRL . Ben Roose skips to business - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820024053/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2013/04/22/ben-roose-skips-to-business.html . 2016-08-20 . dead .
Web site: Josh Leeson . Afamasaga tipped for Wests release | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2013-02-11 . 2016-08-07 . 2016-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818114149/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1294338/afamasaga-tipped-for-wests-release/ . live .
Web site: NRL . VB NSW Cup Team Lists - Round Twenty Five . NSWRL . 2016-08-07 . 2016-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810092728/http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/08/26/vb_nsw_cup_team_lists_round_twenty_five.html . live .
Web site: Will Smith to join Panthers for 2014 - Newcastle Knights . 2013-06-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130629224556/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Will-Smith-to-join-Panthers-for-2014/77901 . 2013-06-29 .
Web site: Robert Dillon . Former Knight keeps league dream alive despite illness | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2013-11-01 . 2016-08-07 . 2016-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818093252/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1881934/former-knight-keeps-league-dream-alive-despite-illness/?cs=306 . live .
Web site: Knights sign Travis Waddell - Newcastle Knights . 2013-07-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130722093921/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-sign-Travis-Waddell/69196 . 2013-07-22 .
Web site: NRL . Knights V Cutters - VB NSW Cup Preliminary Final . NSWRL . 2016-08-07 . 2016-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810093836/http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/09/22/knights_v_cutters_vb_nsw_cup_preliminary_final.html . live .
Web site: 2013 player stats. 2013-03-22. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045256/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2013/newcastle/summary.html?order=name. live.