2014 Newcastle Knights season explained

Year:	2014
Team Colour:	0000FF
Font Colour:	FFFFFF
League:	NRL
League Rank:	12th
League Wins:	10
League Draws:	0
League Losses:	14
Points For:	463
Points Against:	571
Ceo Title:	CEO
Coach Title:	Coach
Avg Attendance:	17,616
High Attendance:	26,401
Top Tries:	Akuila Uate (12)
Top Goals:	Kurt Gidley (39)
Top Points:	Kurt Gidley (86)
Next Season:	2015

The 2014 Newcastle Knights season was the 27th in the club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Kurt Gidley, they competed in the NRL's 2014 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 12th place (out of 16).

Milestones

• Round 1: Michael Dobson made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Hull Kingston Rovers.
• Round 2: Matt Minto made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 4: Darius Boyd played his 50th game for the club.
• Round 6: Adam Clydsdale scored his 1st career try.
• Round 6: Tyrone Roberts kicked his 100th goal for the club, which was also his 100th career goal.
• Round 7: Jake Mamo made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 7: Korbin Sims scored his 1st career try.
• Round 8: Dane Gagai played his 50th career game.
• Round 9: Joseph Tapine made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 9: Paterika Vaivai made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 13: Darius Boyd played his 200th career game.
• Round 13: Akuila Uate scored his 92nd career try, breaking Timana Tahu's record of 91 tries as the highest ever try-scorer for the Knights.
• Round 14: Jake Mamo scored his 1st career try.
• Round 14: Willie Mason played his 50th game for the club.
• Round 14: Robbie Rochow played his 50th career game.
• Round 16: Dane Gagai played his 50th game for the club.
• Round 16: Robbie Rochow played his 50th game for the club.
• Round 18: Wayne Bennett coached his 700th career game.
• Round 20: Dane Gagai kicked his 1st career goal.
• Round 20: Chanel Mata'utia made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 20: Sione Mata'utia made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 20: Kade Snowden played his 150th career game.
• Round 22: Chris Houston played his 150th career game.
• Round 22: Chanel Mata'utia scored his 1st career try.
• Round 22: Travis Waddell scored his 1st try for the club.
• Round 23: Adam Cuthbertson played his 50th game for the club.
• Round 23: Sione Mata'utia scored his 1st career try.
• Round 25: Kurt Gidley captained his 100th game for the club.
• Round 25: Tyler Randell made his NRL debut for the club.
• Round 26: Joseph Leilua played his 100th career game.

Transfers and Re-signings

Gains

Player/Coach	Previous Club	Length
Michael Dobson	Hull Kingston Rovers	2014
Marvin Filipo	Limoux Grizzlies	2014
Sam Mataora	Canberra Raiders	2014
Matt Minto	Mackay Cutters	2014
Clint Newton	Penrith Panthers	2014
Russell Packer	New Zealand Warriors	2017
Nathan Ross	Kurri Kurri Bulldogs	2014
James Taylor	New Zealand Warriors	2016
Travis Waddell	Souths Logan Magpies	2014
Brayden Wiliame	Parramatta Eels	2014

Losses

Player/Coach	Club
Chris Adams	Cessnock Goannas
Danny Buderus	Retirement
Neville Costigan	Hull Kingston Rovers
Adrian Davis	Redcliffe Dolphins
Mitchell Frei	Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Craig Gower	Retirement
Jackson Hill	Penrith Panthers
Siuatonga Likiliki	Gold Coast Titans
Rodney Mason	Central Newcastle Butcher Boys
Peter Mata'utia	St. George Illawarra Dragons
Kevin Naiqama	Penrith Panthers
Ben Roose	Kurri Kurri Bulldogs
Will Smith	Penrith Panthers
Ryan Stig	Retirement

Promoted juniors

Player	Junior side
Joe Boyce	Knights National Youth Competition
Bryce Donovan	Knights National Youth Competition
Brenton Horwood	Knights New South Wales Cup
Jake Mamo	Knights National Youth Competition
Sione Mata'utia	Knights National Youth Competition
Joseph Tapine	Knights National Youth Competition
Ben Tupou	Knights New South Wales Cup

Re-signings

Player/Coach	Re-signed to
Bryce Donovan	2015
David Fa'alogo	2015
Marvin Filipo	2015
Chris Houston	2016
Joseph Leilua	2016
Danny Levi	2017
Sam Mataora	2017
Chanel Mata'utia	2015
Clint Newton	2015
Jarrod Mullen	2018
Chad Redman	2015
Tyrone Roberts	2016
Nathan Ross	2016
Beau Scott	2017
Ben Tupou	2015
Paterika Vaivai	2016

Player contract situations

2014 (left)	2015	2016	2017	2018
Joe Boyce^[1]	Bryce Donovan^[2]	Adam Clydsdale^[3]	Sam Mataora^[4]	Jarrod Mullen^[5]
Darius Boyd^[6]	David Fa'alogo^[7]	Chris Houston	Beau Scott^[8]
Adam Cuthbertson^[9]	Marvin Filipo^[10]	Joseph Leilua^[11]	Akuila Uate^[12]
Michael Dobson^[13]	Dane Gagai^[14]	James McManus^[15]
Matt Hilder^[16]	Kurt Gidley^[17]	Tyrone Roberts^[18]
Brenton Horwood^[19]	Jake Mamo^[20]	Robbie Rochow^[21]
Toka Likiliki^[22]	Chanel Mata'utia^[23]	Nathan Ross^[24]
Josh Mantellato^[25]	Pat Mata'utia	Joseph Tapine^[26]
Willie Mason^[27]	Sione Mata'utia	James Taylor^[28]
Alex McKinnon^[29]	Clint Newton	Paterika Vaivai
Matt Minto^[30]	Tyler Randell^[31]
Russell Packer^[32]	Chad Redman^[33]
Anthony Quinn^[34]	Korbin Sims^[35]
Timana Tahu^[36]	Jeremy Smith^[37]
Zane Tetevano^[38]	Kade Snowden^[39]
Travis Waddell^[40]	Ben Tupou^[41]
Brayden Wiliame^[42]

Jerseys and sponsors

In 2014, 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	Attendance
Saturday, 8 February	Trial 1	First Nations Goannas	Hunter Stadium	52  - 12	J.Mamo (3), J.Tapine (2), A.McKinnon, K.Sims, S.Mata'utia, J.Mantellato, M.Minto	J.Mantellato (6/10)	6,826
Saturday, 22 February	Trial 2	Canberra Raiders	Scully Park	34  - 14	J.McManus, A.Uate, J.Leilua, C.Redman, J.Mamo, K.Gidley	T.Roberts (2/2), M.Dobson (3/4)
Legend:

Auckland Nines

See main article: 2014 NRL Auckland Nines.

Squad: 1. Adam Cuthbertson 2. Jake Mamo 3. Dane Gagai 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Akuila Uate 6. Jarrod Mullen (c) 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Willie Mason 9. Adam Clydsdale 10. Chris Houston 11. Beau Scott 12. Robbie Rochow 13. Jeremy Smith 14. Michael Dobson 15. Alex McKinnon 16. Zane Tetevano

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Drop Goal Conversions	Attendance
Saturday, 15 February	Auckland Nines Game 1	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Eden Park	12  - 15	T.Roberts, J.Leilua	J.Mullen (2/2)	89,003
Saturday, 15 February	Auckland Nines Game 10	Gold Coast Titans	Eden Park	25  - 14	J.Leilua (3), J.Smith, J.Mamo	J.Mullen (2/5)	89,003
Sunday, 16 February	Auckland Nines Game 18	Wests Tigers	Eden Park	25  - 0	J.Mamo, T.Roberts, C.Houston, W.Mason, D.Gagai	J.Mullen (2/5)	89,003
Sunday, 16 February	Auckland Nines Quarter-Final 1	Brisbane Broncos	Eden Park	11  - 16	J.Mullen, A.McKinnon	T.Roberts (1/2)	89,003
Legend:

Regular season

2014 Regular season fixtures

Statistics

Name	Appearances	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points	Captain	Age
	14	3	0	0	12	0	27
	21	2	0	0	8	0	21
	18	0	0	0	0	0	29
	6	0	0	0	0	0	28
	18	0	0	0	0	0	34
	24	7	1	0	30	0	23
	23	2	39	0	86	23	32
	18	1	0	0	4	0	29
	22	11	0	0	44	0	23
	7	2	0	0	8	0	20
	1	0	3	0	6	0	27
	21	1	0	0	4	0	34
	7	5	0	0	20	0	22
	7	7	0	0	28	0	18
	3	0	0	0	0	0	22
	16	4	0	0	16	0	28
	2	0	0	0	0	0	24
	16	3	0	1	13	1	27
	2	0	0	0	0	0	33
	1	0	0	0	0	0	22
	24	9	20	0	76	0	23
	24	3	0	0	12	0	24
	20	5	0	0	20	0	30
	20	2	0	0	8	0	22
	18	2	0	0	8	0	34
	17	0	0	0	0	0	28
	2	2	0	0	8	0	34
	7	0	0	0	0	0	20
	3	0	0	0	0	0	24
	15	12	0	0	48	0	27
	1	0	0	0	0	0	22
	10	1	0	0	4	0	25
Totals	24	84	63	1	463	-	Average: 26

32 players used.

Source:^[43]

Representative honours

See also: List of Newcastle Knights representatives.

The following players appeared in a representative match in 2014.

Australia

• Darius Boyd
• Kurt Gidley (train-on squad)
• Willie Mason (train-on squad)
• Sione Mata'utia
• Beau Scott

Australian Schoolboys

• Jack Cogger
• Brock Lamb
• Braden Robson

Fiji

• Korbin Sims
• Rick Stone (coach)

Junior Kangaroos

• Jake Mamo
• Sione Mata'utia (train-on squad)

Junior Kiwis

• Danny Levi
• Chance Peni
• Pride Petterson-Robati (train-on squad)
• Joseph Tapine
• James Taylor (train-on squad)

Lebanon

• James Elias

New South Wales

• James McManus
• Beau Scott

New South Wales Country

• James McManus
• Jarrod Mullen
• Tyrone Roberts
• Robbie Rochow
• Beau Scott (captain)

New South Wales Residents

• Chanel Mata'utia
• Tyler Randell

New South Wales under-16s

• Matt Cooper
• Kurtis Dark
• Brodie Jones
• Brendan O'Hagan
• Tom Starling

New South Wales under-18s

• Sione Mata'utia

New South Wales under-20s

• Jake Mamo
• Sione Mata'utia

Prime Minister's XIII

• Sione Mata'utia
• Beau Scott

Queensland

• Darius Boyd

Queensland under-20s

• Jaelen Feeney

Samoa

• David Fa'alogo (captain)
• Joseph Leilua
• Chanel Mata'utia (train-on squad)
• Sione Mata'utia (train-on squad)

Individual honours

Teams and squads

National Youth Competition (NYC) Team of the Year

• Mick Crawley (coach)
• Danny Levi
• Jake Mamo
• Sione Mata'utia
• Joseph Tapine

New South Wales Cup Team of the Year

• Michael Dobson
• Josh Mantellato
• Tyler Randell
• Nathan Ross

Queensland Academy of Sport Emerging Origin Squad

• Dane Gagai
• Korbin Sims

Queensland Academy of Sport Under-20s Emerging Origin Squad

• Jaelen Feeney

New South Wales Under-20s Origin Pathways Camp

• Jake Mamo
• Sione Mata'utia

----

Dally M awards

Dally M Second Rower of the Year

• Beau Scott

----

Newcastle Knights awards

Player of the Year

• National Rugby League (NRL) Player of the Year: Beau Scott
• New South Wales Cup Player of the Year: Paterika Vaivai
• National Youth Competition (NYC) Player of the Year: Sione Mata'utia

Players' Player

• National Rugby League (NRL) Players' Player: Kurt Gidley
• New South Wales Cup Players' Player: Chad Redman
• National Youth Competition (NYC) Players' Player: Luke Yates

Coach's Award

• National Rugby League (NRL) Coach's Award: Alex McKinnon & Beau Scott
• New South Wales Cup Coach's Award: Tyler Randell
• National Youth Competition (NYC) Coach's Award: Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Brian Carlson Club-Andrew Johns Medal

• Jack Cogger

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bennett gives Joe Boyce two-year deal with Broncos . Chronicle . 2014-10-13 . 2016-08-07.
2. Web site: NRL . NYC and NSW Cup round 1 teams - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
3. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE 6 May 2013, 10:45 p.m. . Clydsdale to take baton from Bedsy | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2013-05-06 . 2016-08-07.
4. Web site: NRL . Knights sign Mataora and Vaivai - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
5. Web site: NRL . Mullen’s all four Knights - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
6. Web site: NRL . Boyd A Bronco Again . Broncos . 2016-08-07.
7. Web site: NRL . Knights sign trio - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
8. Web site: NRL . Beau Scott signs until 2017 - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
9. Web site: NRL . Cuthbertson signs with Leeds - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
10. Web site: NRL . Knights re-sign Filipo - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
11. Web site: NRL . Joey Leilua re-signs - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
12. 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 .
13. Web site: Red Devils Capture Dobson On Long-Term Deal The Red Devils RLFC . 2014-06-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715001139/http://www.thereddevils.net/news/rugby-news/red-devils-capture-dobson-on-long-term-deal/ . 2014-07-15 .
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 .
15. 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 .
16. Web site: NRL . Hilder hangs up boots - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
17. 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.
18. Web site: Roberts re-signs until 2016 - Newcastle Knights . 2014-02-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224144923/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Roberts-resigns-until-2016/90676 . 2014-02-24 .
19. Web site: Crowhurst . Matt . Romelo heads new Easts signings . QRL . 2016-08-07.
20. Web site: NRL Digital Media . INSIDER: Matt Gidley - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820053844/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/content/knights/club/members-only/insider_matt_gidley.html . 2016-08-20 . dead .
21. 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 .
22. Web site: NRL: 2015 Season Previews - Newcastle Knights - Over The Line Sports . 2015-11-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151121140633/http://overthelinesports.com.au/index.php/2015/02/22/nrl-2015-season-previews-newcastle-knights/ . 2015-11-21 .
23. 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 .
24. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE13 Oct 2014, 10:23 p.m. . Nathan Ross finds a place to call home at Knights | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2014-10-13 . 2016-08-07.
25. Web site: NRL . Mantellato to join Hull KR - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
26. Web site: NRL Digital Media . KNIGHTS INSIDER - Wayne Bennett - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221312/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/content/knights/club/members-only/knights_insider_wayne_bennett2.html . 2016-03-03 .
27. Web site: NRL . sign Mason, Mateo, Vave and extend Lyon’s contract . Sea Eagles . 2016-08-07.
28. Web site: NRL . Knights sign James Taylor - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
29. Web site: NRL . Knights re-sign Alex McKinnon - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
30. Web site: Capras Sign Matt Minto - Central Queensland Capras . Capras.com.au . 2014-11-03 . 2016-08-07.
31. 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 .
32. Web site: Newcastle Knights Statement: Russell Packer - Newcastle Knights . 2014-01-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140113102658/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Newcastle-Knights-Statement-Russell-Packer/89227 . 2014-01-13 .
33. Web site: BRETT KEEBLE19 May 2015, 10 p.m. . Newcastle keen to lock up Redman after eye-catching debut | Newcastle Herald . Theherald.com.au . 2015-05-19 . 2016-08-07.
34. Web site: Injury brings early retirement for Anthony Quinn - Newcastle Knights . 2014-01-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140125190213/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Injury-brings-early-retirement-for-Anthony-Quinn/89567 . 2014-01-25 .
35. 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 .
36. Web site: NRL . Time out for Timana Tahu - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
37. 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 .
38. Web site: Knights sack Zane Tetevano . NRL.com . 2016-08-07.
39. http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=36576&kade-snowden-returns-home
40. Web site: Waddell buoyed by Bennett call | Mackay Daily Mercury . Dailymercury.com.au . 2014-09-25 . 2016-08-07.
41. Web site: NRL . NYC and NSW Cup round 7 Teams - Knights . Newcastleknights.com.au . 2016-08-07.
42. Web site: NRL . Promising trio added to Sea Eagles roster . Sea Eagles . 2016-08-07.
43. Web site: 2014 player stats.