2015 Newcastle Knights season explained

Year:	2015
Team Colour:	0000FF
Font Colour:	FFFFFF
League:	NRL
League Rank:	16th (last)
League Wins:	8
League Losses:	16
Points For:	458
Points Against:	612
Ceo Title:	CEO
Coach Title:	Coach
Coach:	Rick Stone then Danny Buderus (interim)
Avg Attendance:	15,891
High Attendance:	23,604
Top Tries:	Akuila Uate (12)
Top Goals:	Tyrone Roberts (54)
Top Points:	Tyrone Roberts (120)
Next Season:	2016

The 2015 Newcastle Knights season was the 28th in the club's history. Coached by Rick Stone, interim coached by Danny Buderus after Stone's contract was terminated, and captained by Kurt Gidley, they competed in the NRL's 2015 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 16th place (out of 16).

Milestones

Round 1: James McManus played his 150th for the club, which was also his 150th career game.
Round 1: Tyler Randell scored his 1st career try and kicked his 1st career goal.
Round 1: Beau Scott captained his 1st game for the club.
Round 1: Jack Stockwell made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Round 2: Akuila Uate scored his 57th try at Hunter Stadium, breaking Adam MacDougall's record of 56 tries as the highest ever try-scorer at Hunter Stadium.
Round 3: Chris Houston scored his 100th point for the club, which was also his 100th career point.
Round 5: Tariq Sims made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Round 6: Akuila Uate scored his 100th career try, which was also his 100th for the club, becoming the 1st Knight to do so.
Round 7: Dane Gagai scored his 100th career point.
Round 7: Kurt Gidley captained his 107th game for the club, breaking Andrew Johns' record of 106 games for most appearances as captain for the Knights.
Round 9: Joseph Leilua played his 50th game for the club.
Round 9: Tariq Sims scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 10: David Fa'alogo played his 50th game for the club.
Round 10: Chad Redman made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
Round 12: Chris Houston played his 150th game for the club.
Round 12: Sam Mataora made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canberra Raiders.
Round 12: Carlos Tuimavave made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the New Zealand Warriors.
Round 13: Joseph Leilua scored his 50th career try.
Round 15: Danny Levi made his NRL debut for the club.
Round 15: Carlos Tuimavave scored his 1st try for the club.
Round 16: Dane Gagai scored his 100th point for the club.
Round 16: Danny Levi scored his 1st career try.
Round 20: Jeremy Smith played his 50th game for the club.
Round 21: Lachlan Fitzgibbon made his NRL debut for the club.
Round 21: Nathan Ross made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
Round 21: Beau Scott played his 50th game for the club.
Round 22: Korbin Sims played his 50th game for the club, which was also his 50th career game.
Round 22: Joseph Tapine scored his 1st career try.
Round 24: Tyrone Roberts scored his 400th point for the club, which was also his 400th career point.
Round 25: Kurt Gidley played his 250th game for the club, which was also his 250th career game.
Round 25: Akuila Uate played his 150th game for the club, which was also his 150th career game.
Round 26: Beau Scott played his 200th career game.

Transfers and Re-signings

Gains

Player/Coach	Previous Club	Length
Jake Finn	Western Suburbs Rosellas	2015
Jacob Gagai	Brisbane Broncos	2015
Matt Lantry (NSW Cup coach)	Central Newcastle Butcher Boys	2016
Craig Sandercock (assistant coach)	Hull Kingston Rovers	2015
Tariq Sims	North Queensland Cowboys	2016
Damian Sironen	Tweed Heads Seagulls	2015
Jack Stockwell	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2017
Carlos Tuimavave	New Zealand Warriors	2016

Losses

Player/Coach	Club
Wayne Bennett (head coach)	Brisbane Broncos
Joe Boyce	Brisbane Broncos
Darius Boyd	Brisbane Broncos
Mick Crawley (assistant coach & NYC coach)	Canberra Raiders
Adam Cuthbertson	Leeds Rhinos
Michael Dobson	Salford Red Devils
Jacob Gagai	Brisbane Broncos
Matt Hilder	Retirement
Brenton Horwood	Eastern Suburbs Tigers
Toka Likiliki	Released
Josh Mantellato	Hull Kingston Rovers
Willie Mason	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Alex McKinnon	Retirement
Matt Minto	Central Queensland Capras
Russell Packer	Contract terminated
Chance Peni	Wests Tigers
Anthony Quinn	Retirement
Timana Tahu	Retirement
Zane Tetevano	Contract terminated
Travis Waddell	Brisbane Broncos
Brayden Wiliame	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Promoted juniors

Player	Junior side
Jack Cogger	Knights New South Wales Cup
James Elias	Knights New South Wales Cup
Jaelen Feeney	Knights National Youth Competition
Lachlan Fitzgibbon	Knights National Youth Competition
Sam Keenan	Knights National Youth Competition
Josh King	Knights National Youth Competition
Brock Lamb	Knights National Youth Competition
Danny Levi	Knights National Youth Competition
Jah Pakau	Knights National Youth Competition
Pride Petterson-Robati	Knights National Youth Competition
Dylan Phythian	Knights National Youth Competition
Michael Steele	Knights New South Wales Cup
Tuiala Togiatasi	Knights National Youth Competition
Honeti Tuha	Knights New South Wales Cup
Noel Underwood	Knights New South Wales Cup
Luke Yates	Knights National Youth Competition

Change of role

Player/Coach	New role
Danny Buderus (trainer)	Knights assistant coach & interim head coach
Troy Pezet (High Performance Unit Manager)	Knights National Youth Competition coach
Rick Stone (assistant coach & New South Wales Cup coach)	Knights head coach
Ben Tupou	Knights second-tier squad

Re-signings

Player/Coach	Re-signed to
Jack Cogger	2018
Jaelen Feeney	2017
Lachlan Fitzgibbon	2017
Dane Gagai	2017
Brock Lamb	2017
Danny Levi	2018
Jake Mamo	2017
Chanel Mata'utia	2018
Pat Mata'utia	2018
Sione Mata'utia	2018
Tyler Randell	2017
Korbin Sims	2017
Jeremy Smith	2016
Kade Snowden	2017
Luke Yates	2017

Player contract situations

2015 (left)	2016	2017	2018
Adam Clydsdale^[1]	Bryce Donovan^[2]	Jaelen Feeney^[3]	Jack Cogger^[4]
James Elias^[5]	Josh King^[6]	Lachlan Fitzgibbon^[7]	Danny Levi
David Fa'alogo^[8]	Dylan Phythian^[9]	Dane Gagai^[10]	Chanel Mata'utia^[11]
Marvin Filipo^[12]	Robbie Rochow^[13]	Brock Lamb^[14]	Pat Mata'utia
Jake Finn^[15]	Nathan Ross^[16]	Jake Mamo^[17]	Sione Mata'utia
Jacob Gagai^[18]		Tariq Sims^[19]	Sam Mataora^[20]	Jarrod Mullen^[21]
Kurt Gidley^[22]	Jeremy Smith^[23]	Tyler Randell^[24]
Chris Houston^[25]	Joseph Tapine^[26]	Korbin Sims^[27]
Sam Keenan^[28]	James Taylor^[29]	Kade Snowden
Joseph Leilua^[30]		Jack Stockwell
James McManus^[31]		Akuila Uate^[32]
Clint Newton^[33]		Luke Yates^[34]
Jah Pakau^[35]
Pride Petterson-Robati^[36]
Chad Redman^[37]
Tyrone Roberts^[38]
Beau Scott^[39]
Damian Sironen^[40]
Michael Steele^[41]
Tuiala Togiatasi^[42]
Honeti Tuha^[43]
Carlos Tuimavave^[44]
Noel Underwood^[45]
Paterika Vaivai^[46]

Jerseys and sponsors

In 2015, the Knights' jerseys were made by ISC and their major sponsor was Newpave Asphalt.

Fixtures

Auckland Nines

See main article: 2015 NRL Auckland Nines.

Squad: 1. Sione Mata'utia 2. Jake Mamo 3. Dane Gagai 4. Chanel Mata'utia 5. Carlos Tuimavave 6. Jarrod Mullen (c) 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Pat Mata'utia 9. Adam Clydsdale 10. Paterika Vaivai 11. Tyler Randell 12. Chris Houston 13. Robbie Rochow 14. Nathan Ross 15. Korbin Sims 16. Joseph Tapine 17. Jack Stockwell 18. Danny Levi

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Drop Goal Conversions
Saturday, 31 January	Auckland Nines Game 2	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Eden Park	18 - 7	J.Mamo (3), D.Gagai	J.Mullen (1/4)
Saturday, 31 January	Auckland Nines Game 9	Parramatta Eels	Eden Park	15 - 21	N.Ross, C.Houston, J.Tapine	T.Roberts (1/3)
Sunday, 1 February	Auckland Nines Game 18	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Eden Park	20 - 17	T.Randell, T.Roberts, S.Mata'utia, A.Clydsdale	T.Roberts (1/2), J.Mullen (1/2)
Sunday, 1 February	Auckland Nines Quarter-Final 2	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Eden Park	6 - 30	J.Mamo	J.Mullen (1/1)
Legend:

Pre-season trials

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, 14 February	Trial 1	Port Macquarie Sharks/Wauchope Blues	Lank Bain Sporting Complex, Wauchope	86 - 0	T.Randell (2), P.Mata'utia (2), J.Feeney (2), J.Mamo (2), J.Elias (2), S.Mataora, N.Ross, J.Leilua, S.Keenan, M.Filipo, J.Finn	T.Randell (7/9), H.Tuha (2/5), D.Levi (1/1)
Saturday, 21 February	Trial 2	Canberra Raiders	Seiffert Oval	26 - 4	A.Uate (3), J.Leilua, A.Clydsdale	T.Roberts (3/3), K.Gidley (0/2)	6,350
Legend:

Regular season

Date	Rd	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday 7 March	1	New Zealand Warriors	Hunter Stadium	24-14^[47]	D. Gagai (2), T. Randell, Robbie Rochow	T. Roberts (3/3) T. Randell (1/1)	16,146
Saturday 14 March	2	North Queensland Cowboys	1300SMILES Stadium	16-14^[48]	J. Leilua (2), A. Uate	T. Roberts (2/3)	13,006
Sunday 22 March	3	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium	20-18^[49]	D. Gagai, B. Scott, J. Smith	T. Roberts (4/4)	6,962
Saturday 28 March	4	Penrith Panthers	Hunter Stadium	26-14^[50]	A. Clydsdale, K. Gidley, C. Houston, A. Uate	T. Roberts (5/5)	20,114
Saturday 4 April	5	St George Illawarra Dragons	Hunter Stadium	0-13^[51]			14,261
Friday 10 April	6	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Remondis Stadium	6-22^[52]	A. Uate	T. Roberts (1/2)	10,054
Sunday 19 April	7	Parramatta Eels	Hunter Stadium	22-28^[53]	D. Gagai, C. Houston, J. McManus, A. Uate	T. Roberts (3/5)	16,953
Saturday 25 April	8	North Queensland Cowboys	Hunter Stadium	24-26^[54]	C. Houston, J. Leilua, S. Mata'utia, A. Uate	T. Roberts (4/4)	15,518
Sunday 10 May	9	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Brookvale Oval	10-30^[55]	J. McManus, T. Sims	T. Roberts (1/2)	10,065^[56]
Sunday 17 May	10	Wests Tigers	Hunter Stadium	22-12^[57]	D. Fa'alogo, J. Leilua, J. McManus, C. Redman	T. Roberts (3/4)	15,573
Monday 25 May	11	Brisbane Broncos	Hunter Stadium	18-31^[58]	J. Leilua, T. Randell, K. Sims	T. Roberts (3/3)	12,673^[59]
Sunday 31 May	12	New Zealand Warriors	Mount Smart Stadium	20-24^[60]	A. Uate (2), D. Gagai, J. McManus	D. Gagai (1/1) T. Randell (1/3)	13,203
Saturday 6 June	13	Canberra Raiders	Hunter Stadium	22-44^[61]	D. Gagai, J. Leilua, S. Mata'utia, A. Uate	K. Gidley (3/4)	13,504
	14	Bye
Sunday 21 June	15	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Hunter Stadium	28-30^[62]	J. Mamo, B. Scott, K. Snowden, C. Tuimavave	K. Gidley (6/6)	14,081
Friday 26 June	16	Brisbane Broncos	Suncorp Stadium	22-44^[63]	D. Gagai, D. Levi, K. Sims, A. Uate	K. Gidley (2/3) D. Gagai(1/1)	27,246
	17	Bye
Friday 10 July	18	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium	22-36^[64]	A. Uate (2), J. McManus, K. Snowden	T. Roberts (3/4)	6,015^[65]
Saturday 18 July	19	Gold Coast Titans	Hunter Stadium	30-2^[66]	K. Gidley, D. Levi, Jake Mamo, J. Mullen, T. Sims	T. Roberts (5/6)	10,546^[67]
Saturday 25 July	20	South Sydney Rabbitohs	ANZ Stadium	6-52^[68]	K. Snowden	T. Roberts	14,603^[69]
Sunday 2 August	21	St George Illawarra Dragons	WIN Jubilee	24-46^[70]	A. Clydsdale, K. Gidley, J. Mamo, T. Randell, N. Ross	T. Roberts (2/5)	10,236
Sunday 9 August	22	Sydney Roosters	Hunter Stadium	22-38^[71]	K. Gidley, S. Mata'utia, J. Smith, J. Tapine	T. Roberts (3/4)	17,718
Saturday 15 August	23	Wests Tigers	Campbelltown Stadium	24-18^[72]	T. Roberts (2), T. Randell, A. Uate	T. Roberts (3/4) K. Gidley (1/1)	10,963
Monday 24 August	24	Melbourne Storm	AAMI Park	20-6^[73]	K. Gidley, T. Roberts, T. Sims	T. Roberts (4/5)	8,743
Saturday 29 August	25	Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs	Hunter Stadium	18-20^[74]	K. Gidley. N. Ross, T. Sims	T. Roberts (2/2) K. Gidley (1/1)	23,605
Saturday 5 September	26	Penrith Panthers	Sportingbet Stadium	12-30	J. Mamo, C. Newton	T. Roberts (1/1)	8,936
Legend:

Statistics

Name	Appearances	Tries	Goals	Points	Captain	Age
	17	2	0	8	0	22
	16	1	0	4	0	35
	1	0	0	0	0	21
	24	7	2	32	0	24
	22	6	13	50	22	33
	22	3	0	12	0	30
	13	6	0	24	0	24
	7	2	0	8	0	20
	9	4	0	16	0	21
	9	0	0	0	0	25
	1	0	0	0	0	23
	22	3	0	12	0	19
	17	5	0	20	0	29
	10	1	0	4	0	28
	10	1	0	4	0	34
	20	4	2	20	0	23
	2	1	0	4	0	23
	21	3	54	120	0	24
	5	1	0	4	0	25
	6	2	0	8	0	27
	18	2	0	8	2	31
	22	2	0	8	0	23
	19	4	0	16	0	25
	17	2	0	8	0	35
	21	3	0	12	0	29
	12	0	0	0	0	23
	13	1	0	4	0	21
	5	1	0	4	0	23
	22	12	0	48	0	28
	5	0	0	0	0	23
Totals	24	79	71	458	-	Average: 26