Blessed with a litany of quality, the Newcastle Knights enjoyed success at the highest level.
On the back of success, superstars were born that would change the rugby league world forever.
It is those stars that you can expect to see in this, our greatest 17 Newcastle Knights ever.
So, feast your eyes and enjoy, the top 17 Knights players in our view:
- Robbie O’Davis – A dynamic and nifty player from the back, O’Davis had his troubles but was a long time mainstay in the Knights pack. Won the 1997 Clive Churchill Medal.
2. Mark Hughes – A pacey winger turned fullback, Hughes was all about the heart and grit during his career and the Kurri Kurri local was a long fan favourite.
3. Matthew Gidley – One of the best attacking centres we may ever see, a wicked right foot step and a sublime late flick pass that wowed the masses put Gidley in a league of his own.
4. Adam MacDougall – The ‘mad dog’ as they called him, MacDougall loved a good try and enjoyed a successful time at the Knights despite a drug ban.
5. Akuila Uate – The Fijian flyer was an electric player at the peak of his powers, winning three straight Dally M Winger of the Year awards from 2010 to 2012.
6. Matthew Johns – Alongside brother Andrew, the two were the focal points of the Knights attack, and formed a crucial combination.
7. Andrew Johns – Regarded by many as the game’s greatest ever halfback, Johns’ talent was undeniable for the Knights and at all levels.
8. Tony Butterfield – A no-nonsense, steely prop, Butterfield led the way and laid the platform for the Knights engine room.
9. Danny Buderus – A rugged, steely defender, Buderus held down the hooker role at the Knights for years and was always a fan favourite.
10. Paul Harragon – Perhaps the best forward to don the Knights jersey, ‘the Chief’ was a fearless runner of the ball and known for his big hits.
11. Steve Simpson – A strong runner with bruising defence, Simpson’s partnership with Ben Kennedy was a blistering 1-2 punch for the Knights against all opposition.
12. Chris Houston – A hard-working back-rower, Houston become a mainstay of the Knights side for much of his career.
13. Ben Kennedy – A hard-running forward, Kennedy was a great foil in the forward stocks and complemented Simpson and the like consistently.
14. Kurt Gidley – One of the club’s greatest ever, Gidley was a true utility and performed well for Knights at the greatest level.
15. Billy Peden – One of the more underrated players in the Knights roster, Peden was a fierce, loyal yet committed utility that did all the little things to keep the engine running, alongside great defence.
16. Marc Glanville – He wasn’t a flashy forward but he didn’t have to be. Instead, he just went out, did his job and laid the groundwork.
17. Timana Tahu – A talented centre and winger, Tahu enjoyed a prolific try-scoring career with 93 tries coming in just 126 games at the club.
