Coming off a strong 2014 season, which saw them finish as minor premiers, Newcastle faced a significant roster turnover in 2015. 12 of the 17 players that played in their semi-final loss to the Warriors had moved on. Danny Levi played just 13 NYC games, playing most of 2015 in the NRL and NSW Cup. Sione Mata’utia, who is eligible for Holden Cup next season as well, spent the year in first grade.
Relying on a young halves duo consisting of 18-year olds Brock Lamb and Jack Cogger, the Knights started the year in solid form. They had big home wins over Penrith and the Warriors but they could never find the consistency needed to finish in the top eight. Most wins were followed up by a loss or two. At mid-season they were still very much in finals contention with 6 wins and 6 losses. Following back-to-back wins in Rounds 12 and 13, Newcastle would win just three of their next 11 games. Their finals hopes dashed with a disappointing home loss to the Bulldogs in Round 25. Newcastle introduced 22 debutants in 2015, many still eligible next season, who will be better for the experience in 2016.
Standout Players
In his first full NYC season, Brock Lamb steered the Knights around very well. He led the competition in kicks in play, supports and had 21 try assists and 21 line break assists. Second rower Bradie Smith got through plenty of work each week. He played 23 games and made 768 tackles for an average of 33 per game. Props Josh King and Daniel Saifiti were solid all year. King, who captained the side, averaged 126 metres a game, while Saifiti averaged 137.
Top Pointscorer
Lamb proved to be one of the better goal kickers in the NYC in 2015. His goalkicking accuracy of 77% was the equal-second best of regular goalkickers. He scored nine tries, kicked 51 goals and two field goals for 140 points, finishing as the Knights’ top pointscorer.
Top Tryscorer
Against the Titans in Round 19, Fuaimamao Uta became the fifth player in NYC history to score five tries in a game. The New Zealand-born winger ended his first NYC season as Newcastle’s top tryscorer with 13 tries in 18 games.
Best Win
Round 4 – defeated Penrith 34-8.
While Penrith weren’t quite dominating the competition like they would later in the season, it was still quite the scalp for the Knights early in the year. Danny Levi was the main man, scoring two tries and breaking eight tackles. The 26-point victory was the biggest defeat the Panthers would suffer in 2015.
Graduates
Joe Boyce (2013-2014 – 41 games, 6 tries, 24 points)
A Queensland junior who returned home to make his NRL debut for the Broncos against the Knights in 2015. Boyce was a mainstay in Newcastle’s NYC side for two seasons.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (2013-2014 – 38 games, 14 tries, 56 points)
After graduating to the Knights’ NSW Cup side in 2015, Fitzgibbon made his NRL debut in Round 21. A hard working back rower, he re-signed with the Knights for two years in August.
Danny Levi (2013-2015 – 50 games, 22 tries, 88 points)
A two-time Junior Kiwi and a member of the 2014 NYC Team of the Year, Levi was a bright spot in a poor season from the Knights. He played seven games in his rookie season, scoring two tries.
Chad Redman (2010-2012 – 65 games, 16 tries, 2 goals, 68 points)
Newcastle’s most capped NYC player, Redman made his NRL for the Knights in Round 10 before joining the Titans midway through 2015. An Australian Schoolboy in 2010.
Player to Watch in 2016
Tom Starling won Newcastle’s SG Ball Player of the Year in 2015 and made his Holden Cup debut later in the year, playing five games. A former New South Wales under-16s representative, Starling will be looking to breakout in the NYC next season and make the Knights’ number nine jersey his own.
Representative Honours
Jayden Buttefield – Australian Schoolboys
Jack Cogger – New South Wales under-18s (captained the side)
Brodie Jones – New South Wales under-18s
Brock Lamb – New South Wales under-18s (3 goals, 6 points)
Danny Levi – Junior Kiwis
Luke Yates – New South Wales under-20s
18TH MAN 