Latest news with #Knights
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
WATCH: Afghanistan player Mohammad Nabi slammed for a six by son Hassan Eisakhil
In a rare father vs son encounter in cricket, veteran Afghanistan player Mohammad Nabi was welcomed in by his son Hassan Eisakhil with a six in the Mis-e-Ainak Knights vs Amo Sharks match of the Etisalat Shpageeza Cricket League. Ultimately though, Nabi's Knights prevailed over his son's team The Sharks by 5 wickets. Batting first, the Sharks posted 162 runs on the back of a half century by Eisakhil while Naveed Zadran, Khalil Gurbaz and Mujeeb Ur Rahman conjured magic with the ball with terrific spells. However, Khalid Taniwal (56) and Wafiullah Tarakhil's (49) fireworks powered the Knights to a comfortable win. Last year, Nabi had announced that he will retire from the 50-over format after the 2025 Champions Trophy but had taken a U-turn later, saying he wanted to play with his son. ' — Xtra (@123of143) July 22, 2025 'I'm still thinking (about the future). These might not be my last ODIs, I will probably play less ODIs and give chances to the youngsters to build experience. I've discussed with the senior players and in the high-level games, maybe or maybe not, we'll see. It will depend on my fitness,' he had told ICC earlier this year. 'It's my dream (to play for Afghanistan together). Hopefully we can do it. He is doing very well. In the last two games he scored a hundred and 95. He is a hard worker and I'm also pushing him to do work. I want him to make his own goals, if you want to get to be a high-level cricketer, you have to work hard. It's not enough to make 50 or 60, you have to score 100+. He's listening and pushing all the time. When he can talk to me, I try to give him advice to give him confidence for the game,' he had said about his son. Nabi has played for Afghanistan in 173 ODIs, 132 T20Is and 3 Tests. He has 3667 runs and 2237 runs in ODIs and T20Is respectively while also notching up 176 wickets and 97 wickets in the 50-over format and the 20-over format respectively.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
After one game he was rejected by the Knights. It spurred his next 125 NRL appearances
It's the rejection that helped fuel Canberra hooker Tom Starling's NRL career, and countless others as well, including some of his Raiders teammates. Starling made his way through Newcastle's development system before making his NRL debut for the Knights at age 20 in the last round of the 2018 season. It would be the Kincumber Colts junior's only first-grade game for the club. "It was old boys' day, I didn't play too bad. I didn't light the house on fire, but I thought I was going to get a contract out of that," Starling said. "But I didn't hear anything back from them. "I don't know if my manager was sheltering me from it ... but ... I run into [former Knights football manager] Darren Mooney down the beach, he was leaving the club ... and I'm just sort of in no man's land waiting for a call and he goes: 'Have you found anything yet?' "I'm like, 'What do you mean?' And he goes, 'Oh, haven't they told you? They think you're too small and they're going to bring in another [hooker].' "I rang my manager up and said: 'We've got to go find something else'. "At the time I probably used it as motivation, but looking back on it now, they obviously needed to win right away and thought they'd move in a different direction." Starling, who recalled his Newcastle exit on an episode of the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast this week, isn't the first Knights product to go on and have a successful career elsewhere after being overlooked, and he certainly won't be the last. It's the nature of the sport. The Knights have a huge catchment area to potentially draw junior players from, ranging from the Central Coast in the south, the Upper Hunter in the west and up along the coast to the north. The club's modus operandi is to try and find and develop the best of them, but you simply can't keep them all. Knights management have previously said, however, that for a period of time they weren't as focused on their own backyard as they should have been. In recent years, the likes of Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), Kurt Donoghoe (The Dolphins) and Starling's Canberra teammates Zac Hosking and Simi Sasagi have become established NRL players after spending time in Newcastle's development system. All of them have admitted that their Newcastle rejections spurred them on other clubs. Starling, now 27, has played 126 NRL games - all but one of them for Canberra Hosking, 28, was twice named Newcastle's NSW Cup player of the year, but couldn't get a start in first grade and left for Brisbane ahead of the 2022 season where he made his NRL debut that year. He has now played 47 NRL games. Canberra have made somewhat of a habit of signing former Knights players or Hunter products. In addition to Starling, Hosking and Sasagi, the Raiders' top-30 roster features Joseph Tapine, Danny Levi, Hudson Young, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo, who is returning to the Knights next year. Their five-eighth, Ethan Strange, hails from the Central Coast but did not come through the Knights' system. Jake Clydsdale (Scone Thoroughbreds), Kain Anderson (Central Newcastle) and Caleb Garvie (Cessnock Goannas) are playing in Canberra's lower-grade sides. The Raiders have also signed Knights hooker Jayden Brailey for next season. "The Canberra Knights," Young joked about the growing number of former Newcastle players at the club late last year. Starling, who re-signed with Canberra in May until the end of the 2027 season, looks set to go head-to-head this week with the man he will be competing with for the club's No.9 jersey next year. Both he and Brailey have been named at hooker for their respective sides ahead of Sunday's clash in Canberra. Brailey, who has started at hooker in four of Newcastle's past five games, will link with the Raiders for the next two seasons. Owen Pattie is the other emerging rake on Canberra's roster. A win clear at the top of the NRL points table, the Raiders are on an eight-game winning streak and coming off a 40-16 win over Parramatta on Saturday. The Knights, after a 20-15 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, have kept largely the same side for the 2pm match at GIO Stadium. Experienced forward Jack Hetherington has won a recall. He was named on the bench, while Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. Brodie Jones, who was a late withdrawal from the Warriors match - one of a dozen or so Knights players to fall ill on the eve of the game falling a virus outbreak - is in the extended match squad, which also includes Cant, James Schiller, Matt Arthur and Kyle McCarthy. The Knights should take plenty of confidence into the game, having pushed the fourth-placed Warriors all the way and only lost to Canberra 22-18 a month ago. Sasagi, who has mostly been used in the back row this season, will start in the centres against his former team after Raiders back Sebastian Kris (concussion) was ruled out. It's the rejection that helped fuel Canberra hooker Tom Starling's NRL career, and countless others as well, including some of his Raiders teammates. Starling made his way through Newcastle's development system before making his NRL debut for the Knights at age 20 in the last round of the 2018 season. It would be the Kincumber Colts junior's only first-grade game for the club. "It was old boys' day, I didn't play too bad. I didn't light the house on fire, but I thought I was going to get a contract out of that," Starling said. "But I didn't hear anything back from them. "I don't know if my manager was sheltering me from it ... but ... I run into [former Knights football manager] Darren Mooney down the beach, he was leaving the club ... and I'm just sort of in no man's land waiting for a call and he goes: 'Have you found anything yet?' "I'm like, 'What do you mean?' And he goes, 'Oh, haven't they told you? They think you're too small and they're going to bring in another [hooker].' "I rang my manager up and said: 'We've got to go find something else'. "At the time I probably used it as motivation, but looking back on it now, they obviously needed to win right away and thought they'd move in a different direction." Starling, who recalled his Newcastle exit on an episode of the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast this week, isn't the first Knights product to go on and have a successful career elsewhere after being overlooked, and he certainly won't be the last. It's the nature of the sport. The Knights have a huge catchment area to potentially draw junior players from, ranging from the Central Coast in the south, the Upper Hunter in the west and up along the coast to the north. The club's modus operandi is to try and find and develop the best of them, but you simply can't keep them all. Knights management have previously said, however, that for a period of time they weren't as focused on their own backyard as they should have been. In recent years, the likes of Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), Kurt Donoghoe (The Dolphins) and Starling's Canberra teammates Zac Hosking and Simi Sasagi have become established NRL players after spending time in Newcastle's development system. All of them have admitted that their Newcastle rejections spurred them on other clubs. Starling, now 27, has played 126 NRL games - all but one of them for Canberra Hosking, 28, was twice named Newcastle's NSW Cup player of the year, but couldn't get a start in first grade and left for Brisbane ahead of the 2022 season where he made his NRL debut that year. He has now played 47 NRL games. Canberra have made somewhat of a habit of signing former Knights players or Hunter products. In addition to Starling, Hosking and Sasagi, the Raiders' top-30 roster features Joseph Tapine, Danny Levi, Hudson Young, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo, who is returning to the Knights next year. Their five-eighth, Ethan Strange, hails from the Central Coast but did not come through the Knights' system. Jake Clydsdale (Scone Thoroughbreds), Kain Anderson (Central Newcastle) and Caleb Garvie (Cessnock Goannas) are playing in Canberra's lower-grade sides. The Raiders have also signed Knights hooker Jayden Brailey for next season. "The Canberra Knights," Young joked about the growing number of former Newcastle players at the club late last year. Starling, who re-signed with Canberra in May until the end of the 2027 season, looks set to go head-to-head this week with the man he will be competing with for the club's No.9 jersey next year. Both he and Brailey have been named at hooker for their respective sides ahead of Sunday's clash in Canberra. Brailey, who has started at hooker in four of Newcastle's past five games, will link with the Raiders for the next two seasons. Owen Pattie is the other emerging rake on Canberra's roster. A win clear at the top of the NRL points table, the Raiders are on an eight-game winning streak and coming off a 40-16 win over Parramatta on Saturday. The Knights, after a 20-15 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, have kept largely the same side for the 2pm match at GIO Stadium. Experienced forward Jack Hetherington has won a recall. He was named on the bench, while Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. Brodie Jones, who was a late withdrawal from the Warriors match - one of a dozen or so Knights players to fall ill on the eve of the game falling a virus outbreak - is in the extended match squad, which also includes Cant, James Schiller, Matt Arthur and Kyle McCarthy. The Knights should take plenty of confidence into the game, having pushed the fourth-placed Warriors all the way and only lost to Canberra 22-18 a month ago. Sasagi, who has mostly been used in the back row this season, will start in the centres against his former team after Raiders back Sebastian Kris (concussion) was ruled out. It's the rejection that helped fuel Canberra hooker Tom Starling's NRL career, and countless others as well, including some of his Raiders teammates. Starling made his way through Newcastle's development system before making his NRL debut for the Knights at age 20 in the last round of the 2018 season. It would be the Kincumber Colts junior's only first-grade game for the club. "It was old boys' day, I didn't play too bad. I didn't light the house on fire, but I thought I was going to get a contract out of that," Starling said. "But I didn't hear anything back from them. "I don't know if my manager was sheltering me from it ... but ... I run into [former Knights football manager] Darren Mooney down the beach, he was leaving the club ... and I'm just sort of in no man's land waiting for a call and he goes: 'Have you found anything yet?' "I'm like, 'What do you mean?' And he goes, 'Oh, haven't they told you? They think you're too small and they're going to bring in another [hooker].' "I rang my manager up and said: 'We've got to go find something else'. "At the time I probably used it as motivation, but looking back on it now, they obviously needed to win right away and thought they'd move in a different direction." Starling, who recalled his Newcastle exit on an episode of the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast this week, isn't the first Knights product to go on and have a successful career elsewhere after being overlooked, and he certainly won't be the last. It's the nature of the sport. The Knights have a huge catchment area to potentially draw junior players from, ranging from the Central Coast in the south, the Upper Hunter in the west and up along the coast to the north. The club's modus operandi is to try and find and develop the best of them, but you simply can't keep them all. Knights management have previously said, however, that for a period of time they weren't as focused on their own backyard as they should have been. In recent years, the likes of Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), Kurt Donoghoe (The Dolphins) and Starling's Canberra teammates Zac Hosking and Simi Sasagi have become established NRL players after spending time in Newcastle's development system. All of them have admitted that their Newcastle rejections spurred them on other clubs. Starling, now 27, has played 126 NRL games - all but one of them for Canberra Hosking, 28, was twice named Newcastle's NSW Cup player of the year, but couldn't get a start in first grade and left for Brisbane ahead of the 2022 season where he made his NRL debut that year. He has now played 47 NRL games. Canberra have made somewhat of a habit of signing former Knights players or Hunter products. In addition to Starling, Hosking and Sasagi, the Raiders' top-30 roster features Joseph Tapine, Danny Levi, Hudson Young, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo, who is returning to the Knights next year. Their five-eighth, Ethan Strange, hails from the Central Coast but did not come through the Knights' system. Jake Clydsdale (Scone Thoroughbreds), Kain Anderson (Central Newcastle) and Caleb Garvie (Cessnock Goannas) are playing in Canberra's lower-grade sides. The Raiders have also signed Knights hooker Jayden Brailey for next season. "The Canberra Knights," Young joked about the growing number of former Newcastle players at the club late last year. Starling, who re-signed with Canberra in May until the end of the 2027 season, looks set to go head-to-head this week with the man he will be competing with for the club's No.9 jersey next year. Both he and Brailey have been named at hooker for their respective sides ahead of Sunday's clash in Canberra. Brailey, who has started at hooker in four of Newcastle's past five games, will link with the Raiders for the next two seasons. Owen Pattie is the other emerging rake on Canberra's roster. A win clear at the top of the NRL points table, the Raiders are on an eight-game winning streak and coming off a 40-16 win over Parramatta on Saturday. The Knights, after a 20-15 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, have kept largely the same side for the 2pm match at GIO Stadium. Experienced forward Jack Hetherington has won a recall. He was named on the bench, while Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. Brodie Jones, who was a late withdrawal from the Warriors match - one of a dozen or so Knights players to fall ill on the eve of the game falling a virus outbreak - is in the extended match squad, which also includes Cant, James Schiller, Matt Arthur and Kyle McCarthy. The Knights should take plenty of confidence into the game, having pushed the fourth-placed Warriors all the way and only lost to Canberra 22-18 a month ago. Sasagi, who has mostly been used in the back row this season, will start in the centres against his former team after Raiders back Sebastian Kris (concussion) was ruled out. It's the rejection that helped fuel Canberra hooker Tom Starling's NRL career, and countless others as well, including some of his Raiders teammates. Starling made his way through Newcastle's development system before making his NRL debut for the Knights at age 20 in the last round of the 2018 season. It would be the Kincumber Colts junior's only first-grade game for the club. "It was old boys' day, I didn't play too bad. I didn't light the house on fire, but I thought I was going to get a contract out of that," Starling said. "But I didn't hear anything back from them. "I don't know if my manager was sheltering me from it ... but ... I run into [former Knights football manager] Darren Mooney down the beach, he was leaving the club ... and I'm just sort of in no man's land waiting for a call and he goes: 'Have you found anything yet?' "I'm like, 'What do you mean?' And he goes, 'Oh, haven't they told you? They think you're too small and they're going to bring in another [hooker].' "I rang my manager up and said: 'We've got to go find something else'. "At the time I probably used it as motivation, but looking back on it now, they obviously needed to win right away and thought they'd move in a different direction." Starling, who recalled his Newcastle exit on an episode of the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast this week, isn't the first Knights product to go on and have a successful career elsewhere after being overlooked, and he certainly won't be the last. It's the nature of the sport. The Knights have a huge catchment area to potentially draw junior players from, ranging from the Central Coast in the south, the Upper Hunter in the west and up along the coast to the north. The club's modus operandi is to try and find and develop the best of them, but you simply can't keep them all. Knights management have previously said, however, that for a period of time they weren't as focused on their own backyard as they should have been. In recent years, the likes of Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), Kurt Donoghoe (The Dolphins) and Starling's Canberra teammates Zac Hosking and Simi Sasagi have become established NRL players after spending time in Newcastle's development system. All of them have admitted that their Newcastle rejections spurred them on other clubs. Starling, now 27, has played 126 NRL games - all but one of them for Canberra Hosking, 28, was twice named Newcastle's NSW Cup player of the year, but couldn't get a start in first grade and left for Brisbane ahead of the 2022 season where he made his NRL debut that year. He has now played 47 NRL games. Canberra have made somewhat of a habit of signing former Knights players or Hunter products. In addition to Starling, Hosking and Sasagi, the Raiders' top-30 roster features Joseph Tapine, Danny Levi, Hudson Young, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo, who is returning to the Knights next year. Their five-eighth, Ethan Strange, hails from the Central Coast but did not come through the Knights' system. Jake Clydsdale (Scone Thoroughbreds), Kain Anderson (Central Newcastle) and Caleb Garvie (Cessnock Goannas) are playing in Canberra's lower-grade sides. The Raiders have also signed Knights hooker Jayden Brailey for next season. "The Canberra Knights," Young joked about the growing number of former Newcastle players at the club late last year. Starling, who re-signed with Canberra in May until the end of the 2027 season, looks set to go head-to-head this week with the man he will be competing with for the club's No.9 jersey next year. Both he and Brailey have been named at hooker for their respective sides ahead of Sunday's clash in Canberra. Brailey, who has started at hooker in four of Newcastle's past five games, will link with the Raiders for the next two seasons. Owen Pattie is the other emerging rake on Canberra's roster. A win clear at the top of the NRL points table, the Raiders are on an eight-game winning streak and coming off a 40-16 win over Parramatta on Saturday. The Knights, after a 20-15 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, have kept largely the same side for the 2pm match at GIO Stadium. Experienced forward Jack Hetherington has won a recall. He was named on the bench, while Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. Brodie Jones, who was a late withdrawal from the Warriors match - one of a dozen or so Knights players to fall ill on the eve of the game falling a virus outbreak - is in the extended match squad, which also includes Cant, James Schiller, Matt Arthur and Kyle McCarthy. The Knights should take plenty of confidence into the game, having pushed the fourth-placed Warriors all the way and only lost to Canberra 22-18 a month ago. Sasagi, who has mostly been used in the back row this season, will start in the centres against his former team after Raiders back Sebastian Kris (concussion) was ruled out.
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Knights set to confirm major leadership shake-up
The Newcastle Knights are set to announce Peter Parr's elevation to chief executive officer as club powerbroker Philip Gardner steps aside from the role. In changes to be made official on Wednesday, Parr will become CEO of the Knights from November 1. Gardner has held the job since Wests Group assumed control of the Knights in late 2017, but his dual CEO roles, of the Knights and Wests Group, are set to be split. The Knights have confirmed Parr's promotion in an email to club partners, and Knights staff were informed of the changes on Tuesday. A born-and-bred Novocastrian, Parr joined the Knights as football director in mid-2022 after more than two decades with the North Queensland Cowboys, where he held various roles including CEO. He has overseen Newcastle's football department since then, but his duties slightly shifted after the appointment of Chris James last year as football manager. James will become football director once Parr starts as CEO. The changes are part of the club's long-term transition plan. Gardner will remain CEO of Wests Group, continuing to oversee the $100 million hospitality and licensed club empire. He is expected to retire from that role, which he has held since 1995, late next year. As CEO, Gardner has steered the Knights into a new era under Wests Group's ownership. The Knights had run last three years in a row when Wests took over. On-field results have steadily improved with Newcastle making the finals in four of the past five NRL seasons. The club moved into a new training base, worth more than $25 million, at Broadmeadow in 2022 and the football department is now well resourced. Newcastle also launched a women's side in that time, and won back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022-23. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. The club has come under the spotlight more than once for various reasons. It has been criticised at times, fairly or unfairly, for its lack of football nous at board and leadership level, turnover of staff, roster management and junior development. Just last week, the media blowtorch was applied once more when reports emerged that the club was considering moving NRL coach Adam O'Brien on at season's end, and skipper Kalyn Ponga was considering his options. Both are contracted for a further two years. Ponga said in a statement last week that he remained "committed" to the club for that time. O'Brien's NRL side has won six of 18 games this season. Newcastle take on competition leaders Canberra in the nation's capital on Sunday. O'Brien has made just one change to his side that lost to the Warriors 20-15 at the weekend, recalling experienced forward Jack Hetherington. Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. The Newcastle Knights are set to announce Peter Parr's elevation to chief executive officer as club powerbroker Philip Gardner steps aside from the role. In changes to be made official on Wednesday, Parr will become CEO of the Knights from November 1. Gardner has held the job since Wests Group assumed control of the Knights in late 2017, but his dual CEO roles, of the Knights and Wests Group, are set to be split. The Knights have confirmed Parr's promotion in an email to club partners, and Knights staff were informed of the changes on Tuesday. A born-and-bred Novocastrian, Parr joined the Knights as football director in mid-2022 after more than two decades with the North Queensland Cowboys, where he held various roles including CEO. He has overseen Newcastle's football department since then, but his duties slightly shifted after the appointment of Chris James last year as football manager. James will become football director once Parr starts as CEO. The changes are part of the club's long-term transition plan. Gardner will remain CEO of Wests Group, continuing to oversee the $100 million hospitality and licensed club empire. He is expected to retire from that role, which he has held since 1995, late next year. As CEO, Gardner has steered the Knights into a new era under Wests Group's ownership. The Knights had run last three years in a row when Wests took over. On-field results have steadily improved with Newcastle making the finals in four of the past five NRL seasons. The club moved into a new training base, worth more than $25 million, at Broadmeadow in 2022 and the football department is now well resourced. Newcastle also launched a women's side in that time, and won back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022-23. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. The club has come under the spotlight more than once for various reasons. It has been criticised at times, fairly or unfairly, for its lack of football nous at board and leadership level, turnover of staff, roster management and junior development. Just last week, the media blowtorch was applied once more when reports emerged that the club was considering moving NRL coach Adam O'Brien on at season's end, and skipper Kalyn Ponga was considering his options. Both are contracted for a further two years. Ponga said in a statement last week that he remained "committed" to the club for that time. O'Brien's NRL side has won six of 18 games this season. Newcastle take on competition leaders Canberra in the nation's capital on Sunday. O'Brien has made just one change to his side that lost to the Warriors 20-15 at the weekend, recalling experienced forward Jack Hetherington. Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. The Newcastle Knights are set to announce Peter Parr's elevation to chief executive officer as club powerbroker Philip Gardner steps aside from the role. In changes to be made official on Wednesday, Parr will become CEO of the Knights from November 1. Gardner has held the job since Wests Group assumed control of the Knights in late 2017, but his dual CEO roles, of the Knights and Wests Group, are set to be split. The Knights have confirmed Parr's promotion in an email to club partners, and Knights staff were informed of the changes on Tuesday. A born-and-bred Novocastrian, Parr joined the Knights as football director in mid-2022 after more than two decades with the North Queensland Cowboys, where he held various roles including CEO. He has overseen Newcastle's football department since then, but his duties slightly shifted after the appointment of Chris James last year as football manager. James will become football director once Parr starts as CEO. The changes are part of the club's long-term transition plan. Gardner will remain CEO of Wests Group, continuing to oversee the $100 million hospitality and licensed club empire. He is expected to retire from that role, which he has held since 1995, late next year. As CEO, Gardner has steered the Knights into a new era under Wests Group's ownership. The Knights had run last three years in a row when Wests took over. On-field results have steadily improved with Newcastle making the finals in four of the past five NRL seasons. The club moved into a new training base, worth more than $25 million, at Broadmeadow in 2022 and the football department is now well resourced. Newcastle also launched a women's side in that time, and won back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022-23. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. The club has come under the spotlight more than once for various reasons. It has been criticised at times, fairly or unfairly, for its lack of football nous at board and leadership level, turnover of staff, roster management and junior development. Just last week, the media blowtorch was applied once more when reports emerged that the club was considering moving NRL coach Adam O'Brien on at season's end, and skipper Kalyn Ponga was considering his options. Both are contracted for a further two years. Ponga said in a statement last week that he remained "committed" to the club for that time. O'Brien's NRL side has won six of 18 games this season. Newcastle take on competition leaders Canberra in the nation's capital on Sunday. O'Brien has made just one change to his side that lost to the Warriors 20-15 at the weekend, recalling experienced forward Jack Hetherington. Tom Cant has dropped out of the side. The Newcastle Knights are set to announce Peter Parr's elevation to chief executive officer as club powerbroker Philip Gardner steps aside from the role. In changes to be made official on Wednesday, Parr will become CEO of the Knights from November 1. Gardner has held the job since Wests Group assumed control of the Knights in late 2017, but his dual CEO roles, of the Knights and Wests Group, are set to be split. The Knights have confirmed Parr's promotion in an email to club partners, and Knights staff were informed of the changes on Tuesday. A born-and-bred Novocastrian, Parr joined the Knights as football director in mid-2022 after more than two decades with the North Queensland Cowboys, where he held various roles including CEO. He has overseen Newcastle's football department since then, but his duties slightly shifted after the appointment of Chris James last year as football manager. James will become football director once Parr starts as CEO. The changes are part of the club's long-term transition plan. Gardner will remain CEO of Wests Group, continuing to oversee the $100 million hospitality and licensed club empire. He is expected to retire from that role, which he has held since 1995, late next year. As CEO, Gardner has steered the Knights into a new era under Wests Group's ownership. The Knights had run last three years in a row when Wests took over. On-field results have steadily improved with Newcastle making the finals in four of the past five NRL seasons. The club moved into a new training base, worth more than $25 million, at Broadmeadow in 2022 and the football department is now well resourced. Newcastle also launched a women's side in that time, and won back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022-23. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. The club has come under the spotlight more than once for various reasons. It has been criticised at times, fairly or unfairly, for its lack of football nous at board and leadership level, turnover of staff, roster management and junior development. Just last week, the media blowtorch was applied once more when reports emerged that the club was considering moving NRL coach Adam O'Brien on at season's end, and skipper Kalyn Ponga was considering his options. Both are contracted for a further two years. Ponga said in a statement last week that he remained "committed" to the club for that time. O'Brien's NRL side has won six of 18 games this season. Newcastle take on competition leaders Canberra in the nation's capital on Sunday. O'Brien has made just one change to his side that lost to the Warriors 20-15 at the weekend, recalling experienced forward Jack Hetherington. Tom Cant has dropped out of the side.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
First look at Newcastle Knights Indigenous round jersey honouring Hunter's culture
The Newcastle Knights will run out during this season's Indigenous round in a kit emblazoned with the Hunter's heritage. "Nginhabulagu", which translates to 'belonging' in Wiradjuri, is the name that Hunter artist Renae Lamb has given to her designs featured on the team's kit, which depict motifs of men, women and children united by culture and their team. "My dad always told me to be proud of who you are and that when you go out there on the field, always remember your identity," Knights forward Jermaine McEwen said. "Representing my culture on Indigenous round is very special to me." Ms Lamb, a Wiradjuri and Wongaibon woman from the Wonnarua, Awabakal, and Worimi communities, said her design included the image of a shield representing strength and identity, circular meeting places to represent the Knight uniting on Awabakal country, and motifs in golds representing connection and legacy for the players and fans. The NRL's Indigenous round will run across two consecutive rounds this season, for the first time. Rounds 23 and 24 will see the Knights take on the Panthers on August 8 at McDonald Jones stadium, and the Cowboys on August 17 in Townsville. "I hold so much pride in being Aboriginal, and sharing that helps the younger generation be more comfortable and be prouder of where they come from," Knights NRLW star Evah McEwan. "It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to my family" representing my culture on Indigenous round." Ms Lamb, who is also the CEO and founder of Midnight Dreaming Studio, where her work is driven by a desire to create equity, equality, and acceptance for Indigenous people, said the kit design reflected the pride, spirit, and enduring legacy of Indigenous players who carried their families, culture, and communities with them. The Newcastle Knights will run out during this season's Indigenous round in a kit emblazoned with the Hunter's heritage. "Nginhabulagu", which translates to 'belonging' in Wiradjuri, is the name that Hunter artist Renae Lamb has given to her designs featured on the team's kit, which depict motifs of men, women and children united by culture and their team. "My dad always told me to be proud of who you are and that when you go out there on the field, always remember your identity," Knights forward Jermaine McEwen said. "Representing my culture on Indigenous round is very special to me." Ms Lamb, a Wiradjuri and Wongaibon woman from the Wonnarua, Awabakal, and Worimi communities, said her design included the image of a shield representing strength and identity, circular meeting places to represent the Knight uniting on Awabakal country, and motifs in golds representing connection and legacy for the players and fans. The NRL's Indigenous round will run across two consecutive rounds this season, for the first time. Rounds 23 and 24 will see the Knights take on the Panthers on August 8 at McDonald Jones stadium, and the Cowboys on August 17 in Townsville. "I hold so much pride in being Aboriginal, and sharing that helps the younger generation be more comfortable and be prouder of where they come from," Knights NRLW star Evah McEwan. "It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to my family" representing my culture on Indigenous round." Ms Lamb, who is also the CEO and founder of Midnight Dreaming Studio, where her work is driven by a desire to create equity, equality, and acceptance for Indigenous people, said the kit design reflected the pride, spirit, and enduring legacy of Indigenous players who carried their families, culture, and communities with them. The Newcastle Knights will run out during this season's Indigenous round in a kit emblazoned with the Hunter's heritage. "Nginhabulagu", which translates to 'belonging' in Wiradjuri, is the name that Hunter artist Renae Lamb has given to her designs featured on the team's kit, which depict motifs of men, women and children united by culture and their team. "My dad always told me to be proud of who you are and that when you go out there on the field, always remember your identity," Knights forward Jermaine McEwen said. "Representing my culture on Indigenous round is very special to me." Ms Lamb, a Wiradjuri and Wongaibon woman from the Wonnarua, Awabakal, and Worimi communities, said her design included the image of a shield representing strength and identity, circular meeting places to represent the Knight uniting on Awabakal country, and motifs in golds representing connection and legacy for the players and fans. The NRL's Indigenous round will run across two consecutive rounds this season, for the first time. Rounds 23 and 24 will see the Knights take on the Panthers on August 8 at McDonald Jones stadium, and the Cowboys on August 17 in Townsville. "I hold so much pride in being Aboriginal, and sharing that helps the younger generation be more comfortable and be prouder of where they come from," Knights NRLW star Evah McEwan. "It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to my family" representing my culture on Indigenous round." Ms Lamb, who is also the CEO and founder of Midnight Dreaming Studio, where her work is driven by a desire to create equity, equality, and acceptance for Indigenous people, said the kit design reflected the pride, spirit, and enduring legacy of Indigenous players who carried their families, culture, and communities with them. The Newcastle Knights will run out during this season's Indigenous round in a kit emblazoned with the Hunter's heritage. "Nginhabulagu", which translates to 'belonging' in Wiradjuri, is the name that Hunter artist Renae Lamb has given to her designs featured on the team's kit, which depict motifs of men, women and children united by culture and their team. "My dad always told me to be proud of who you are and that when you go out there on the field, always remember your identity," Knights forward Jermaine McEwen said. "Representing my culture on Indigenous round is very special to me." Ms Lamb, a Wiradjuri and Wongaibon woman from the Wonnarua, Awabakal, and Worimi communities, said her design included the image of a shield representing strength and identity, circular meeting places to represent the Knight uniting on Awabakal country, and motifs in golds representing connection and legacy for the players and fans. The NRL's Indigenous round will run across two consecutive rounds this season, for the first time. Rounds 23 and 24 will see the Knights take on the Panthers on August 8 at McDonald Jones stadium, and the Cowboys on August 17 in Townsville. "I hold so much pride in being Aboriginal, and sharing that helps the younger generation be more comfortable and be prouder of where they come from," Knights NRLW star Evah McEwan. "It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to my family" representing my culture on Indigenous round." Ms Lamb, who is also the CEO and founder of Midnight Dreaming Studio, where her work is driven by a desire to create equity, equality, and acceptance for Indigenous people, said the kit design reflected the pride, spirit, and enduring legacy of Indigenous players who carried their families, culture, and communities with them.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Knights overpower Warriors in first home game of season
The Knights have marked their first home game of the NRLW season with a 36-20 win over the New Zealand Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday night. It was a night of firsts for the hosts. First time Newcastle's NRLW side matched their male counterparts and donned the iconic hi-vis jerseys in Voice for Mining Round. First time facing their former coach Ronald Griffiths, who guided the Knights to back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023. And, they were up for a big night. Newcastle shot out of the blocks and set up the 16-point victory with a dominant first half. The Knights led 24-6 after an almost flawless first 35 minutes, in which they held 68 per cent of possession and completed 15 of their 18 sets compared to the Warriors' seven from 10. "It was good. We just stuck to the game plan and they come up with a few tries, so really good to see them play some football," Knights coach Ben Jeffries said of the first half. Newcastle ran in four tries through four different scorers before the visitors, who were totally outplayed for most part of the first half, struck back through winger Payton Takimoana with three minutes remaining until the break. The second half was a more even affair but never got closer than a 14-point game. "Credit to them, they came out and played the second half, but I thought we had a few lapses," Jeffries said. "Defensively, I didn't think we probably aimed up how we were in the first half, but we had a lot of ball in the first half too, so it equalled out a bit by the end of the game. "By our standards, the girls won't be happy with some of the vision, but, at the end of the day, a win's a win and we'll move forward to Parramatta next week." In all, there were six different tryscorers for the Knights. Newcastle prop Kayla Romaniuk dragged three players across the line to score next to the right upright in the ninth minute. England international Georgia Roche broke the line with a darting run two minutes later before sending her captain, Yasmin Clydsdale, across for a try. Tess Staines, who demanded her first start for the Knights after producing two four-try hauls in two reserve-grade matches and replaced Lilly-Ann White on the wing, scored in the left corner in the 20th minute after a slick, sweeping move across the field from the home side. New Zealand rugby sevens star Tenika Willison extended the advantage when she timed her run to perfection to get onto the end of halfback Jesse Southwell's incisive, angled grubber kick in the 27th minute. Southwell kicked all four conversion attempts in the first half, while Patricia Maliepo was successful with hers for the Warriors. New Zealand closed the gap to 14 points three minutes into the second half after an early penalty for contact on the kicker put them within 20 metres of the try line. The Warriors, back in the competition after a five-season absence, spread the ball quickly and outnumbered the Knights to again put away Takimoana in the left corner. Maliepo missed her conversion and the opportunity to make it a two-converted-try game. Interchange hooker Jules Kirkpatrick gave the Knights a bit more breathing space with a darting run out of dummy-half to score from close range in the 50th minute. Southwell's conversion from directly in front gave Newcastle a 20-point lead. Five minutes later, Southwell then put Evah McEwen into a gap and the teenage second-rower powered to the try line. Southwell's conversion made it 36-10. "We've been working really hard at training on combinations, and it's still really early in the season, but it's good to see six individuals score a try, and Tess making her Knights debut and scoring on debut," Jeffries said. Takimoana made it a treble of tries when the Knights were again outnumbered on their right edge with nine minutes remaining and Maliepo converted from the sideline. The Warriors kept coming, and scored again with four minutes remaining, this time in the right corner through lightning-quick New Zealand rugby sevens star Michaela Brake. The kick was unsuccessful. The Knights were beaten 26-12 by newcomers Canterbury in round one but produced a strong performance to down North Queensland 26-6 in Townsville in round two. Newcastle next face Parramatta on the road next Sunday before returning home for the NRLW's first Magic Round. The match was the second of a Knights double-header and followed Newcastle's dramatic 20-15 loss to the Warriors in the earlier NRL exchange. The Knights have marked their first home game of the NRLW season with a 36-20 win over the New Zealand Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday night. It was a night of firsts for the hosts. First time Newcastle's NRLW side matched their male counterparts and donned the iconic hi-vis jerseys in Voice for Mining Round. First time facing their former coach Ronald Griffiths, who guided the Knights to back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023. And, they were up for a big night. Newcastle shot out of the blocks and set up the 16-point victory with a dominant first half. The Knights led 24-6 after an almost flawless first 35 minutes, in which they held 68 per cent of possession and completed 15 of their 18 sets compared to the Warriors' seven from 10. "It was good. We just stuck to the game plan and they come up with a few tries, so really good to see them play some football," Knights coach Ben Jeffries said of the first half. Newcastle ran in four tries through four different scorers before the visitors, who were totally outplayed for most part of the first half, struck back through winger Payton Takimoana with three minutes remaining until the break. The second half was a more even affair but never got closer than a 14-point game. "Credit to them, they came out and played the second half, but I thought we had a few lapses," Jeffries said. "Defensively, I didn't think we probably aimed up how we were in the first half, but we had a lot of ball in the first half too, so it equalled out a bit by the end of the game. "By our standards, the girls won't be happy with some of the vision, but, at the end of the day, a win's a win and we'll move forward to Parramatta next week." In all, there were six different tryscorers for the Knights. Newcastle prop Kayla Romaniuk dragged three players across the line to score next to the right upright in the ninth minute. England international Georgia Roche broke the line with a darting run two minutes later before sending her captain, Yasmin Clydsdale, across for a try. Tess Staines, who demanded her first start for the Knights after producing two four-try hauls in two reserve-grade matches and replaced Lilly-Ann White on the wing, scored in the left corner in the 20th minute after a slick, sweeping move across the field from the home side. New Zealand rugby sevens star Tenika Willison extended the advantage when she timed her run to perfection to get onto the end of halfback Jesse Southwell's incisive, angled grubber kick in the 27th minute. Southwell kicked all four conversion attempts in the first half, while Patricia Maliepo was successful with hers for the Warriors. New Zealand closed the gap to 14 points three minutes into the second half after an early penalty for contact on the kicker put them within 20 metres of the try line. The Warriors, back in the competition after a five-season absence, spread the ball quickly and outnumbered the Knights to again put away Takimoana in the left corner. Maliepo missed her conversion and the opportunity to make it a two-converted-try game. Interchange hooker Jules Kirkpatrick gave the Knights a bit more breathing space with a darting run out of dummy-half to score from close range in the 50th minute. Southwell's conversion from directly in front gave Newcastle a 20-point lead. Five minutes later, Southwell then put Evah McEwen into a gap and the teenage second-rower powered to the try line. Southwell's conversion made it 36-10. "We've been working really hard at training on combinations, and it's still really early in the season, but it's good to see six individuals score a try, and Tess making her Knights debut and scoring on debut," Jeffries said. Takimoana made it a treble of tries when the Knights were again outnumbered on their right edge with nine minutes remaining and Maliepo converted from the sideline. The Warriors kept coming, and scored again with four minutes remaining, this time in the right corner through lightning-quick New Zealand rugby sevens star Michaela Brake. The kick was unsuccessful. The Knights were beaten 26-12 by newcomers Canterbury in round one but produced a strong performance to down North Queensland 26-6 in Townsville in round two. Newcastle next face Parramatta on the road next Sunday before returning home for the NRLW's first Magic Round. The match was the second of a Knights double-header and followed Newcastle's dramatic 20-15 loss to the Warriors in the earlier NRL exchange. The Knights have marked their first home game of the NRLW season with a 36-20 win over the New Zealand Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday night. It was a night of firsts for the hosts. First time Newcastle's NRLW side matched their male counterparts and donned the iconic hi-vis jerseys in Voice for Mining Round. First time facing their former coach Ronald Griffiths, who guided the Knights to back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023. And, they were up for a big night. Newcastle shot out of the blocks and set up the 16-point victory with a dominant first half. The Knights led 24-6 after an almost flawless first 35 minutes, in which they held 68 per cent of possession and completed 15 of their 18 sets compared to the Warriors' seven from 10. "It was good. We just stuck to the game plan and they come up with a few tries, so really good to see them play some football," Knights coach Ben Jeffries said of the first half. Newcastle ran in four tries through four different scorers before the visitors, who were totally outplayed for most part of the first half, struck back through winger Payton Takimoana with three minutes remaining until the break. The second half was a more even affair but never got closer than a 14-point game. "Credit to them, they came out and played the second half, but I thought we had a few lapses," Jeffries said. "Defensively, I didn't think we probably aimed up how we were in the first half, but we had a lot of ball in the first half too, so it equalled out a bit by the end of the game. "By our standards, the girls won't be happy with some of the vision, but, at the end of the day, a win's a win and we'll move forward to Parramatta next week." In all, there were six different tryscorers for the Knights. Newcastle prop Kayla Romaniuk dragged three players across the line to score next to the right upright in the ninth minute. England international Georgia Roche broke the line with a darting run two minutes later before sending her captain, Yasmin Clydsdale, across for a try. Tess Staines, who demanded her first start for the Knights after producing two four-try hauls in two reserve-grade matches and replaced Lilly-Ann White on the wing, scored in the left corner in the 20th minute after a slick, sweeping move across the field from the home side. New Zealand rugby sevens star Tenika Willison extended the advantage when she timed her run to perfection to get onto the end of halfback Jesse Southwell's incisive, angled grubber kick in the 27th minute. Southwell kicked all four conversion attempts in the first half, while Patricia Maliepo was successful with hers for the Warriors. New Zealand closed the gap to 14 points three minutes into the second half after an early penalty for contact on the kicker put them within 20 metres of the try line. The Warriors, back in the competition after a five-season absence, spread the ball quickly and outnumbered the Knights to again put away Takimoana in the left corner. Maliepo missed her conversion and the opportunity to make it a two-converted-try game. Interchange hooker Jules Kirkpatrick gave the Knights a bit more breathing space with a darting run out of dummy-half to score from close range in the 50th minute. Southwell's conversion from directly in front gave Newcastle a 20-point lead. Five minutes later, Southwell then put Evah McEwen into a gap and the teenage second-rower powered to the try line. Southwell's conversion made it 36-10. "We've been working really hard at training on combinations, and it's still really early in the season, but it's good to see six individuals score a try, and Tess making her Knights debut and scoring on debut," Jeffries said. Takimoana made it a treble of tries when the Knights were again outnumbered on their right edge with nine minutes remaining and Maliepo converted from the sideline. The Warriors kept coming, and scored again with four minutes remaining, this time in the right corner through lightning-quick New Zealand rugby sevens star Michaela Brake. The kick was unsuccessful. The Knights were beaten 26-12 by newcomers Canterbury in round one but produced a strong performance to down North Queensland 26-6 in Townsville in round two. Newcastle next face Parramatta on the road next Sunday before returning home for the NRLW's first Magic Round. The match was the second of a Knights double-header and followed Newcastle's dramatic 20-15 loss to the Warriors in the earlier NRL exchange. The Knights have marked their first home game of the NRLW season with a 36-20 win over the New Zealand Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday night. It was a night of firsts for the hosts. First time Newcastle's NRLW side matched their male counterparts and donned the iconic hi-vis jerseys in Voice for Mining Round. First time facing their former coach Ronald Griffiths, who guided the Knights to back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023. And, they were up for a big night. Newcastle shot out of the blocks and set up the 16-point victory with a dominant first half. The Knights led 24-6 after an almost flawless first 35 minutes, in which they held 68 per cent of possession and completed 15 of their 18 sets compared to the Warriors' seven from 10. "It was good. We just stuck to the game plan and they come up with a few tries, so really good to see them play some football," Knights coach Ben Jeffries said of the first half. Newcastle ran in four tries through four different scorers before the visitors, who were totally outplayed for most part of the first half, struck back through winger Payton Takimoana with three minutes remaining until the break. The second half was a more even affair but never got closer than a 14-point game. "Credit to them, they came out and played the second half, but I thought we had a few lapses," Jeffries said. "Defensively, I didn't think we probably aimed up how we were in the first half, but we had a lot of ball in the first half too, so it equalled out a bit by the end of the game. "By our standards, the girls won't be happy with some of the vision, but, at the end of the day, a win's a win and we'll move forward to Parramatta next week." In all, there were six different tryscorers for the Knights. Newcastle prop Kayla Romaniuk dragged three players across the line to score next to the right upright in the ninth minute. England international Georgia Roche broke the line with a darting run two minutes later before sending her captain, Yasmin Clydsdale, across for a try. Tess Staines, who demanded her first start for the Knights after producing two four-try hauls in two reserve-grade matches and replaced Lilly-Ann White on the wing, scored in the left corner in the 20th minute after a slick, sweeping move across the field from the home side. New Zealand rugby sevens star Tenika Willison extended the advantage when she timed her run to perfection to get onto the end of halfback Jesse Southwell's incisive, angled grubber kick in the 27th minute. Southwell kicked all four conversion attempts in the first half, while Patricia Maliepo was successful with hers for the Warriors. New Zealand closed the gap to 14 points three minutes into the second half after an early penalty for contact on the kicker put them within 20 metres of the try line. The Warriors, back in the competition after a five-season absence, spread the ball quickly and outnumbered the Knights to again put away Takimoana in the left corner. Maliepo missed her conversion and the opportunity to make it a two-converted-try game. Interchange hooker Jules Kirkpatrick gave the Knights a bit more breathing space with a darting run out of dummy-half to score from close range in the 50th minute. Southwell's conversion from directly in front gave Newcastle a 20-point lead. Five minutes later, Southwell then put Evah McEwen into a gap and the teenage second-rower powered to the try line. Southwell's conversion made it 36-10. "We've been working really hard at training on combinations, and it's still really early in the season, but it's good to see six individuals score a try, and Tess making her Knights debut and scoring on debut," Jeffries said. Takimoana made it a treble of tries when the Knights were again outnumbered on their right edge with nine minutes remaining and Maliepo converted from the sideline. The Warriors kept coming, and scored again with four minutes remaining, this time in the right corner through lightning-quick New Zealand rugby sevens star Michaela Brake. The kick was unsuccessful. The Knights were beaten 26-12 by newcomers Canterbury in round one but produced a strong performance to down North Queensland 26-6 in Townsville in round two. Newcastle next face Parramatta on the road next Sunday before returning home for the NRLW's first Magic Round. The match was the second of a Knights double-header and followed Newcastle's dramatic 20-15 loss to the Warriors in the earlier NRL exchange.
