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Newcastle’s new coach faces an old challenge – solving the Knights’ ongoing halves dilemma.
Justin Holbrook takes over from Adam O’Brien at the helm of a club which sunk to the bottom of the ladder last year.
The coach is not the only new face with marquee recruit Dylan Brown and Roosters utility Sandon Smith also brought in as part of Newcastle’s seemingly never-ending search for a functional halves combination.
In theory the only way is up for the team which came last in 2025 but if the forward pack is again shoved aside by opponents and the spine is in a constant state of flux, Holbrook will have little chance of getting the Knights anywhere near the playoff equation.
Here’s how they are lining up heading into Round 1.
Who’s new
Brown’s form was patchy at Parramatta last season after news of his decade-long mega deal at the Knights broke.
While he had a modest impact at club level, his performances for New Zealand in the Pacific Championships were outstanding and he was unlucky not to win the Golden Boot.
Smith departed the Roosters after they signed Daly Cherry-Evans and the Knights see him as a long-term player for them after offering him a four-year deal.
Former Raiders forwards Trey Mooney and Pasami Saulo give the pack a much-needed boost of size.
They have also added prop Lachlan Crouch (Newtown Jets), Dolphins quartet Peter Hola, Matthew Hunter, Asu Kepaoa and Harrison Graham.
Dylan Brown. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Who’s gone?
The biggest loss is Kiwi prop Leo Thompson who was lured to the Bulldogs by a lucrative four-year contract.
His twin, Tyrone, not coincidentally has also hit the road, going back to the NZ rugby ranks.
Jayden Brailey went from captain to being shown the door in the space of 12 months and has found a new home at Canberra.
England second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul (Tigers), veteran Adam Elliott (Rabbitohs) and Jack Hetherington (Storm) have also vacated the pack.
Journeyman half Jack Cogger has returned to Penrith to be Nathan Cleary’s back-up while Jackson Hastings’ hefty contract is no longer on the books after he accepted an offer to go back to the Super League at St Helens.
Key spots to unlock?
Everything that Holbrook does with his team selections needs to be geared towards getting the best out of Kalyn Ponga at fullback.
The club has two of the highest-paid players in the NRL chewing up a significant portion of their salary cap in the skipper and Brown.
Justin Holbrook. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
They will be wearing the No.1 and No.6 jerseys respectively but the success of whoever slots in at half and hooker will determine how far the Knights climb off the bottom rung of the ladder.
Smith is the more accomplished playmaker when it comes to halfback options but Fletcher Sharpe’s rapid rise has been one of the few bright spots in the Hunter in the past couple of seasons.
Shadow appears best suited to fullback or five-eighth and he will probably get first crack at the starting halfback’s role with Smith serving as the bench utility or at hooker if Holbrook opts for Phoenix Crossland at lock.
Round 1 Predicted Team
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Dom Young
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Dylan Brown
7 Fletcher Sharpe
8 Jacob Saifiti
9 Sandon Smith
10 Trey Mooney
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Dylan Lucas
13 Phoenix Crossland
Interchange
14 Tyson Gamble
15 Brodie Jones
16 Mathew Croker
17 Pasami Saulo
18 James Schiller
19 Asu Kepaoa
Other squad members: Wil Sullivan, Cody Hopwood, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, Francis Manuleleua, Jermaine McEwen, Lachlan Crouch, Matt Arthur, Peter Hola, Thomas Cant