The Knights completed a huge turnaround this season, improving on their 14th placed standing in 2022 to hosting a home final with a top five finish.
Kalyn Ponga’s late season burst of form was enough to see him earn Dally M Medal Player of the Year honours and the Knights will be counting on him to help ensure the side once again appear in the finals after not finishing higher than seventh in back-to-back seasons since 2002.
How much further can Ponga progress?
What can we expect in 2024 from the reigning Dally M player of the year Kalyn Ponga? After nearly giving the game away due to persistent head knocks, to dominating the back end of the season and guiding the Knights into the finals, expectations will be high for Ponga in 2024. The 25-year-old also announced his self-declared representative hiatus was over, saying he was disappointed not to be considered for Australia’s Pacific Championships campaign. The former Queensland Maroons representative also revealed he was out to claim back his State of Origin jersey from Reece Walsh, ensuring a fun battle for fans to watch during the season as the selection race heats up.
Kalyn Ponga's 2023 Dally M reel
Who will emerge as the next Young talent?
The departure of Dom Young to the Roosters will leave the Knights facing a tough task of finding a suitable replacement on the wing. Young was a strike weapon for the Knights last season, running in 23 tries during the regular season to top the try tally for the team and finish just behind competition leader Jamayne Isaako. The Englishman also scored two tries during the finals series in Newcastle’s win over the Raiders. While his fellow flyer Grey Marzhew found a new lease on life after moving from the Gold Coast to the Hunter and is set to lock up the left side, the Knights will have to audition a number of new talents to try and unearth a player who can deliver them points on the right. After an injury-interrupted start to his career which includes a shoulder reconstruction, youngster Krystian Mapapalangi will be looking to get an opportunity to play more NRL with a strong pre-season, while the Knights have also signed Tom Jenkins from the Panthers.
Mapapalangi: 'We're raising the bar'
Newcastle’s new England connection
Dom Young might have moved on, but the Knights will still have an English connection next season. The club have also signed two rising stars from the Super League in Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce who have shown plenty of promise. While utility Pearce-Paul suffered a toe injury which required surgery, the Knights are hopeful the former Wigan Warriors gun will be available for selection for the early rounds of the 2024 season. Pryce, son of former England back Leon Pryce, can play at five-eighth or fullback, but with Ponga locked in at the back, he might find himself challenging for a spot in the halves.
English recruits report for duty
Half options heating up
Former Panthers halfback Jack Cogger has returned to Newcastle looking to get more game time, with his arrival back at his former club meaning there is more competition for positions come Round 1. Cogger proved a more than capable understudy to Nathan Cleary, filling in with much success when the star half was injured in the early part of the season. With Adam Clune – who last wore the No. 7 jersey for the Knights in the semi-final loss to the Warriors – leaving the club for the Huddersfield Giants, there are some genuine contenders for the six and seven jerseys. Kalyn Ponga started the 2023 season at five-eighth alongside Jackson Hastings at halfback, before Tyson Gamble then moved into the position where he played a key role in helping the Knights to the finals. With a number of players keen to put their best foot forward in the competition for spots, coach Adam O’Brien will be looking forward to the selection headache to come as he attempts to lead his side to back-to-back finals appearances.
Crossland talks first finals week and Raiders challenge
Brailey returns after Phoenix has risen
After originally preparing for 2023 to be another year spent coming off the bench and filling in as needed in the spine, Phoenix Crossland instead became the side’s first choice hooker after Jayden Brailey suffered another unfortunate season-ending ACL injury in April. The versatile Crossland could be another halves contender, but having done such a strong job in the nine this past season, the fight will be well and truly on between him and club captain Brailey, who is on track to return for the 2024 season. “My job has always been to be that utility and fill the gaps where they're needed, so I guess I wouldn’t have expected to be here at the start of the year as far as getting these many minutes and games in,” Crossland told NRL.com in September. “I do see a future as a hooker now. I think nine suits my game and what I like to do.” With these key contenders in the mix, O’Brien has another big choice to make before the opening round match against the Raiders.
