Club Records /

Key Information

Club Records 1988-2020

Colours: Red and blue

Emblem: Knight

Year entered premiership: 1988 (A team from the Newcastle and Hunter district played in the NSWRL premiership in 1908‑09, figuring in the 1909 semi‑finals. The side wore colours of red and white. They withdrew in 1910 when a district competition was established in Newcastle).

First match: March 5, 1988, lost 4-28 v Parramatta, Newcastle International Sports Centre

First team: Glenn Frendo; Brian Quinton, Gavin Hanrahan, Glenn Miller, Rod Whitaker; Robbie Tew, Steve Walters; David Boyd, Sam Stewart (c), Michael McKiernan, David Thorne, Tony Townsend, Tony Butterfield. Replacements: Scott Carter for Townsend, George Mann for McKiernan, Tea Ropati for Stewart, Peter Malcolm for Thorne. Coach: Allan McMahon.

First try: Brian Quinton (v Wests, Orana Park, March 13, 1988)

Full premiership record: Played 800, won 376, lost 407, drawn 17, byes 35, for 16,229 (2,798 tries, 2,480 goals, 77 field goals), against 17,030 (2,937 tries, 2,604 goals, 74 field goals), points 815. Winning percentage: 47.0%.

Home ground: McDonald Jones Stadium (1988-20)

Note: McDonald Jones Stadium known as Newcastle International Sports Ground 1988-91, Marathon Stadium 1992-2001, EnergyAustralia Stadium 1988-2010, Ausgrid Stadium 2011-12, Hunter Stadium 2013-16

Home ground attendance record: 32,642, Newcastle v Manly, Marathon Stadium, July 21, 1995

Average home crowds 2020: n/a (due to COVID-19 restrictions, spectators were prevented from attending matches until Round 7, when limits were imposed on attendances which remained until the end of the season)

Record average home crowds: 22,018 in 1990

Major sponsors: Henny Penny (1988-90), BP (1991-93), Stockland (1995-97), Impulse Airlines (1998-2001), Flight Centre (2001), Qantas Link (2002-04), Coal and Allied (2005-11), Hunter Ports (2012-14), Newpave Asphalt (2015-16), nib Health Insurance (2017-20)

Team Records

First Grade (2): 1997, 2001

Sevens (2): 1991, 1996

Reserve Grade (2): 1995, 2015 (NSW Cup)

Club Championship (1): 1992

Biggest wins

• 60-0 v South Sydney, Marathon Stadium, August 8, 1999
• 56-6 v Wests Tigers, Marathon Stadium, April 22, 2001
• 54-6 v St George Illawarra, WIN Stadium, April 8, 2006
• 54-6 v Parramatta, Hunter Stadium, September 8, 2013
• 52-6 v Canberra, EnergyAustralia Stadium, April 7, 2002

Highest score: 70, Newcastle 70, Canberra 32, Canberra Stadium, March 19, 2006

Most consecutive wins: 11, August 25, 2001 to April 19, 2002

Biggest comeback: Recovered from 18-point deficit to win (three times). Trailed Parramatta 18-0 after 18 minutes at Sydney Football Stadium on September 7, 1997 and won 28-20 (qualifying final). Trailed Brisbane 22-4 after 44 minutes at Marathon Stadium on June 4, 2000 and won 26-22. Trailed the Warriors 18-0 after 28 minutes at Mt Smart Stadium on July 21, 2012 and won 24-19.

Biggest losses:

• 71-6 v Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium, May 27, 2007 (also highest score conceded)
• 62-0 v Cronulla, Hunter Stadium, May 15, 2016
• 53-0 v Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium, April 16, 2016
• 64-14 v Sharks, Toyota Park, August 11, 2002
• 50-0 v Parramatta, EnergyAustralia Stadium, June 11, 2005

Most consecutive losses: 19, April 16, 2016 to March 5, 2017

Worst collapse: Surrendered 24-point lead. Led Wests Tigers 24-0 after 26 minutes at Campbelltown Stadium on August 11, 2001 and lost 36-32

First grade coaches: Adam O’Brien (2020), Kristian Woolf (2019), Nathan Brown (2016-19), Danny Buderus (2015), Wayne Bennett (2012-14), Rick Stone (2009-11, 2015), Brian Smith (2007-09), Michael Hagan (2001-06), Warren Ryan (1999-2000), Malcolm Reilly (1995‑98), David Waite (1991‑94), Allan McMahon (1988‑91).

Canterbury Cup NSW 2020: Coach Tony Gleeson. Competition abandoned after one round

Representative

Club Internationals

Australia (21): Jamie Ainscough, Darius Boyd, Danny Buderus, Dane Gagai, Kurt Gidley, Matthew Gidley, Brad Godden, Paul Harragon, Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns, Ben Kennedy, David Klemmer, Adam MacDougall, Sione Mata’utia, Adam Muir, Robbie O’Davis, Mark Sargent, Beau Scott, Steve Simpson, Timana Tahu, Akuila Uate

Test captains (3): Paul Harragon (1995), Andrew Johns (2002-03), Danny Buderus (2004-05)

World Cup captains (1): Paul Harragon (1995)

Record Test representation: 5 players v South Africa, October 10, 1995 (Robbie O’Davis, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Adam Muir, Paul Harragon). 5 players v Great Britain, November 11, 2001 (Matthew Gidley, Adam MacDougall, Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus, Ben Kennedy). 5 players v Great Britain, November 17, 2001 (Matthew Gidley, Adam MacDougall, Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus, Ben Kennedy). 5 players v Great Britain, November 24, 2001 (Matthew Gidley, Adam MacDougall, Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus, Ben Kennedy).

New Zealand (8): Herman Ese’ese, James Goulding, Slade Griffin, Tony Kemp, Danny Levi, Junior Sa’u, Sam Stewart, Zeb Taia

State of Origin

Representatives (34):

New South Wales (26): Jamie Ainscough, Darren Albert, Danny Buderus, Tony Butterfield, Ben Cross, Kurt Gidley, Matthew Gidley, Paul Harragon, Mark Hughes, Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns, Ben Kennedy, David Klemmer, Adam MacDougall, Robbie McCormack, James McManus, Adam Muir, Jarrod Mullen, Mitchell Pearce, Josh Perry, Daniel Saifiti, Mark Sargent, Beau Scott, Steve Simpson, Timana Tahu, Akuila Uate

Queensland (8): Darius Boyd, Adrian Brunker, Dane Gagai, Tim Glasby, Michael Hagan, Mike McLean, Robbie O’Davis, Kalyn Ponga

Record State of Origin representation: 6 players, 2002 (Game 1): Tahu, Gidley, A Johns, Buderus, Simpson, Kennedy (New South Wales).

6 players, 2002 (Game 3): Tahu, Gidley, A Johns, Buderus, Simpson (New South Wales), O’Davis (Queensland).

Individual Records

Rothmans Medal winners (1): Mark Sargent (1989)

Dally M winners (2): Andrew Johns (1998, 1999, 2002), Danny Buderus (2004)

Clive Churchill Medal winners (2): Robbie O’Davis (1997), Andrew Johns (2001)

Oldest Player: Chris Heighington, 36 and 230 days in 2018

Youngest Player: Owen Craigie, 17 and 81 days in 1995

Last updated 14/12/2020