Knights will survive - Crowe

The Newcastle Knights are heading in the right direction, despite the loss of key players to rival clubs from next year, according to their media manager Stephen Crowe.

The former first grade forward and 1997 ARL premiership winner said the club?s limited activity on the player market, in preference for retaining local talent, is all part of the club?s charter.

?By producing our own local champions we have seen 14 players elevated to Kangaroo status, including the world?s best,? Crowe said.

?We have two premiership trophies in the cabinet.?

Writing in the club?s game-day publication, Crowe called on supporters to hold their nerve after a forgettable year for the first grade side.

The Knights? administration have come under criticism from fans after the departure of representative players Ben Kennedy (Manly) and Timana Tahu (Parramatta), and rising playmaker Michael Ennis (St George) for 2005.

The criticism comes despite the club securing the signatures of star halfback Andrew Johns, stand-in halfback Kurt Gidley and in-form Melbourne Storm forward Kirk Reynoldson.