2022 Preview: Newcastle Knights

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We reach the halfway point of our NRL club preview series for 2022 - today Lachy MacCorquodale is looking at the Newcastle Knights.

Can Newcastle Knights finish in the top eight for the third season running? Or will a Pearce-less Knights sink?

The Knights once again finished in seventh spot in 2021 before bowing out to the Parramatta Eels in the opening week of the finals series. Newcastle charged into the eight by winning five of their last six to qualify for the finals after a poor start to the season, winning just five of their first 14 matches. Mitchell Pearce's departure to Catalans can't be understated and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them lack direction over the course of the season. Not only are the Knights fighting to stay in the eight for a third straight season, but they'll be battling for Kalyn Ponga's signature, who has a player option in his favour for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Why they'll win it

The Newcastle Knights were formidable at home in 2021, winning eight of their 12 fixtures at McDonald Jones Stadium. If they can maintain this home record and improve their away record (4-8 in 2021), they could well and truly see themselves finishing the season with 14-15 wins, which should give you a home qualifying final. During the past two seasons the Knights have finished in seventh place and therefore haven't been awarded a home final and seeing how they performed away last season, it's no surprise they've bowed out in the first round in successive seasons.

The Knights still boast a solid forward pack featuring the likes of Tyson Frizell, David Klemmer and the Saifiti twins. Three of the four have represented New South Wales and are decorated footballers. A return to their top form will not only help the Knights chances of winning the competition, but it'll provide Kalyn Ponga with a steady base to play his best football from. Imagine the young lad behind a barnstorming pack.

Ponga is really the key to the Knights season, if he can stay fit and healthy, his impact will be no doubt felt throughout the competition. At 23 years of age, he is entering the age where it is expected of this calibre of player to cement himself as one of the best in the game. We've seen what Ponga can do, the key is doing that over the course of the full season and if he can figure that out, watch out for the Knights.

Why they won't

Despite qualifying for the finals, the Knights were still a long way off the teams that finished above them. Newcastle played against the top six sides on seven occasion in 2021 and only managed to win once, defeating the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Round 12. Finishing 1-6 against the top six won't help you win the competition when you are bound to run into these teams at the pointy end of the season. All six of the losses saw the Knights lose by 14 points or more, not only were they just losing, but they were getting pumped by the top six sides. They'll require serious improvement if they are to turn this record around and with departure's for both Mitchell Pearce and Connor Watson, it's hard to see the Knights improving.

Defence was a key issue for the Knights over the course of the 2021 season, conceding 23.8 points per game. It's almost impossible to win the premiership when leaking points each week, considering that they only scored 17.8 points per game. It's hard to expect the Knights to turn both these numbers around and with the lack of squad improvement, don't expect them to finish near the top of the ladder.

Key players

Their star fullback, Kalyn Ponga, will be pivotal to the Newcastle Knights season, increasingly so with the departure of Mitchell Pearce to the Super League. The 23-year-old has struggled with injury last season, only playing in 15 of the Knights 25 matches throughout the year. However, Ponga made his impact felt in those matches. The Queensland Origin star scored eight tries and assisted 14 during his time on the park last season, whilst also averaging 145 run metres per game. He's been a dangerous player ever since his debut back in 2016 and if he manages to stay fit for the duration of the 2022 season, expect to see some fireworks. A new attacking weapon that Ponga will have at his disposal is 31-year-old centre, Dane Gagai. Gagai returns to Newcastle after having played 128 games with them before his time in South Sydney. The Origin centre had a stellar 2021 as he helped guide the Rabbitohs to the Grand Final. Gagai scored 10 tries, assisted 14 and ran for 131 run metres per game in his 23 appearances. If that's not enough for you, he made 15 Line breaks to go with it. It'll no doubt be tougher for Gagai to find himself in attacking positions compared to his time with the Rabbitohs, but the new signing brings a new dynamic to the Knights side.

Front row duo, Daniel Saifiti and David Klemmer will no doubt be important for the Knights in the upcoming season as they'll need to provide the Knights with momentum going forward, allowing Ponga and co the room to do what they do best. Both capped at Origin level, Saifiti and Klemmer both ran for 150 or more metres per game last season, 150 and 164 respectively. Combine this with the 28 tackles per game that they both make, you've got a proficient front row.

Breakthrough to watch

The Knights enter 2022 with plenty of familiar faces, not leaving much room for any rookies to come through. Although the Knights boast several players that are at the beginning of the career, for some, looking for that chance to cement a spot in the starting 13. One of those players, Adam Clune, will get a good shot at the number seven jersey after 25 games for the St. George Illawarra Dragons over the past two seasons.

Clune had been in and out of the Dragons line up but showed glimpses with his nine try assists and 10 forced drop outs at his time at the club. He'll partner Jake Clifford, who joined the club halfway through last season after 42 games with the North Queensland Cowboys. Ideally, these two will be the halves for the season and with both dying for a regular spot in first grade, you'd expect them to be ready to fire.

Player Movements

Inbound: Dane Gagai (South Sydney), Adam Clune (St Geo Illa)

Outbound: Blake Green (retired), Connor Watson (Sydney), Josh King (Melbourne), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Gehamat Shibasaki (rugby union), Mitchell Pearce (Catalans (SL)), Tex Hoy (unsigned)

Best 17

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Enari Tuala
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Hymel Hunt
6. Jake Clifford
7. Adam Clune
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Chris Randall
10. David Klemmer
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Mitchell Barnett
    
14. Kurt Mann
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Brodie Jones
17. Pasami Saulo

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