2007 Newcastle Knights season

August 2011 October 2025 June 2022 2007 2006 2008 The 2007 Newcastle Knights season was the 20th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, finishing second-last. Season summary 2007 was a year of turmoil for the Newcastle Knights club both on and off the field. After making a promising start to the season with victories over contenders such as the Canterbury Bulldogs – the club and rugby league world was rocked by the shock retirement of Andrew Johns. The departure of their captain and most influential player had an obvious effect on the team, and although they managed to stay in touch with the top eight until the last third of the season, their season was irreparably damaged by his absence. In addition to this – the Knights endured the worst injury toll in the 2007 season – fielding thirty seven players in first grade by season's end. The club also struggled off-field, with Brian Smith's decision to release loyal clubmen such as Clint Newton (who subsequently won a grand final with the Melbourne Storm; which was later stripped due to salary cap breaches), Kirk Reynoldson, and Josh Perry (who subsequently played in Manly's 2008 premiership) meeting with displeasure from the Sydney media and some sections of the Newcastle support base. Newton's defection to Melbourne and Reynoldson's threats of legal action over the club refusing to play him in the fifteen games required to trigger his fourth contract year saw the club's reputation dragged through the mud. The Daily Telegraph campaigned strongly for the sacking of Smith whilst Bluetongue owner John Singleton also threatened legal action after the releases lead to a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign being cancelled. To cap it all off, Andrew Johns again made the press late in the season after being arrested for ecstasy possession in the United Kingdom and confessing to having been a drug addict for the entirety of his playing career. Despite these pressures, the Knights managed to avoid a second wooden spoon in three years – offloading the dreaded piece of 'silverware' to the Penrith Panthers with a last round victory over the Wests Tigers. Ladder Fixtures Trial matches Regular season Season 2007 – Draw and Results Round Date & Time Knights vs Venue Result Scorers Crowd1Sun, 18 March2pmBulldogsEnergyAustralia StadiumWinKnights(25): Terrence Seu Seu, Josh Perry, Todd Polglase, James McManus tries;Kurt Gidley (4/5) goals;Kurt Gidley field goal.Bulldogs(24): Andrew Ryan, Luke Patten, Reni Maitua, Trent Cutler tries;Hazem El Masri (4/4) goals.18,7912Fri, 23 March7:30pmDragonsOki Jubilee StadiumWinDragons(12): Chase Stanley, Keith Lulia tries;Wes Naiqama (2/3) goalsKnights(16): Clint Newton, James McManus, Brad Tighe, George Carmont tries;Kurt Gidley (0/3), Daniel Abraham (0/1) goals12,3263Mon, 2 April7pmRaidersCanberra StadiumLossCanberra(48): William Zillman(3), Marshall Chalk, Lincoln Withers, Scott Logan, Colin Best, Phil Graham tries;Michael Dobson (8/10) goals.Knights(18): Adam MacDougall, Milton Thaiday, Cory Paterson tries;Andrew Johns (3/3) goals.13,1094Sat, 7 April5:30pmStormEnergy Australia StadiumLossKnights(12): Steve Simpson, Daniel Abraham tries,Kurt Gidley (2/2) goals.Storm(22): Israel Folau(2), Matt King, Anthony Quinn tries,Cameron Smith (3/4) goals.20,0515Sun, 15 April2pmRabbitohsBluetongue StadiumWinRabbitohs(22): David Faalogo, Dean Widders, Nigel Vagana, John Sutton tries,Joe Williams (3/4) goals.Knights(23): Kurt Gidley(2), James McManus, Brad Tighe tries,Kurt Gidley (3/4) goals,Kurt Gidley field goal.18,3216Sun, 22 April7pmBroncosEnergy Australia StadiumLossKnights(16): Todd Polglase(2), Adam MacDougall tries,Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals.Broncos(20): Darren Lockyer (1/1), Michael Ennis (1/3) goals.25,5247Mon, 30 April7pmSharksEnergy Australia StadiumWinKnights(20): Kirk Reynoldson(2), Kurt Gidley tries,Kurt Gidley (4/4) goals.Sharks(16): David Simmons(2), Ben Pomeroy tries,Luke Covell (2/3) goals.15,4538Sun, 6 May3pmBulldogsTelstra StadiumLossBulldogs(30): Luke Patten(2), Reni Maitua, Matthew Utai, Hazem El Masri tries,Hazem El Masri (5/5) goals.Knights(16): Cory Paterson, Danny Buderus, James McManus tries,Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals.12,6549Sat, 12 May5:30pmWarriorsEnergy Australia StadiumWinKnights(24): Kurt Gidley(2), Steve Simpson, Adam MacDougall tries,Kurt Gidley (4/4) goals.Warriors(18): Ruben Wiki, Nathan Fien, Jerome Ropati tries,Lance Hohaia (3/3) goals.15,10710BYE----11Sun, 27 May2pmBroncosSuncorp StadiumLossBroncos(71): Tonie Carroll(2), Brent Tate(2), Justin Hodges(2), Joel Moon, Greg Eastwood, Ben Hannant, Petero Civoniceva, Darius Boyd, Karmichael Hunt tries,Corey Parker (4/5), Michael Ennis (4/4), Darren Lockyer (3/3),Darren Lockyer field goal.Knights(6): Jarrod Mullen try,Cory Paterson (1/1) goal.27,43312Sat, 2 June5:30pmRoostersBluetongue StadiumWinRoosters(18): Mitchell Pierce, Braith Anasta, Anthony Minichiello tries,Craig Fitzgibbon (3/4) goals.Knights(22): Brad Tighe, James McManus, Nathan Hinton, Cory Paterson tries,Cory Paterson (3/4) goals.11,26313Sun, 10 June3pmTigersEnergy Australia StadiumLossKnights(14): Brad Tighe(2), Cory Paterson tries,Cory Paterson (1/3).Tigers(33): Liam Fulton, Chris Heighington, Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Robbie Farah tries,Dean Collis (6/6) goals,Robbie Farah field goal.13,60914Mon, 18 Jun7pmRaidersEnergy Australia StadiumWinKnights(22): Adam MacDougall(2), Chris Bailey, Brad Tighe tries,Kurt Gidley (3/5) goals.Raiders(18): Brad Cross, Lincoln Withers, Colin Best tries,Michael Dobson (3/3) goals.11,34915Sat, 23 June7:30pmTitansCarrara StadiumLossTitans(28): Matthew Peterson(3), Brett Delaney, Mat Rogers tries,Mat Rogers (4/5) goals.Knights(22): Daniel Tolar, Luke Walsh, Adam MacDougall, James McManus tries,Kurt Gidley (3/4) goals.15,30616Fri, 29 June7:30pmRabbitohsEnergy Australia StadiumLossKnights(25): Adam MacDougall, George Carmont, Cooper Vuna, Cory Paterson, James McManus tries,Cory Paterson (2/5) goals,Luke Walsh field goal.Rabbitohs(28): Roy Asotasi(2), Nigel Vagana, Jeremy Smith, Ben Rogers tries,Reece Simmonds (2/2), Isaac Luke (2/3) goals.16,32017Mon, 9 July7pmEelsParramatta StadiumWinEels(10): Krisnan Inu, Feleti Mateo tries,Krisnan Inu (1/1), Mark Riddell (0/1) goals.Knights(34): George Carmont(2), Steve Simpson, Mitchell Sargent, Adam MacDougall, James McManus tries,Kurt Gidley (5/7) goals.10,36318Mon, 16 July7pmStormOlympic ParkLossStorm(44): Steve Turner(2), Anthony Quinn(2), Billy Slater(2), Ryan Hoffman, Matt King, Clint Newton tries,Cameron Smith (3/6), Steve Turner (1/3) goals.Knights(0)10,22319Sat, 21 July7:30pmRoostersEnergy Australia StadiumLossKnights(17): Cooper Vuna(2), Adam MacDougall tries,Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals, Luke Walsh field goal. Roosters(20): David Shillington, Joel Monaghan, Lopini Paea, Mitchell Aubusson tries, Craig Fitzgibbon (2/4) goals.15,17120Sat, 28 July7:30pmWarriorsMt Smart StadiumLossWarriors(52): Wade McKinnon(2), Grant Rovelli(2), Jerome Ropati(2), Steve Price, Wairangi Koopu, Manu Vatuvei tries,Michael Witt (8/9) goals.Knights(10): James McManus, Kirk Reynoldson tries,Kurt Gidley (1/2) goals.11,30121Fri, 3 August7:30pmDragonsEnergy Australia StadiumLossKnights(4): Kurt Gidley try,Kurt Gidley (0/1) goal.Dragons(20): Jamie Soward(2), Dan Hunt, Chase Stanley tries,Jamie Soward (2/4) goals.12,57322Fri, 10 August7:30pmSea EaglesBluetongue StadiumLossSea Eagles(50): Brett Stewart(2), Jamie Lyon(2), Jack Afamasaga, Glenn Stewart, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford, Adam Cuthbertson tries,Matt Orford (2/4), Jamie Lyon (4/4), Steve Menzies (1/1) goals.Knights(16): Brad Tighe, Steve Simpson, James McManus tries,Scott Dureau (2/3) goals.17,12223Sun, 19 August3pmPanthersEnergy Australia StadiumLossPenrith(46): Frank Pritchard(3), Michael Jennings(3), Michael Gordon tries,Michael Gordon (9/9) goals.Knights(12): 2 tries,Kurt Gidley (2/2) goals.14,35124Fri, 24 August7:30pmCowboysEnergy Australia StadiumLossCowboys(34): Ashley Graham(2), Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Bowen, Ty Williams, Neil Sweeney tries,Thurston (5/6) goals.Knights(18): Cooper Vuna, Chris Bailey, Cory Paterson tries,Kurt Gidley (3/3) goals.12,26425Fri, 31 August7:30pmTigersEnergy Australia StadiumWinTigers(24): Benji Marshall(2), Chris Lawrence, John Morris tries,Marshall (4/5) goals.Knights(26): Cooper Vuna(2), Cory Paterson, Kurt Gidley tries,Kurt Gidley (5/5) goals.13,446 Players Newcastle Knights 2007 Full-time Squad Player Position DOB (Age) Height Weight Previous clubDaniel AbrahamAUSLock/Utility1981-03-11 (26)188 cm106 kgMacquarie UnitedChris BaileyAUSLock/Utility1982-07-05 (24)186 cm94 kgInverell HawksRiley BrownAUSUtility1984-10-15 (22)181 cm92 kgSingletonDanny BuderusAUSHooker1978-02-06 (29)178 cm91 kgTareeGeorge CarmontNZLCentre/Wing1978-06-30 (28)180 cm91 kgOtahuhuScott DureauAUSFive Eighth/Halfback1986-07-29 (20)174 cm83 kgPort MacquariePaul FranzeAUSCentre1982-05-03 (25)185 cm97 kgCastleford TigersKurt GidleyAUSFullback/Utility1982-06-07 (24)182 cm87 kgWestern Suburbs (Newcastle)Nathan HintonAUSFullback1985-10-13 (21)178 cm84 kgWestern Suburbs (Newcastle)Marvin KarawanaNZLFive Eighth1986-07-30 (20)180 cm94 kgCanterbury BulldogsAdam MacDougallAUSCentre1975-05-08 (31)183 cm95 kgSouth Sydney RabbitohsLuke MacDougallAUSWing/Centre1983-02-05 (24)183 cm95 kgSt George Illawarra DragonsJames McManusSCOWing/Centre1986-01-15 (21)185 cm89 kg-Jarrod MullenAUSFive Eighth/Halfback1987-04-09 (20)179 cm86 kgWestern Suburbs (Newcastle)Cory PatersonAUSSecond Row1987-07-14 (19)194 cm105 kg-Josh PerryAUSProp1981-02-04 (26)187 cm119 kgValentine-EleebanaTodd PolglaseAUSFullback/Wing/Centre1981-03-21 (26)178 cm85 kgSouth Sydney RabbitohsKirk ReynoldsonAUSSecond Row/Lock1979-03-11 (28)186 cm102 kgMelbourne StormJesse RoyalNZLProp/Second Row1980-05-20 (26)190 cm107 kgPenrith PanthersMitchell SargentAUSProp1979-07-02 (27)187 cm107 kgNorth Queensland CowboysDavid SeageAUSFullback1979-11-29 (27)183 cm90 kg-Terrence Seu SeuNZLHooker1987-11-20 (19)180 cm89 kg-Steve SimpsonAUSSecond Row1979-09-27 (27)187 cm104 kgSingletonKade SnowdenAUSProp/Second Row1986-12-31 (20)188 cm113 kg-Zeb TaiaCook IslandsSecond Row1984-10-11 (22)186 cm104 kgParramatta EelsReegan TannerAUSSecond Row/Lock1982-09-27 (24)183 cm99 kgKurri KurriMark TaufuaAUSProp/Second Row1981-10-24 (25)188 cm103 kgWaratahs (Newcastle)Milton ThaidayAUSFullback1980-02-15 (27)175 cm83 kg-Brad TigheAUSCentre/Wing1984-04-05 (23)183 cm89 kgWest TamworthDaniel TolarAUSProp1982-11-04 (25)188 cm100 kgCentral CharlestownWillie TupouAUSSecond Row1985-10-26 (21)191 cm105 kgSt George Illawarra DragonsAkuila UateFIJWing1987-10-06 (19)185 cm94 kg-Cooper VunaNZLWing1987-07-05 (19)182 cm97 kgNew Zealand WarriorsLuke WalshAUSHalfback1987-05-12 (19)---Matthew WhiteAUSProp1984-05-17 (22)190 cm110 kg-Adam WoolnoughAUSProp1982-05-24 (24)187 cm109 kgWingham TigersMichael YoungAUSLock/Utility1984-02-11 (23)181 cm90 kg- References Category:Newcastle Knights seasons Newcastle Knights season