Newcastle Knights

Addition:

Russell Packer (Warriors – registration refused)
Clint Newton (Panthers)
Michael Dobson (Hull Kingston Rovers)

Losses:

Danny Buderus (retired)
Neville Costigan (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Kevin Naiqama (Panthers)
Peter Mata’utia (Dragons)
Siuatonga Likiliki (Titans)
Will Smith (Panthers)
Russell Packer (sacked)

fanatix says: The biggest name in the addition column is also the biggest one in the losses with Russell Packer sacked after joining from the Warriors, after he was convicted of assault in a drunken incident last year.

And while the prop is appealing the sentence, his immediate future with the Knights, and every other NRL club, appears limited at best.

Newcastle finished a fitting seventh last season, as they were able to turn on sizzling games to win easily, but the consistency to push for a top four spot was not there, and it will be hard to see them improve that with the number of losses they have suffered.

Check out the Knights finishing last season strongly, as they stunned the Melbourne Storm in the finals.